Extracellular Vesicles: Tiny Packages with Big Potential

With their ability to self-renewal and differentiation, stem cells have been widely applied for regenerative therapy. However, ethical concerns, potential tumorigenesis, and immunogenicity of stem cells limit their clinical application. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), especially derived from stem cells, contain the functional compositions from stem cells that have been widely employed in tissue repair and regenerative medicine, offering an alternative to stem cells for regenerative therapy. Recent studies indicate that EVs exhibit similar therapeutic effects compared to their donor cells, while minimizing the drawback associated with stem cell therapy. Unlike their cell counterparts, EVs are stable enough for long-term storage and can be easily engineered and modified for drug loading and targeting therapy. In this book, we will discuss recent advances in EV secretion, cargo packages, and translational application, and emphasize the multifaceted roles of EVs in regenerative therapy.