MicroRNA-engineered extracellular vesicles for burn wound repair: burn-specific design and translational perspectives

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biotechnology
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Burn wound healing is a significant clinical problem.
• Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as cell-free therapeutics for wound repair.
• Current EV research often lacks burn-specific models and faces challenges in yield, heterogeneity, targeting, and cargo control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a burn-oriented framework for microRNA-engineered EVs in burn wound healing.
• To align EV engineering strategies with burn-specific challenges.
• To discuss translational requirements for clinical application in burn care.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on EVs and burn wound healing.
• Development of a framework integrating parental-cell programming, EV modification, and biomaterial delivery.
• Analysis of burn-specific barriers and translational considerations.

Main Results:

• The framework addresses key burn barriers: depth, eschar, infection, hypoxia, inflammation, inhalation injury, grafting, and immune dysregulation.
• Translational requirements discussed include dose scaling, repeat application, sterility, and use in infected wounds.
• MicroRNA-engineered EVs offer a versatile platform but require further validation.

Conclusions:

• MicroRNA-engineered EVs are a promising therapeutic strategy for burn wound repair.
• Clinical translation requires addressing limitations in yield, control, and burn-specific efficacy.
• Further research, including large-animal studies and human safety data, is essential for clinical adoption.