Mushroom derived extracellular vesicles: biogenesis, molecular cargo, therapeutic potential, and translational value

Mushroom-derived extracellular vesicles (MDEVs) are categorized as a novel natural nanotherapeutic, showing significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging effects making them suitable for biomedical and aesthetic fields. This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on MDEVs with special focus on their biogenesis, molecular composition, purification, characterization, mechanisms of ingestion and function. Main focus includes the comparative characterization processes, methods for improving the stability of MDEVs, current trends in scalable isolation techniques, bioengineering approaches for targeted delivery, and multi-omics characterization. From the published literature it is evident that most of the edible mushrooms release EVs loaded with phenolics, polysaccharides, lipids, enzymes, and RNAs showing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-rejuvenating activities. Additionally, MDEVs inhibit NF-κB/MAPK signaling and proinflammatory cytokines, which reduce neuroinflammation and improve cognition in vivo. They also influence collagen remodeling, fibroblast activity, and melanogenesis in skin health, indicating their potential for anti-aging and wound repair applications. This review discusses the challenges in standardization, safety profiling, multimodal bioactivity and highlights benefits in biocompatibility. By providing the mechanistic insights, therapeutic potential, and translational strategies, this review highlights MDEVs as next-generation natural nanotherapeutics and provide the future directions for clinical and cosmeceutical translation.