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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Characterizing Extracellular Vesicles from Biological Fluids
Published on: February 28, 2025
The Status of Extracellular Vesicles as Drug Carriers and Therapeutics
Ameya P Chaudhari1, Omar M Budayr1, Emily E Bonacquisti1
1Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
Abstract:
With their natural origin and biological compatibility, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are being recognized as next-generation vehicles for targeted drug delivery. Over the last two decades, the field of EV-based drug delivery has witnessed a substantial increase in published articles. While EVs hold tremendous potential as therapeutic carriers, their utility has been limited by issues such as heterogeneity, low yields, limited cargo loading efficiency, and rapid clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). In this review, we examine trends across research articles published between 2012 and 2024 (n = 38,177), focusing on key developments, persistent challenges, and evolving assumptions in the field. We provide an overview of the current EV landscape, discuss their organotropism, and discuss their application as carriers for nucleic acids and other therapeutic payloads. We highlight both their strengths and weaknesses compared to lipid nanoparticles and liposomes and assess the biodistribution of EVs as a function of labeling strategy and cell sources used. Finally, we outline translational considerations for EV-based therapeutics and propose additional reporting standards, complementing the MISEV 2023 guidelines.
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