Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid nanoparticles which contain functional cargo and are derived from cells, have the potential to regulate biological functions from tissue homeostasis to disease. Due to their therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities, the scientific community has become increasingly interested in EVs over the past few years. This chapter provides an overview of EV biology and functions, along with the advantages and shortcomings of the most common EV isolation and characterization methods. Moreover, it reviews the potential of EVs from various sources to be used as biochemical tools in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, paving the way for future breakthroughs in tissue regeneration.