Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration: Mechanisms, Strategies, and Translational...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a major cause of chronic low back pain and disability.
• Current treatments for IVDD are mostly palliative and lack regenerative capacity.
• Engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a potential regenerative therapeutic approach due to their biocompatibility and targeted delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review advancements in engineered extracellular vesicle (EV) approaches for IVDD.
• To delineate the mechanistic roles of engineered EVs in the degenerated disc microenvironment.
• To provide a framework for developing EV-based regenerative therapies for IVDD.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on EV engineering techniques.
• Analysis of cargo loading, surface functionalization, and biomaterial integration in EVs.
• Examination of EV mechanisms in modulating inflammation, senescence, and extracellular matrix remodeling.

Main Results:

• Engineered EVs can be tailored for specific therapeutic cargo delivery.
• EVs demonstrate potential in modulating key pathological processes in IVDD.
• A
• carrier-mechanism-application
• framework is proposed for guiding EV-based therapy development.

Conclusions:

• Engineered EVs represent a promising strategy for IVDD regeneration.
• Further research is needed to address translational challenges and move EV therapies to the clinic.
• This review provides a conceptual and technical guide for developing effective EV-based treatments for IVDD.