Abstract
Female infertility and reproductive disorders represent a significant global health challenge, with complex etiologies often linked to impaired cellular communication, inflammation, and tissue dysfunction. Exosomes (EXOs), nanosized extracellular vesicles laden with bioactive molecules, have become recognized as significant transmitters of intercellular signaling in reproductive physiology and pathology. This review comprehensively discusses the dual diagnostic and therapeutic potential of EXOs in addressing female infertility disorders, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), Asherman syndrome, and gynecological cancers. We investigate the strategies whereby EXOs govern important activities like endometrial regeneration, folliculogenesis, immune modulation, and angiogenesis, while highlighting their role in restoring ovarian and uterine homeostasis. Advances in exosome isolation techniques, bioengineering strategies (e.g., cargo loading, surface modification), and scaffold-based delivery systems are critically evaluated for their capacity to enhance therapeutic precision and efficacy. Notwithstanding their potential, issues include standardization of isolation protocols, scalability, and long-term safety, which necessitate further research. By integrating molecular insights with translational innovations, this review underscores the clinical implementation of exosome-based therapeutics in revolutionizing reproductive medicine, offering new hope for personalized, non-invasive treatments in female fertility restoration.
1 Introduction
Infertility can be described as the inability of a woman to get pregnant following at least 1 year of periodic, unprotected sexual activity (). Infertility is caused by a variety of clinical disorders, anatomical malformations, and ecological and genetic variables, which makes it a complex condition (). Despite the presence of several variables that contribute to infertility conditions, female related infertility issues are the most common factors (). These illnesses involve ovulatory dysfunction, ovarian cancer, and endometrial disorders (). While female infertility impacts millions of women throughout the world, there have been few recent advancements in theranostics (Wang et al., 2024c). During implantation, embryo-maternal crosstalk takes place, and structural and functional alteration of the endometrium and uterine space result in an optimal embryo implantation (). Any disruption in any of the above procedures might result in infertility ().
Tissue engineering uses a mix of cells, biomaterials, and engineering technologies to fix and substitute damaged tissues, as well as preserve and restore the functionality of tissues following injury (Taymour et al., 2024). It provides a unique approach for prompt therapy and repair that aims to enhance long-lasting outcomes (Han and Du, 2020). Stem cell-based treatments have developed as the major method because of their distinctive capabilities of self-renewal and transformation (Jahanbani et al., 2020). Nevertheless, allogenic cells, often utilized in regenerative therapies, have intrinsic limits and obstacles, including immunological reactivity, tumorigenic potentials, and ethical issues. While endogenous cells provide a safer and more affordable alternative, they have diminished cellular metabolism and functionality in old or sick individuals (Pourakbari et al., 2020). As a result, maintaining endogenous cell activity is critical for improving tissue regeneration effectiveness in aged or sick populations. Cells release numerous extracellular vesicles (EVs) under both healthy and pathological situations, as components of their regular functioning after acquired disorders (). EVs may be characterized depending on their biogenetic process, physical properties, and composition (Miron and Zhang, 2024). EVs are typically classified into three types depending on their biosynthesis and dimensions: microvesicles, EXOs, and apoptosomes (Lu et al., 2021a).
EXOs have been extracted from numerous tissues and fluids. EXOs are currently gaining popularity as a viable possibility for repairing and increasing endogenous cell activity while also facilitating tissue healing (Li et al., 2024c). EXOs are essential transmitters of paracrine signals and transport a variety of bioactive cargos. As cell-to-cell transmitters, their contents transfer commands from original cells to targeted cells, effectively controlling physiological processes such as immunological reactions, aging, neural communication, inflammatory processes, and disease promotion/inhibition (Rodríguez-Eguren et al., 2022). Their function in intercellular communication is complicated by the unique and little-understood processes and procedures of exosome intake by receptor cells. Following absorption, EXOs are either broken down by lysosomes or join with the endosomal membrane to expel EXOs cargos into the cytoplasm (Patel et al., 2021). However, EXOS can be returned to the plasma membrane and re-secreted outside of cells. After being consumed by endogenous cells and reversing their pathogenic changes, natural or synthetic EXOs interacting with them may offer therapeutic benefits (Si et al., 2023).
Furthermore, compared to standard cell treatment, EXOs have lower immunogenicity, improved storage and distribution stability, and less ethical debate (Kim et al., 2022a; Zhu et al., 2024). The present article aims to offer insights into the functioning of EXOs and how they can be enhanced to improve endogenous cell activity in the management of different types of female infertility disorders.
2 Mechanism of actions of exosomes in pathophysiological conditions
2.1 EXO cargo and intercellular communication
Cell metabolites are secreted into the surrounding environment by diffusion, membrane channels, and active secretion. EXOs have been identified to facilitate the transport of metabolites or across cells (Desdín-Micó et al., 2017). EXOs have been discovered as transmitters of signals between cells in both normal and pathologic conditions (). EXOs can carry RNA, proteins, enzymes, and lipids, influencing numerous biological mechanisms in numerous disorders such as cancer, neurological diseases, infections, and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, they serve vital functions in numerous biological processes, like angiogenic activities, antigen presentation, apoptosis, coagulation, cellular equilibrium, inflammatory processes, and interactions between cells (Zhang et al., 2023d).
EXOs can transport misfolded proteins, prions, and neurotoxic proteins, such as amyloid β (Shetgaonkar et al., 2022). EXOs may transport building materials between cells, like amino acids and lipids, and transport them to numerous locations throughout the body (O’Brien et al., 2020). These structures also influence the uterine microenvironment by enhancing the bioavailability of chemicals for energy synthesis. EXOs are thought to engage with endocrine and paracrine systems that regulate homeostasis (Xiong et al., 2023).
2.2 EXOs in immune regulation and inflammation
EXOs miRNA release provides a quick way to control gene expression. EXOs release miR-23 and miR-182 when muscles are forced to atrophy. The discharge of these cargoes may alleviate cellular stress (Zhang et al., 2022b). EXOs also have a role in blood vessel development, cellular transformation, immune regulation, metabolism, the elimination of outdated molecules, and antigen presentation (). Trophoblast cells secrete EXOs that can control angiogenesis, or placenta development, via the matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIM) (Göhner et al., 2017).
Progenitor cells can produce EXOs that play an essential role in the movement of endothelial cells in blood arteries, as well as cell division and angiogenesis (Liang et al., 2016). Exosome content during inflammatory processes may serve as a novel biomarker for inflammatory illnesses and disorders (; Umair et al., 2022).
Neoplastic EXOs have been reported to contain an elevated miRNA content, suppress T-cell division and transformation, and trigger apoptosis via the FasL and MARK1 pathways, hence enhancing the tumor’s ability to fight against immune-mediated responses ().
Fabbri et al. discovered that cancer miR-21 and miR-29a-loaded EXOs trigger inflammation and cytokine discharge by attaching to the Toll-like 8 receptor and activating it in immunological cells, resulting in NF-κB activity (Fabbri et al., 2012).
2.3 EXOs in cancer and aging
The role of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in aging is intricate and multidimensional. Although it can aid in tissue healing and the immune system’s removal of damaged cells, its ongoing activation leads to age-related illnesses and chronic inflammation. With regard to the situation, the SASP, a group of substances released by senescent cells, may possess both positive and negative consequences (Tanaka and Takahashi, 2021).
EXOs contain an abundance of the Wnt system, which is imperative for the maintenance of physiological equilibrium and performs functions in aging. Consequently, EXOs are thought to function as SASP messengers. They get liberated by aged fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Composition of EXOs from elderly individuals is altered; for example, levels of galectin-3, important for bone cell development, are significantly reduced (D’Anca et al., 2019).
In a healthy person, these mechanisms are controlled to perform the changes essential for healthy reproductive adjustments to take place. As a result of their actions in cell signaling and modulation at various stages of the reproductive cycle, EXOs play a crucial part in preserving a regulated reproductive condition (Tong et al., 2016; Fazeli and Godakumara, 2024). Grange et al. discovered that microvesicles from tumors have a role in metastasis and angiogenesis. Human kidney cancer has a subpopulation of cells that express the CD105 antigen, which is a hallmark of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Furthermore, CD105-positive cells possess the capability to change the tumor’s surrounding environment and induce revascularization (Grange et al., 2011).
