We have collected the most exciting new researches in the field of genetics and cellular research in the past week.
Vitreoretinal Diseases May Find Treatment in Exosome-Loaded Microcapsules
A new “pseudo cell” formulation, based on self-healing microcapsule-loading exosomes, has been developed to treat diverse vitreoretinal diseases.
The work was published in Nature Biomedical Engineering in the paper, “Exosome-loaded degradable polymeric microcapsules for the treatment of vitreoretinal diseases.”
Vitreoretinal diseases include a wide spectrum of vision-threatening disorders, which may cause irreversible vision loss. The efficacy of current treatments for vitreoretinal diseases in clinics is generally unsatisfactory and treatments often cause several side effects. Moreover, frequently repeated treatments are often needed, leading to poor patient compliance.
Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes for tendinopathy
Abstract
Tendinopathy is a debilitating and crippling syndrome resulting from the degeneration of tendon tissue, leading to loss of mechanical properties and function, and eventual tendon rupture. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for tendinopathy that can prevent or delay its progression. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that transport bioactive substances produced by cells, such as proteins, lipids, mRNAs, non-coding RNAs, and DNA. They can generate by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) throughout the body and play a role in intercellular communication and regulation of homeostasis. Recent research suggests that MSCs-derived exosomes (MSCs-exos) may serve as useful therapeutic candidates for promoting tendon healing. This review focuses on the function and mechanisms of MSCs-exos in tendinopathy treatment and discusses their potential application for treating this condition.
The Overlooked Vesicles with Great Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potential
The scientific field now holds exosomes in high regard, acknowledging their profound potential in therapeutics and diagnostics. Exosomes were once labeled as 'cellular debris' and mere 'waste products' of the cell, even when they were first recognized as intraluminal vesicles, secreted from the cell through plasma membrane fusion in 1983. In time exosomes achieved their title of 'exosomes' in 1987, but it took until the early 21st century – when researchers began to investigate what they might contain and why – for their true importance to be better appreciated and understood.
Exploring the Versatility of Exosomes: A Review on Isolation, Characterization, Detection Methods, and Diverse Applications
Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial mediators of intercellular communication and can be classified based on their physical properties, biomolecular structure, and origin. Among EVs, exosomes have garnered significant attention due to their potential as therapeutic and diagnostic tools. Exosomes are released via fusion of multivesicular bodies on plasma membranes and can be isolated from various biofluids using methods such as differential ultracentrifugation, immune affinity capture, ultrafiltration, and size exclusion chromatography. Herein, an overview of different techniques for exosome characterization and isolation, as well as the diverse applications of exosome detection, including their potential use in drug delivery and disease diagnosis, is provided. Additionally, we discuss the emerging field of exosome detection by sensors, which offers an up-and-coming avenue for point-of-care diagnostic tools development. Overall, this review aims to provide a exhaustive and up-to-date summary of the current state of exosome research.