Heterogeneity analysis of extracellular vesicles from four edible crops: structural characteristics and functional...

This study investigated the heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles (EVs) across four edible crops: soybeans, peas, corn, and peanuts. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on key performance indicators of the four types of EVs, including physical stability, mucus-penetrating ability, and encapsulation efficiency. The results indicated that corn-derived extracellular vesicles (CDEVs) exhibited the best performance (p < 0.05): good stability (PDI <0.4), mucus penetration ability of 78.84 ± 3.92%, and an encapsulation efficiency of 63.76 ± 2.86%. Peanut-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs), despite having a relatively high mucus penetration ability of 82.21 ± 4.63%, were less stable. Research has demonstrated that EVs from different crops exhibit significant functional heterogeneity. Among them, the superior delivery characteristics of CDEVs provide an optimal material for the development of natural carriers. The non-toxicity of CDEVs and their capacity to be internalized by cells were confirmed through cellular experiments. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the subsequent selection of materials for nutrient delivery.