2.4 EXOs in reproductive physiology
EXOs perform several functions during the reproductive cycle by activating multiple regulatory processes triggered by fetal-maternal communications and cellular control (Natali et al., 2023), therefore giving the body adaptation capacities for a variety of physiological alterations (Morales-Prieto et al., 2020). These pathways may be linked to immune responses, signals of inflammation, and metabolic adjustments required to nurture a developing fetus ().
3 Origin and separation of exosomes
In the realm of exosome investigation, several methodologies have been used to isolate and purify them such as ultracentrifugation, precipitation, immunoaffinity capture, and microfluidic approaches (Lin et al., 2021a). These methods offer advantages such as high yield and accessibility (Johnstone, 2020). Mammalian-derived EXOs are commonly extracted from physiological secretions, whereas plant EXOs are obtained from apoplastic washing solution, with differential centrifugation remaining the primary extraction technique for both (Stanly et al., 2016).
Scientists have developed numerous centrifugation technique combinations to boost the efficiency of separation and solve some of the limitations of traditional centrifugation procedures. One extensively used technique mixes differential centrifugation with sucrose density gradient centrifugation (Kim et al., 2022b). This approach is widespread because it is simple to use, inexpensive, and capable of producing exceptional extracting efficiency. Employing this method, EXOs frequently stay in the intermediary layer of a 30%–45% sucrose solution. In addition, there are various other extraction strategies, like Immunoaffinity capture, ultra-filtering or size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), co-precipitation methods, and microfluidic advancements, that have been effectively utilized in the case of mammalian EXOs (Le Gall et al., 2020). For example, immunoaffinity capture, which involves the creation of immunological systems that target extracellular vesicle surface antigens, has features such as quick separation, straightforwardness, and excellent specificity, rendering it a suitable approach for the purification of extracellular vesicles (Song et al., 2020).
Furthermore, various developing methodologies have made effective EXOs separation in trials possible, making future studies and applications more convenient. It is worth noting that there is far more variety between plants than between animals, resulting in considerable changes in dimensions, shape, productivity, purity, and dispersion of EXOs generated by various cells. Furthermore, the composition of EXOs derived from diverse sources varies significantly. Precipitation kits/polymer and ultracentrifugation are two typical ways of obtaining EXOs. These procedures can give solutions with outstanding recovery percentages, but limited specificity (Hendijani, 2017). Size filtration and flow cytometry can be used to extract EXOs with a high degree of specificity. Meanwhile, the last two procedures have inadequate recuperation rates and are susceptible to damaging vesicle architecture; hence, they are seldom used. EXOs are tiny and heterogeneous, and the number of carriers transported inside an individual exosome is limited. Abundant inactive components in Exos may diminish therapeutic effectiveness and raise therapeutic dosage (Xin et al., 2020).
Polymer precipitating methods may differentiate EXOs from bodily fluids by reducing their ability to dissolve. The combination of ultracentrifugation and the ExoQuick polymer precipitation technology enhances the integrity and extraction efficiency of plant EXOs, particularly those derived from ginseng (Jokhio et al., 2024).
Musante et al. proposed a strategy for isolating EXOs from urine samples using hydrostatic filtration dialysis. The most significant benefits of this technology are the elimination of the ultracentrifugation stage and the ability to isolate EXOs from much diluted liquids. Furthermore, the authors ensured that this strategy prevents EXOs’ loss (Musante et al., 2014). The specimens were centrifuged at 2,000 × g to exclude any contaminants and some of the Tamm–Horsfall protein (THP) aggregates. The resulting liquid is passed to a separator with a dialysis membrane that can permeate particulates up to 1,000 kDa. This procedure removes undesired ingredients from the specimen and reduces its volume. They centrifuged the EXOs at 40,000 × g to sediment them. The authors successfully isolated EXOs measuring 50–90 nm and containing a EXOs biomarker, TSG101. This approach combines the quantity, volume, and electrolytic content of the sample; thus, the researchers recommend it to handle specimens designated for preservation in biobanks (). This procedure is essentially ultrafiltration in situations where the sample is subjected to a modest amount of pressure, similar to the fluid column in a dialysis unit (Musante, 2024).
Kim et al. described an innovative strategy for EXOs separation using a two-stage process with ATPS, which is presented to solve the issue of protein infiltration in the EXOs portion. Under specific conditions, these two macromolecules dissolve simultaneously in aqueous solution and generate two distinct phases. In this procedure, tailored biochemical properties of the chemical reactions between polymer molecules and EXOs trigger the latter to accumulate preferentially in the dextran (DEX) phase. In contrast, other ingredients traveled between the phases, accumulating preferentially in the polyethylene glycol (PEG) phase. This study established a straightforward and rapid separation procedure from a tiny sample volume utilizing a PEG/DEX ATPS that did not require any specific equipment. The ATPS isolation approach demonstrated a sevenfold greater recovery performance than the standard ultra-centrifugation technique, and when paired with a batch process, the integrity of the isolated EXOs increased. The reliability of the ATPS approach was proven using Western blot and RT-PCR. This simple and quick separation procedure may aid scientists in isolating and analyzing EXOs (Kim et al., 2015).
As a result of these attempts, newly created, user-friendly, polymer-based kits like ExoQuickTM and Total Exosome IsolationTM kits are now commercially available (Yamada et al., 2012). These kits are now extensively utilized since they do not involve costly gadgets. They need long overnight incubations, though, and operators complain of non-EXOs contaminants, which cause notable variations in outcomes (Taylor and Shah, 2015). In general, Van Deun et al. found that EXOs separated with commercially available kits had lower purity than those obtained by centrifugation techniques (Van Deun et al., 2014). Given the drawbacks of current conventional techniques, a quick, affordable, easy-to-use exosome separation approach with high purity has not yet been created.
EXOs are often characterized by utilizing antibodies that bind to particular receptors, such as MHC antigens (Liu et al., 2025). Naturally, similar antibodies may be employed for separating EXOs; antibodies that are covalently linked to the fixed phase are commonly utilized for this function (Xin et al., 2020). Magnetic beads, extremely permeable monolithic silica columns, the surface of plastic dishes, cellulose filters, and membranes are all useful for achieving this goal (Lee et al., 2024; Yan et al., 2023). The broad spectrum of antibodies and fixed phases has resulted in a huge range of EXOs isolation techniques. As an instance, Clayton et al. suggested an immunomagnetic method to separate B-lymphocyte EXOs from cultured cellular supernatants. The researchers employed 4.5 μm paramagnetic beads labeled with antibodies and cultured them in prepared media for 24 h at ambient temperature. They then separated the EXOs clusters with magnetic granules using a magnet. EXOs with an average diameter of 70 nm contributed to 71.6% of all EVs, whereas those with a dimension of 100 nm or bigger made up 29.4%. In terms of time and functionality, the procedure is equivalent to older strategies. When examining an extensive number of biomarkers and cells for exosome separation, typical ultracentrifugation followed by immunoblotting might take a few days to a week. Flow cytometry study of magnetic bead-exosome complexes necessitates 1 day and utilizes 1 × 106 cells (Clayton et al., 2001).
Microfluidics was developed in the latter part of the twentieth century as a result of breakthroughs in the field of semiconductors. The emergence of microfluidic technology began in the 1980s, coinciding with rapid advances in microelectronics, materials, and systems (Convery and Gadegaard, 2019).
EXOs may be captured and isolated using a variety of dielectrophoretic (DEP) force-based microfluidic devices. In dielectrophoretic separation, polarized dielectric particles are transported in an erratic electric field. DEP forces can be either repulsive or attractive, determined by the polarization actions, but they both cause electrically polarizable particles to migrate (Kwizera et al., 2021). Particle size, volume, used field intensity and frequency, dielectric characteristics, medium pH, and texture all affect this transport process. Systems that adopt these approaches have proven to be more cost-effective, portable, scalable, and process-time-efficient than traditional exosome separation techniques. It has also been claimed that this method makes it possible to analyze EXOs in tiny samples without the need for specialized reagents or costly equipment ().
