Unveiling the Potential of Plant-derived Exosomes: A Comprehensive Review

Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, are naturally produced by various cell types both in vivo and in vitro. These nanovesicles, composed of a lipid bilayer, proteins, and RNAs, play a pivotal role in intercellular communication. Their inherent characteristics make them promising candidates as diagnostic tools and therapeutics for conditions like cancer. Recently, plant-derived exosomes (PDEs) have gained attention as a viable alternative to mammalian exosomes due to their ability to overcome several technical limitations. This review explores the origins and isolation methods of PDEs, evaluating their structural and biochemical properties that enable them to function as nanocarriers. The review covers various methods employed in isolating and purifying PDEs, as well as the interdisciplinary approaches that may enhance the efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability of these techniques. PDEs exhibit anticancer and antioxidant properties and show great therapeutic potential in drug delivery due to their physiological, chemical, and biological characteristics. They are capable of delivering various medications with high reproducibility. Despite these advantages, the current isolation and separation techniques for PDEs remain time-consuming and technically challenging, sometimes posing safety risks. While PDEs represent a promising avenue for drug delivery systems due to their inherent metabolic properties and therapeutic effects, several challenges remain. There is a need to refine isolation and drug-loading techniques, potentially through interdisciplinary strategies involving biological sciences. Therefore, continued research is essential to develop safer and more efficient drug delivery platforms using PDEs.