Cho et al. isolated EXOs from the blood plasma by a high-yield electrophoretic migration technique. Compared to the ultracentrifugation approach, this gadget produced eight times as many EXOs. In contrast to traditional methods, the electrophoretic technique may remove up to 83.6% of proteins while recapturing 65% of EXOs. This was accomplished in around 30 min, which is nine times quicker than the traditional ultracentrifugation method (). The most widely utilized isolation technique is the selective capturing of EXOs by antibodies anchored on solid surfaces, albeit each microfluidic substrate has distinct properties and performs differently.
Chen et al. presented a groundbreaking immunological affinity technique for capturing EXOs within a microfluidic chip. The separation concept is based on ligands on the exosome’s external surface, which permit particular gathering based on source and functionality while isolating them from other dispersed membrane components. The gadget has a flat design with herringbone carvings to improve mixing. Following many rinsing processes, captured EXOs are either digested for DNA extraction or characterized in situ. Chen et al. showed a speedier approach (∼1 h) with fewer volumes of chemicals (100–400 μL), compared to established methods. EXOs collected on-chip utilizing CD63 antibodies from 400 μL blood samples yielded roughly 30 ng of total RNA for non-small cellular lung carcinoma patients, which demonstrated sufficient integrity ().
Kanwar et al. applied the same idea, adapting the previous approach to perform “on-chip” exosome measurement using a fluorescence assay technique on a typical read-out plate analyzer. The gadget, known as Exochip, consists of numerous circular wells linked by small tubes to improve mixing. Furthermore, the longer duration of retention promotes a greater contact between EXOs and the customized surface. Aside from being specifically designed for additional examination, the gadget can be readily expanded by simply introducing additional rows of wells to the same chip. The ExoChip EXOs produced 15–18 μg of entire protein and 10–15 ng of overall nucleic acid from 400 μL blood specimens. EXOs from pancreatic cancer patients fluoresced more on the chip than those from healthy individuals. This was consistent with the increased protein levels of CD63 and Rab5 detected in cancer patients’ EXOs (Western blot). A collection of miRNAs found in isolated EXOs was also effective in discriminating between carcinoma patients and healthy controls (Kanwar et al., 2014).
Davies et al. pioneered a novel isolation way, by sieving EXOs directly from whole blood via a membrane and controlling filtration using pressure or electrophoresis. The scientists believe that the device’s non-selectivity with regard to vesicle species is a benefit over the ultra-specific capture afforded by immune-affinity-associated approaches that may give rise to prejudicial data processing. A key disadvantage is the poor exosome restoration, notwithstanding the gadget seems to operate effectively with regard to of isolation duration. The apparatus attained saturation after extracting 3–4 μL of filtrate using pressure guided filtering. Electrical based filtering yielded 79 ng RNA per 100 μg protein from a 100 μL specimen, whereas centrifugation yielded 187 ng per 100 μg protein from a 5 mL sample (Davies et al., 2012). This contributes to a quicker separation duration, while the electrical current provides a greater purity of the isolated vesicles (Zhang et al., 2020d).
Urine is a promising source of EXOs called urinary EXOs, which may be acquired non-invasively (). Yet, the resulting amount of EXOs from urine specimens may be inadequate for some investigations because of EXOs immobilization by the THP meshwork. In this context, Puhka et al. designed a simple dilution approach to improve the urine EXOs output by breaking the bond between THP filaments and EXOs using alkaline pH and reduced ionic intensity. The average EXOs production from the dilution process was 2–7 times that of the undiluted control, increasing by 130%–624%. The productivity rose the greatest in samples with an elevated THP to EV ratio. The treatment made no changes to the EXOs’ shape or size spectrum. The KeepEX dilution approach offers a straightforward and effective way to avoid EXOs loss, hence improving urine production. Because KeepEX needs no particular modification of specimen pH or additional centrifugation processes, it might be employed on its own or in conjunction with existing EXOs purification techniques to increase EXOs separation, especially with tiny urine quantities (Puhka et al., 2017).
Yet, the reliability of EXOs’ separation from urine specimens is greatly impacted by the varied composition of urine caused by variables such as hydration, nutrition, and illness. As a biofluid, urine naturally varies in volume, pH, osmolality, and solute concentration over time as well as between people (Zhou et al., 2021). Standardizing pre-analytical urine handling practices is essential since these variations may influence the content and purity of isolated EXOs. This entails standardizing the thawing and subsequent processing procedures, employing protease inhibitors, freezing urine at suitable temperatures (such as −80 °C), and accounting for the time spent voiding (Staub et al., 2025). Hydration levels directly impact urine volume and concentration. While extremely concentrated urine may result in greater quantities of certain compounds that obstruct EXOs’ isolation, very diluted urine can include lesser amounts of EXOs or render their separation more difficult (Tong et al., 2023).
Balaj et al. present an innovative strategy for EXOs separation centered around heparin’s capacity for binding EXOs. EXOs were recovered from conditioned cell media utilizing an agarose sorbent with heparin, Affi-Gel® Heparin Gel (Bio-Rad), which was contrasted to the effectiveness of ultracentrifugation and the ExoQuick-ТC commercial kit. After at least 12 h of incubation at 4 °C, the resin was rinsed with normal saline solution to remove any loose agarose beads. The EXOs extracted from heparinized agarose were architecturally comparable to those produced after normal ultracentrifugation. However, this procedure is fairly extensive, and the biological fluids include a variety of heparin-binding proteins. To enhance EXOs’ productivity while utilizing heparinized sorbents, concentrate the EV portions after separation by ultrafiltration via a 100-kDa filter. However, this prolongs and complicates the separation process ().
In contrast to animal EXOs, plant EXOs have a wider size range (50–500 nm) (Kumar et al., 2023b), which makes it challenging to extract a homogeneous population utilizing size-based separation methods like size exclusion chromatography or differential centrifugation (Tian et al., 2023). Because a consistent dimension is essential for constant drug loading and targeted delivery, this size variance affects downstream usage, particularly when employing EXOs as pharmaceutical delivery carriers (Han et al., 2022).
However, when it comes to plant EXOs, the collected specimens are first cleaned and then physically treated by mixing, crushing, and squeezing them in buffer solutions. Since plant EXOs are likely to have certain metabolites in common with their parent plants, such as cell walls, chloroplasts, and other membrane vesicles (Yang et al., 2023). Furthermore, exosome formulations may get contaminated by the complex variety of biological substances found in plant cells, such as cell walls, chloroplasts, and other membrane vesicles. These impurities may impair the quality of separated EXOs and impede further studies (Wang et al., 2020).
As a result, each species of plant should be thoroughly screened. For example, blending is a better approach for extracting more bioactive ingredients from grapefruits than juicing or crushing (Li et al., 2022b).
There is no set procedure or set of rules for the development of plant EXOs. Even when the same techniques were used, there were significant differences in procedures as well as the different approach choices across the research we gathered. Specifications like time, velocity, and buffer were among these variations (Garaeva et al., 2021). For example, Regente et al. found that the 40,000×g pellet had a greater density of sunflower seed apoplastic vesicles than the 100,000×g fraction (Regente et al., 2009).
Zeng et al. suggested that 10–20 min of centrifugation at 100,000×g was suitable for extracting Aloe vera EXOs. On the other hand, centrifugation at the same velocity for 60 min produced a very different population with a polydispersity value of 0.59 and a swelling size exceeding 500 nm (Zeng et al., 2021). Actually, the centrifugation process may be challenging since it may be ineffective to pellet the targeted vesicles at low speeds, and prolonged ultracentrifugation may produce impurities that are not vesicles and distort the size profiles (Rutter and Innes, 2020). Additionally, when creating a strategy for the creation of plant EXOs, pH should be taken into account. According to a study, separating ginger-derived EXOs by the PEG-precipitation technique in low pH settings (pH 4 and 5) produced a 4- to 5-fold increase in vesicle production and polyphenolic load in comparison with neutral and alkaline pH environments (Suresh et al., 2021).
For optimal outcomes, the separation and purification processes should be carefully tailored to a variety of criteria, including research objectives, controlled targeting, and laboratory circumstances.
4 Characteristics of exosomes
EXOs were first recognized as undesirable cell-based waste; nevertheless, subsequent studies have revealed that EXOs serve as essential biological mediators in interactions between cells, given their capacity to carry biological molecules across the body (Figure 1; Liu et al., 2020d).
FIGURE 1
4.1 Cytocompatibility
Biological compatibility is a critical consideration in the medical use of EXOs. They have shown good biosafety and cytocompatibility when tested (Fordjour et al., 2022). Their cytotoxic properties in vitro are assessed by determining the longevity of cells exposed to various exosome doses (Marchante et al., 2023).
According to the kind of host cell, the EXOs protein composition changes and indicates their origin. All EXOs from different cell types share a few groups of proteins (Vaiciuleviciute et al., 2025; ).
Numerous studies have shown that EXOs contain mRNAs, miRNAs, and other noncoding RNAs (El Fekih et al., 2025; ). When EXOs circulate, they can be ingested, which ultimately changes the biological functionality of the cells that receive them. Pathological or physiological circumstances may modify the synthesis of EXOs miRNA (Zhu et al., 2025; Ju et al., 2025).
Some lipids that are carried by EXOs are crucial for preserving biological activity. Cholesterol, saturated fatty acid chains, phosphoglycerides, ceramides, and sphingolipids are all transported by EXOs (Palmulli et al., 2024). Crucially, EXOs become stiffer and stable in terms of lipid, which aids in the internalization process (Donoso-Quezada et al., 2021a). However, the host cell is not represented by the lipid composition of EXOs (Elmallah et al., 2022).
Additionally, preclinical testing is required prior to clinical deployment as a vehicle or therapeutic component of the pharmaceutical delivery system (Hajipour et al., 2021).
First of all, the pharmacokinetics, action pathway, target, and mechanism of action of EXOs in vivo remain unclear despite their complex biological properties and roles (He et al., 2023). The scientists also noted that a number of critical issues, including pharmacokinetics and targeting, safety assessment, quantification and characterization, and manufacturing techniques, must be resolved before EXOs may be successfully converted into clinical application (Qin et al., 2025).
4.2 Immune-modulating effects
The immune system’s function is responsible for producing immunological responses that protect the human body from an attack by harmful organisms. Along with the immune-related organs, the immune system consists of many different immune cells and immunological molecules (He et al., 2021). The immune-modulating capabilities of EXOs such as regulating immune cell behavior and modulating reactions to inflammation, are critical for encouraging tissue regeneration while minimizing unfavorable immunological reactions ().
Additionally, EXOs have the potential to influence immune cell polarization, promoting an anti-inflammatory phenotype. This capability to generate a beneficial microenvironment is essential for tissue regeneration because it reduces excessive inflammation, which can delay the recovery process (). Initial investigations have found that syncytiotrophoblast EXOs suppress the levels of activating markers, generation of cytokines, and lymphocyte and endothelial cell proliferation (Göhner et al., 2017). EXOs generated by B cells and DCs include functional peptide-bound MHC II, in addition to co-stimulatory components CD80 and CD86, which enhance T cell multiplication (Kowal et al., 2019). Administration of endometrial stem cell EXOs (EnSCs-EXOs) could polarize macrophages into an M2-like phenotype and reduce their mediated phagocytosis (Sun et al., 2019).
Xin et al. created a collagen scaffold and exosome construct (CS/Exos) for endometrial regeneration and studied its potential in the management of endometriosis in vivo. Endometrial regeneration, collagen remodeling, enhanced expression of the α/progesterone receptor, and fertility restoration were all powerfully stimulated by the CS/Exos transplantation via promotion of CD163+ M2 macrophage polarization (Xin et al., 2020). EXOs play key roles in the pathogenesis of infertility and have a major impact on reproductive health. By transporting different substances, such as proteins, lipids, and RNA that affect follicle growth, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo implantation, EXOs act as messengers for interactions between cells. Through the disruption of these vital reproductive processes, dysregulation or aberrant exosome activity can lead to infertility (Liu et al., 2024b).
Neoplastic EXOs have been demonstrated to contain an increased miRNA content, impede T-cell differentiation and division, and induce apoptosis () through the FasL and MARK1 pathways, all of which help the tumor dodge the immune system (; Ye et al., 2014).
EXOs from plants can penetrate and control cellular processes in mammals. According to a recent study, intestinal macrophages may absorb plant EXOs and use them to control immunological response (Mu et al., 2014). Macrophages can absorb ginger EXOs, which increase the production of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), IL-6, and IL-10. Ginger EXOs produced from carrots cause macrophages to express IL-10. Ginger EXOs produced from grapefruit, carrot, and ginger stimulate macrophages to produce nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like-2 (Nrf2) (Mu et al., 2014). Ginger EXOs prevent macrophages’ NLRP3 inflammasome from assembling ().
In a different study, Ou et al. investigated C. roseus leaves and their apoplastic fluid, a new plant-based chemotherapeutic immune modifier. In vitro, 60–240 μg/mL of C. roseus EXOs stimulated lymphocyte division and macrophage polarization and phagocytosis. In immunocompromised mice given cyclophosphamide, administration of 20 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg of C. roseus EXOs prevented bone marrow cell cycle disruption and white blood cell decrease. In vitro and in vivo, C. roseus EXOs significantly boosted TNF-α production, triggered the NF-κB signal pathway, and elevated the expression of the transcription factor PU.1, which is linked to hematopoietic function. Plant cell cultivation methods of C. roseus were developed to produce C. roseus EXOs with comparable physical characteristics and biological activity in order to guarantee a consistent supply of these organisms. The growth medium was effectively converted into gram-level EXOs, and the yield was three times more than the initial amount (Ou et al., 2023).
In conclusion, EXOs have a significant impact on female fertility and are essential components of the reproductive system. They are the focus of research with the goal of comprehending and treating infertility because of their function in intercellular communication, controlling autoimmune disease, and enhancing wound healing.
4.3 Antioxidative properties
Oxidative stress arises when the equilibrium of free radicals and antioxidant defenses in cells is disrupted. It is linked to several ailments, including diabetes and neurological disorders. Oxidative stress causes cell death via apoptosis (Shaoyong et al., 2022).
Human follicular fluid contains EXOs, which vary in concentration and molecular makeup according to the size of the follicle, the hormonal milieu, and the pathological condition (Pan et al., 2024b). The EXOs miRNA profile in follicular fluid has been shown in several studies to be correlated with the development of embryos, the quality of oocytes, and the success of fertilization. For instance, developed oocytes and high-quality embryos have been favorably connected with miR-21, which is known for its anti-apoptotic and pro-survival functions (Martinez et al., 2018). Bioactive lipids, including sphingomyelin, phosphatidylserine, and ceramide, are transported by EXOs and improve membrane integrity, promote vesicle formation, and affect follicular cell survival and oocyte integrity (Yáñez-Mó et al., 2015).
In addition, EXOs miRNA-21 has been demonstrated to control zygote advancement and growth while suppressing embryonic mortality (Lv et al., 2018). By controlling the MSX1 activity, miR-21 prevents granulosa cell death and enhances hormone production, offering a promising option for the management of autoimmune premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) (Yang et al., 2024b).
According to Xiong et al., hPMSCs-Exo can reduce the senescence of CD4+ T cells by delivering miRNA-21 and triggering exogenous antioxidant responses coordinated by the PTEN/PI3K-Nrf2 axis (Xiong et al., 2021). EXOs made from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs-EXOs) can maintain homeostasis via modulation of two important effector molecules, manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) (Yao et al., 2019a; Yan et al., 2017). Interestingly, hUC-MSC-EXOs had greater MnSOD levels than BMMSCs-EXOs (Yao et al., 2019a).
According to de Godoy et al., BMMSCs-EXOs transmit catalase (CAT), which fully restores the baseline neuronal ROS level that was raised by the generation of AβOs (de Godoy et al., 2018). After being treated with H2O2, BMMSCs-exos decrease internal mitochondrial ROS generation, hence exhibiting a mitochondrial-protective function in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. The mitochondrial proteins that are transported from the EXOs to the NP cells determine the effectiveness (Xia et al., 2019).
However, several miRNAs found in EXOs have been linked to controlling steroidogenesis, atresia, and follicular development. MSCs-EXOs can enhance the production of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and facilitate the shift from primordial to primary follicles. EXOs have the potential to assist in reestablishing homeostasis in the injured ovarian milieu by providing a mix of advantageous chemicals (Yu et al., 2016; Dalmizrak and Dalmizrak, 2022).
Following myocardial infarction and hypoxia, MSCs-EXOs can alleviate cardiac dysfunction. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) damage can be treated by miR-182-5p, which is transported by MSCs-EXOs, according to studies. Comparable to miR-182-5p in rat myocardial cells’ reaction to I/R, miR-199a-3p and miR-214 may both increase myocardial cell viability and hence cure myocardial ischemia-reperfusion damage (Yue et al., 2022).
MSCs-EXOs can mitigate the cytotoxicity of LPS-induced astrocytes by blocking the expression of inflammatory astrocyte proliferation biomarkers like GFAP, C3, and CD81, while increasing Ki67. Furthermore, it can lower the production of cytokines associated with inflammation, including TNF-α and IL-1β (Xian et al., 2019).
Xiang et al. create milk-derived EXOs as a unique, effective, and non-toxic siRNA carrier in order to investigate therapeutic delivery techniques. After siRNA-Keap1 (siKeap1) was sonicated into milk EXOs, it was shown that the resulting mEXOs-siKeap1 relieved oxidative stress in MGO-treated HUVECs and promoted HUVECs movement and multiplication. In contrast, mILK EXOs-siKeap1 injection drastically sped up diabetic wound healing in a mouse model of diabetic wounds by promoting collagen production and neovascularization. When combined, these findings show that milk EXOs may be used as an adaptable, biocompatible, and economical siRNA delivery technology and promote the advancement of Keap1 knockdown as a possible therapeutic approach for diabetic wounds (Xiang et al., 2023). As possible cargo molecules involved in intracellular communication and post-translational gene activity, EXOs microRNAs (ExomiRs) are essential in diagnostics. For example, exomir-122-5p can be employed as a prognostic biomarker for detecting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), since it inhibits the proper function of genes such as Glucose-6-Phosphate Catalytic Subunit 3 (G6PC3), which is necessary for the hydrolysis of glucose 6-phosphate in glycolysis, resulting in insulin resistance and, ultimately, GDM in patients (Ye et al., 2022).
4.4 Encouraging the inter-cellular communication
4.4.1 Embryonic/implantation role
By carrying regulatory molecules like miRNA from donor to recipient cells, EXOs help cells communicate with one another. For instance, miR-21-5p and miR-30d encourage placentation (Zhang et al., 2024). The blastocyst communicates with and controls the endometrium during embryo implantation, and the embryo is nurtured by endometrial fluid generated by the endometrial epithelium (; Vilella et al., 2015).
EXOs miRNAs and EXOs proteins both play key roles in embryo implantation. Research found that Hsa-miR-30d, released by EXOs secreted by human endometrial cells, is absorbed by the mouse embryo (Vilella et al., 2015).
By specifically targeting histone deacetylase 9, miRNA-30d-5p from placenta-derived EXOs mechanistically caused macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype. Additionally, they stimulated trophoblast invasion and migration. In contrast, the conditioned media hindered the transfer and development of endothelial cell tubes. T-cell proliferation was unaffected by macrophages treated with placenta-derived EXOs. In conclusion, EXOs produced from the placenta polarize macrophages to take on the characteristics of decidua-like macrophages, which in turn alter the activities of trophoblasts and endothelial cells ().
In vitro, amniotic epithelial cells (AEC) EXOs activated NF-κB and COX-2, contracting proteins, causing uterine myometrial cells to contract. The same mouse study demonstrated that dye-labeled EXOs administered intra-amniotically into pregnant mice traveled into the mother mice’s bloodstream and kidneys. EXOs have been shown to pass the placenta and disseminate throughout the bloodstream (Sheller-Miller et al., 2016).
4.4.2 Aging related roles
The age-related decline is connected with the development of the SASP, which may aid in phagocytosis-mediated clearance of aging cells. EXOs contain a high concentration of the Wnt signals, which are crucial for the preservation of homeostatic balance and are implicated in the aging process (Zhang et al., 2020b). As a consequence, it has been suggested that EXOs are SASP messengers. They are secreted by aged fibroblasts and epithelial cells. The aged also have an abnormal EXOs composition; for example, galectin-3, which is required for bone cell development, is drastically diminished. EXOs recovered from old individuals may arise from a lack of bone stemness (D’Anca et al., 2019).
Numerous physiological processes and illnesses are linked to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling system, which is home to a large number of glycoproteins with distinctive properties. It can take part in tissue reconditioning, physiological homeostasis, and growth and development (Jung and Suh, 2015). According to several studies, MSCs and their EXOs use the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to help cure disorders of the skin, cardiovascular system, neurological system, and other areas. BMMSCs-EXOs at a dose of 100 mg/mL, and the results demonstrated that BMMSCs-EXOs could raise the levels of Bcl-2, β-catenin, and TCF-4 while drastically lowering the degree of protein expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 (Hromadnikova et al., 2015).
Additionally, by lowering oxidative stress, encouraging DNA repair, restoring BMMSCs’ activity, stimulating the Wnt/β-catenin cascade, and reestablishing the lipogenic-osteogenic equilibrium, BMMSCs-EXOs can help alleviate osteoporosis (Zuo et al., 2019).
4.5 Promoting cellular differentiation
The development of cells is an intricate procedure that involves the anatomical and functional modification of cells, leading to the production of diverse cell types (Zakrzewski et al., 2019). This mechanism is predominantly connected with embryonic growth, but it also promotes the renewal and repair of tissues. Repair of damaged organs requires directing specific cell differentiation pathways of cells (Yin et al., 2020).
The EXOs cargo consists of various proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids (DNA, mRNA, and short RNAs. Noncoding, endogenous, single-stranded RNAs with a length of 18–25 bases, microRNAs (miRNAs) mostly inhibit their target genes at the post-transcriptional phase (Wang et al., 2018). There is growing evidence that miRNA-regulated epigenetic modifications are linked to various illnesses, such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders. By encouraging the proliferation and migration of pig trophoblast cells (PTr2) through its target gene phosphofructokinase-M (PFKM), miR-92b-3p can regulate embryo implantation (Wang et al., 2022c).
Furthermore, recent research in pigs has shown that miR-92b-3p, an EXOs generated from pigs’ endometrium, could control the division, movement, and adherence of trophoblasts (Hua et al., 2022). Additionally, EXOs have been linked to the formation of oocytes. Previous research has shown that bovine follicular EXOs can improve oocyte maturation by enhancing cumulus cell expansion (Hung et al., 2015).
The process by which tiny primordial follicles develop into giant preovulatory follicles, which partly takes place throughout the oestrus cycle, is known as folliculogenesis. Most follicles commit to atresia during folliculogenesis, but a small percentage become Graafian follicles. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), the target of miR-27b, is essential for the maturation of pig oocytes, whereas miR-202 is gonad-specific and may help avoid premature ovarian failure (POF) (Song et al., 2016). In humans, miR-15a may control BCL2 and cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A) to control oocyte development and maturation (Xu et al., 2011), while miR-335-5p regulates developing spindles and cytoskeleton activity in mice oocytes through MAPK signaling (Cui et al., 2013). Through the Notch2/TIM3/mTORC1 axis, EXOs miR-18b improves trophoblast recruitment and division, hence alleviating preeclampsia (Yang et al., 2021b).
4.6 Exosomes as pharmaceutical carriers
The emergence of EXOs-tailored delivery methods has created new avenues of optimism for targeted pharmaceutical delivery (Ogunnaike et al., 2021). According to research, the potency and purity of EXOs, in addition to their number, possess a tremendous influence on the success of treatment approaches (Machtinger et al., 2021; ). Creating a consistent and reproducible strategy for obtaining high-quality EXOs is crucial (Liang et al., 2021). EXOs’ unique qualities, such as intrinsic stability, minimal antigenicity, and high infiltration capability, have made them a popular choice for building tailored delivery devices (Taravat et al., 2024). Despite developing EXOs as drug transporters presenting several obstacles, it is moving quickly. EXOs administration technologies have fundamental challenges in entering clinical trials due to swift elimination from the circulatory system and insufficient targeting capabilities (Zhang et al., 2022a). In fact, other engineering procedures have been devised to produce modified EXOs with greater effectiveness. EXOs can be customized in two ways: 1 interior adjustments, which include integrating drugs and bioactive ingredients, and 2 external changes, which customize the exosome’s surface to target specific cells or tissues (Li et al., 2024a).
4.6.1 Cargo packaging into exosomes
Endogenous and exogenous cargo loading techniques are the two primary groups into which exosome cargo packing techniques fall (Gul et al., 2024). Exogenous cargo loading involves directly loading medications into the retrieved MSCs’ EXOs, whereas endogenous cargo loading involves modifying parental cells using viral vectors and plasmids (Kumar et al., 2023a). Viral vectors and plasmids are examples of genetic engineering tools that may be used to modify the expression levels of endogenous molecules in stem cells (Farzanehpour et al., 2023). Exogenous cargo loading strategies for managing illnesses include saponin permeabilization, freeze-thaw cycles, and room temperature incubation ().
4.6.2 Surface modification
Notwithstanding their natural origin, EXOs may be easily surface-changed. Genetic engineering and chemical modification are two types of modification techniques. Genetic engineering entails integrating the genetic sequencing of a directing protein or polypeptide with that of a EXOs membrane protein. This approach functions effectively for expressing peptides and proteins on the surface; however, it is limited to targeting arrangements that are genetically programmed ().
Chemical modification enables a vast variety of ligands to be demonstrated via conjugation methods or lipid assembly. Conjugation processes can covalently and stably change EXOs surface proteins, although the complicated nature of the exosome surface can impair reaction efficiency, and site specificity is frequently lost (Chu et al., 2022; Sengupta et al., 2020). Covalent alteration may potentially threaten the vehicle’s structural and functional integrity and may increase the toxicity of EXOs (Smyth et al., 2014).
Notwithstanding encouraging existing accomplishments, there are only a few investigations that reveal EXOs to be superior to FDA-authorized nanomedicines (e.g., liposomes); therefore, further research into EXOs as carriers of medication is unavoidable (Lu et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2023b).
EXOs are more bioactive and antigenic than liposomes because they are primarily generated by cells, which improves their stability in the circulation and increases their absorption capacity and medicinal efficacy in vitro and in vivo (; ).
Liposomes, on the other hand, have three key drawbacks that drastically limit their therapeutic use. First, liposomes may be unable to endure shear pressures or variations in environmental factors or diluent content. Second, liposomes are exceedingly sensitive to environmental stimuli and reactions, making them unsuitable for widespread application in medication administration. Third, it is challenging to precisely transport substances within liposomes to specific locations in vivo (Smyth et al., 2015).
5 Formulation of exosome agents
To enhance their therapeutic effects, exosome preparation studies should focus on three critical aspects: storage, delivery modalities, and therapeutic enhancement (Figure 2; Table 1; Donoso-Quezada et al., 2021b).
FIGURE 2
TABLE 1
| EV-related procedures | Pitfalls | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gathering | The optimum methodology depends on the kind of fluid, and cellular origin of the EVs, along with downstream assessment. | () |
| Different isolation methods | Consistency in EXOs separation techniques is necessary to avoid variations in EXOs content and size throughout the analysis. | Konoshenko et al. (2018) |
| Storage | To prevent vesicle breakdown, freeze samples at 80 °C. Additionally, it is recommended to prevent repetitive Freezing-thawing of the portions before testing. | Lee et al. (2016) |
| Purity | Sample duplicates and adjustment of outcomes for numerous evaluations are critical. | Rupert et al. (2017) |
Pitfalls in EV studies.
5.1 Storage
EXOs are a potential cell-free treatment; nevertheless, they cannot attain activity for very long. As a result, studies on exosome storage technologies are necessary to maintain their biological activity while also making them easier to carry and apply in therapeutic settings (Levy et al., 2023). At present, the most common protective strategy is the storage in freezers, freeze-drying, and spray-drying (Song et al., 2020). Traditionally, EXOs are preserved at 4 °C, −20 °C, and −80 °C (Levy et al., 2023). Despite notable variations in conclusions, several studies have evaluated the influence of temperature on storage (Klymiuk et al., 2024; Rashidi et al., 2022). For example, Levy et al. proposed that EXOs stored at −20 °C and prolonged freeze-thawing resulted in EXOs aggregation. Wu et al. supported this result by seeing a drop in both the overall protein quantity and general RNA concentration at more elevated storage temperatures (RT, 4 °C) and following repeated intervals of freeze-thawing (Wu et al., 2021a). Furthermore, Van De Wakker et al. revealed that bioactivity of BMMSCs-EXOs is reduced after storage at room temperature and 4 °C, but storage at −20 °C, −80 °C, or lyophilization typically retains bioactivity for up to 4 weeks (Van De Wakker et al., 2022). Maroto et al. found that keeping EXOs for more than 4 days, whether at 4 °C or −80 °C, had a negative impact on their proteomic composition (Maroto et al., 2017). Yuana et al. obtained cell-free pee and kept it in freezing conditions for a year before collecting the EXOs and comparing them to those recovered from fresh urine. The quantity of EXOs extracted from a fresh urine sample was 109–1,010/mL, which reduced twofold following a single freeze-thaw cycle. EXOs’ diameter rose by 17% after storage. However, no morphological alterations were seen during storage (Yuana et al., 2015). In general, research suggests that storing EXOs-containing urine samples at −80 °C with protease inhibitors is effective for long-term preservation.
Spray drying begins by atomizing the EXOs solution, then, when exposed to a hot gas, the droplets are swiftly changed into a dry powder. When compared to freeze drying, spray drying is quicker, requires only one stage, and serves as an ongoing drying procedure, making it more cost-effective (). Spray drying is recommended for heat-sensitive ingredients (Singh et al., 2023). Furthermore, water retention can worsen chemical fragility by lowering the glass transition temperature of solid fragments. Further research is needed to bring this technology to the development of EXO-based therapeutics (Emami et al., 2023).
Lyophilization has recently emerged as a viable alternative to standard 80 °C storage. Lyophilization not only increases exosome storage time by allowing direct room temperature preservation, but it also lowers preservation expenses. Lyophilized substances can be kept at room temperature and quickly reproduced in water or a physiological solution (Liu et al., 2021). Although lyophilization has storage advantages, it also has substantial drawbacks like ice crystallization, dehydration, and osmosis, which may jeopardize the dimensional stability and composition of EXOs cargos and membranes. Lyophilized EXOs using lyoprotectants such trehalose and sucrose show superior diversity in sizes, structural reliability, particle amount, and protein/RNA content preservation than those held at −80 °C ().
Investigators conducted trials with the inclusion of several lyoprotectants to prevent lyophilization damage while maintaining exosome integrity and size. Before getting freeze-dried, these compounds may bond with phospholipid motifs, dislodging moisture and producing a glassy lattice of sugar (). This matrix inhibits ice crystal formation, minimizing vesicle damage and aggregation (). In this procedure, effectiveness may be influenced by the application of various cell origins as well as initial separation techniques (Merivaara et al., 2021).
5.2 Administration
EXOs’ research has made significant progress in cell-free medical applications around the world (Moghadasi et al., 2021). Several techniques for targeted exosome delivery have been studied, including direct application, intravenous infusion, intraperitoneal injection, swallowing, and hydrogel-based encapsulation (Moss et al., 2021).
Direct administration can be administered via intravenous injection or topically in tissues, which is a typical method of exosome treatment. EXOs rapidly leave the circulation and aggregate in parenchymal tissues, with a plasma half-life of only 2–4 min (Driedonks et al., 2022). Local delivery can be more beneficial in terms of enhancing the amount and sustainability of their effects (Sanz-Ros et al., 2022). Intranasal administration is more successful, especially in avoiding the difficulties associated with transporting medications across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The intranasal approach reduces exosome loss by bypassing intestinal and hepatic routes (Guo et al., 2019). According to investigations, intranasal injection of EXOs containing curcumin and cucurbitacin led to fast transport to the mouse brain. This platform can boost tumor apoptosis and reduce metastasis. Curcumin-loaded EXOs demonstrated a substantial decrease in microglial cell count (Zhuang et al., 2011).
Exosome injections without scaffolds have disadvantages, including systemic uptake and lower efficiency at the defect location, prompting the usage of exosome-loaded scaffolds. This exosome-delivery technology has the potential to be highly successful in tissue healing. Meanwhile, certain kinds of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-EXOs aggregate in damaged tissues, causing inflammatory responses and other pathological alterations (Ghafouri-Fard et al., 2021). EXOs from adipose tissue-derived MSCs have been shown to increase the expression of miR-122. Increased levels of miR-122 inhibited LX2 cell growth by targeting the P4HA1 gene. This miRNA has been demonstrated to inhibit collagen maturation and extracellular matrix formation (Li et al., 2013). As a consequence, the invention and utilization of EXOs-loaded scaffolds for effective and controlled release have arisen as a captivating study subject in regenerative medicine (Li et al., 2023a). Non-invasive intracavitary injection is an excellent treatment for uterine and vaginal damage (Lv et al., 2020).
The development of ways to extend the half-life and local longevity of EXOs is a critical challenge for their therapeutic use. According to the research, mixing EXOs with biomaterials may be the most appropriate answer to this difficulty (Zhu Y.-G. et al., 2022). A desirable biomaterial should be capable of maintaining exosome biological stability while also regulating release kinetics in accordance with a favorable release schedule (). Lin et al. discovered that AMSCs-|EXOs loaded into injectable PEG hydrogels provide antimicrobial capacity for the endometrial environment, promote endometrium regeneration, and fertility reconstruction (Lin et al., 2021b).
5.3 Therapeutic enhancement
When establishing EXOs as biological therapies, simply addressing storage issues is insufficient for EXOs to engage in important therapeutic transformations. The limited extraction amount and longevity of EXOs have led investigators to focus on exosome modification (Zhou C. et al., 2023). Repeated injections are not viable in the clinic, necessitating the development of improved delivery methods with high tissue intake, biosafety, and simplicity of application (Wang et al., 2022b). While topical exosome administration seems promising, there are some drawbacks, such as limited skin penetration, variability in exosome creation and characterization, and a lack of established techniques. EXOs may have a limited half-life in vivo, necessitating several doses or sustained-release preparations to obtain the desired therapeutic effects While efforts have been made to address these concerns, there is still a need for simple and efficient solutions (Wan et al., 2023). An increasing amount of research suggests that providing medium conditioned with mesenchymal stem cells might be a viable option for live cell treatment. MSCs have an excellent safety profile and may be preserved without losing their regenerative potential (Lin et al., 2021b). It is adaptable enough to be used in a variety of delivery vehicles, improving engraftment and controlling therapeutic administration.
Hydrogels are a potential way to regulate exosome delivery, but they have significant disadvantages (Zhang et al., 2023a). These include obstacles in ensuring continuous release, possible concerns with the hydrogel’s mechanical strength and stability, and challenges associated with large-scale manufacture (Zhang et al., 2023a). Furthermore, chemical and physical interactions between EXOs and the hydrogel matrix can influence exosome release and therapeutic effectiveness (Ghahremani-Nasab et al., 2025).
Liu et al. discovered that hydrogel cross-linking may lengthen the releasing duration of EXOs in rats from 4 to 7 days, resulting in a stronger therapeutic efficacy at the same dosage. The hydrogel’s 3-D matrix allows a wide range of medicines to cross-link, increasing the therapeutic value (Liu et al., 2019).
6 Medicinal advantages of EXOs in female infertility conditions
EXOs have been shown to be a promising therapeutic device for carrying payloads in the treatment of female infertility (Teng et al., 2024; Tuscharoenporn et al., 2025; ). However, the pathophysiological processes of EXOs in female infertility have not been fully understood. More studies must be conducted to determine the cause and give proof for potential therapeutic treatments (Liu et al., 2024a).
6.1 Treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a multifaceted illness associated with inflammatory processes, blood vessel development, and apoptosis tolerance. Eutopic endometrium (EUE) in endometriosis patients contributes to the disease’s development and promotes ectopic endometrium (EE) survival by regulating many molecular pathways (Zhu et al., 2023). Endometriosis can manifest in a variety of ways, ranging from asymptomatic lesions discovered by chance to a severe condition that is unrelated to the extent of the disease. Most typically, the initial symptoms appear before the age of 20 (Wang et al., 2023).
Manifestations of endometriosis include persistent pelvic discomfort, extremely excruciating periods, painful intercourse, urination, and/or painful bowel movements. It could also raise the chance of behavioral wellness concerns, like anxiety and sadness. Endometriosis can also cause infertility without accompanying other manifestations (Lin et al., 2021b). Endometriosis can affect fertility through a variety of mechanisms, including deformed pelvic cavity morphology, adherence development, fallopian tube fibrosis, localized inflammation of pelvic systems, immunological dysfunction, alterations in the hormonal homeostasis within the uterus, and/or deficient embryo implantation (Neto et al., 2024; Dabi et al., 2024).
Furthermore, the condition has a substantial negative influence on the standard of living and emotional health because of discomfort and other complaints such as exhaustion, excessive bleeding, or erratic emotions. Women may be unable to attend school or work, and may avoid sexual activity (Qin et al., 2024). One of the primary processes involved in disorders characterized by cell division and penetration is inflammation, which is produced by immunological dysregulation. Endometrial lesions are formed and further developed by immunological cells. In the case of endometriosis, proinflammatory mechanisms inhibit apoptotic processes, causing potentially dangerous cells to cling to distant regions, which demonstrates the benefits of EXOs in endometriosis management (Figure 3; Moghaddam et al., 2022).
FIGURE 3
Lin et al. discovered that intra-uterine injection of poly-ε-l-lysine hydrogel-loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells EXOs (HUCMSCs-EXOs) and spermidine prenatally increased pregnancy frequency in mice with a weak endometrial lining. This platform demonstrated much higher expression of integrin-β3, LIF, and VEGF proteins. These characteristics enhance and extend endometrial function (Lin et al., 2024). EXOs produced from ectopic embryonic stem cells were shown to induce M2 macrophage transition by releasing miR-146a-5p, via TRAF6 (Ji et al., 2024). Frequent abortion, curettage, or intrauterine infection can cause serious harm to the endometrium, potentially leading to pathological disorders and sabotaging fertility (Fernández et al., 2021). The primary goal of uterine infertility therapies is to promote endometrial regeneration (Zou et al., 2025). Traditional treatments have limited effectiveness, highlighting the need for new therapies to enhance endometrial regeneration (Table 2; Feng et al., 2021).
TABLE 2
| Type of exosomes | Preparation method | Size | Model | Outcomes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADSC-EXOs | Precipitation | 30–200 nm | In vivo: Rats | Improved uterine structure, endometrial regeneration, collagen reorganization | Zhao et al. (2020) |
| peritoneal macrophages (pMφ) exosomes | Differential centrifugation | 105 ± 3.9 nm | In vitro: Ectopic ESCs) | Enhanced cell division, immigration, and penetration. | Zhang et al. (2020a) |
| EMS pMφ -EXOs | Gradient centrifugation | 100 nm | In vitro: macrophages In vivo: Mice | Increased the amount and weight of endometriosic implants and increased MII pMφ counts. EXOs were absorbed by pMφ, resulting in MI and MII polarizing were changed, and phagocytic function was reduced. | Sun et al. (2019) |
| EXOs-HP | Differential centrifugation | 72.34 nm | In vitro: HEnSCs and glandular cells In vivo: Mice | Reduced fibrotic progression markers and restored the endometrium physiologic activities. | Lin et al. (2023) |
| CTF1-modified BMSCs-EXOs | Differential centrifugation | 60–120 nm | In vitro: HUVECs In vivo: Rats | In vitro: better neovascularization, including increased multiplication, movement, and tube genesis. In vivo: promote tissue regeneration, neovascularization, and inhibit localized tissue fibrosis. | Zhu et al. (2022a) |
| Endometriotic EXOs | Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation | 120 nm | In vitro cytotoxicity: PBMCs and the erythroid cell line K562. | Endometriotic protection from cytotoxic attacks apoptosis in activated immune cells. | |
| EMS –EOXs- miR-301a-3p | Differential centrifugation | 80 nm | In vitro: Human mononuclear cell line THP-1 | Induced M2 transformation in macrophages | Huang et al. (2022b) |
| EECs-EXOs | Ultrafiltration | 80 nm | In vitro: Ectopic ECs and normal ECs In vivo: Mice | Inhibited infiltration and migration capacity of ectopic nodules. | Zhang et al. (2022a) |
| UC-MSC EXOs/CS | Differential centrifugation | 136 nm | In vitro: Peritoneal macrophages from SD rats In vivo: Rats | Significantly improved endometrial regeneration, collagen remodeling, lowering inflammation and increased anti-inflammatory mechanisms. | Xin et al. (2020) |
Exosomes in the management of endometriosis.
ADSC-EXOs, exosomes derived from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; BMSCs, BMSCs; CS, collagen scaffold; CTF1,Cardiotrophin-1; ESCs, Embypnic stem cells; EMS, endometriosis; EMS, exosomes from endometriosis; EXOs, Exosomes; EXOs-HP, mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes encapsulated in heparin-poloxamer hydrogel; HEnSCs, human endometrial stromal cells; HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; PBMCs, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells; pMφ, peritoneal macrophages; UC-MSC, Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell.
Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) induced by endometrial damage is one of the most common causes of infertility in women of reproductive age and needs sophisticated therapeutic options (Huang et al., 2022b). Zhao et al. investigated adipose stem cells (ADSCs)/EXOs and evaluated the possibility of their use in intra-uterine adhesions (IUA) in rats. Following ADSCs-EXOs administration, the uterine cavity grew, the endometrium’s surface recovered epithelialization, and endometrial glands increased, along with fewer fibrotic regions (Zhao et al., 2020). In this regard, Jin et al. created an extracellular matrix (ECM)/ADSCs-EXOs scaffold that was cytocompatible and could enhance cellular division, motility, and revascularization in vitro. In addition, when implanted in rats, they enhanced endometrium regeneration, increased local angiogenesis, encouraged myometrium rejuvenation, and, ultimately, retained fertility (Jin et al., 2023).
Moreover, Lin et al. developed thermally sensitive poloxamer hydrogel loaded with EXOs to enhance EXOs’ bioavailability in the uterus. In the IUA model, this platform significantly repaired the activity and morphology of the endometrium by inhibiting fibrotic advancement markers (Lin et al., 2023). EXOs released by peritoneal macrophages (pMφ) can effectively transfer to endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs). EXOs from EMS containing pMφ increased EnSCs proliferation, migration, and invasion rates. MiR-22-3p levels were considerably elevated in pMφ-derived EXOs from EMS, which were then transferred to EnSCs via EXOs. EXOs miR-22-3p from pMφ increased EnSCs division, movement, and penetration by engaging SIRT1 and stimulating the NF-κB pathway (Zhang et al., 2020a).
EXOs from endometrial epithelial cells enhance embryo advancement, growth, and placement, whereas the SS performs a selective function in mouse embryo development (Gurung et al., 2020). HUVECs treated with canine bone marrow stem cells (C-BMMSCs)-EXOs showed better cellular division, migration, and tube formation, indicating increased neovascularization (Zhu Q. et al., 2022). EMS-originated EXOs miR-301a-3p regulate the polarization of macrophages via the PTEN-PI3K system (Huang et al., 2022b).
Abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix in endometrial glands causes endometrial fibrosis, which impairs uterine function. Thus, it is critical to investigate endometriosis fibrosis therapy. Two distinct study groups found that EXOs miR-214 or miR-214-3p produced from ectopic endometriosis stromal cells prevented fibrosis by targeting cellular communication network-2 (CCN2), which is strongly associated with fibrogenesis (Wu et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2021c). Furthermore, Zhang and colleagues demonstrated that EXOs played a critical role in the delivery of miR-214-3p for fibrosis therapy (Zhang et al., 2021c).
MiR-30c-loaded EXOs from ectopic endometrial cells (EECs) reduced the metastatic development of ectopic EEC nodules. EEC-derived EXOs supplied miR-30c, which blocked BCL9 transcription and suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin system, reducing tumor-like characteristics of ectopic ECs in EMS (Zhang et al., 2022a). Previous research has shown that UCMSCs-EXOs, as regenerative nano-conveyors, perform a comparable function to their parent cells in easing fibrosis, boosting division, and immune-modulation (Pu et al., 2023).
Xin et al. blended UCMSCs EXOs and collagen scaffold (CS/EXOs) construct for endometrium rejuvenation in rats. The CS/UC-MSC-EXOs transplantation considerably encouraged endometrial regeneration, collagen reconstruction, hormonal activity, and fertility restoration. Moreover, it promoted CD163+M2 macrophage polarization and decreased inflammatory reactions (Xin et al., 2020). UCMSCs-EXOs combine the benefits of hUCMSCs’ pluripotency with nanoscale dimensions, improving their therapeutic potential through longer circulation half-life. Notwithstanding these intriguing traits, investigations concerning their immunological toxicity are yet limited (Dehghani L. et al., 2024; Mao et al., 2024).
6.2 Management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a neglected, underdiagnosed, and understudied illness that impacts a significant percentage of the female population worldwide, particularly in developing countries (). Women with PCOS remain undiagnosed in early care. As a result, it puts an economic burden on healthcare providers. It is also marked by ovulation problems, which can result in fertility issues (Siddiqui et al., 2023). The pathophysiology of PCOS is complex and influenced by the combination of reproductive and metabolic diseases (Koike et al., 2023). PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance, which are further exacerbated by hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis dysfunction (Liao et al., 2021).
It has been suggested that the oocyte and its adjacent cumulus cells (CCs) exhibit a mutually advantageous connection in the initial phase of developing follicles, of which CCs are primarily accountable for releasing growth hormones and ovarian steroid hormones, demonstrating that CCs perform essential functions in oocyte development (Sun et al., 2023). However, atresia is brought on by oocyte dysfunction brought on by aberrant CC cell division or apoptosis, which is in line with research showing that CCs’ abnormal cell functions are linked to infertility, anovulation, and collapse in follicle maturation—all of which are manifestations that PCOS patients also experience (Yang et al., 2021a).
Exosome-based medicines were investigated as a viable therapeutic technique for treating PCOS (Figure 4; Hadidi et al., 2023; Fang et al., 2024; Jiang et al., 2023; Mansoori et al., 2024). Cao et al. proved that amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs)/EXOs can provide protection against metabolic abnormalities, alleviate dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS in rats, while increasing their fertility. After 3 weeks, injecting AMSCs-EXOs into PCOS rats can improve hepatic malfunction, ovarian cysts, and infertility caused by DHEA. Moreover, there was a noticeable decline in T levels. Adiponectin secretion was also enhanced by AMSCs-EXOs therapy (). Exosome treatment increased cell division and inhibited apoptosis in CCs via upregulating miR-323-3p (Mehravar et al., 2025). Based on the outcomes of an investigation conducted by Zhou et al., EXOs derived from ovarian follicular fluid reduced PTEN transcription and lowered apoptosis. In rats with PCOS, these EXOs increase estradiol (E2) levels while decreasing LH and FSH concentrations, indicating that they may help follicular fluid (FF) ameliorate the condition (Zhou et al., 2022). HUCMSCs/EXOs could increase anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10 while suppressing inflammation-related mediators. Moreover, they could suppress apoptosis while increasing progesterone synthesis. Antral follicle count (AFC), testosterone (T), body mass index (BMI), and baseline levels of LH were all considerably greater in the PCOS group than in the healthy control group (P < 0.01). Nonetheless, the PCOS group’s baseline FSH level was much lower than that of the healthy control group (P = 0.033) (Zhao et al., 2022).
FIGURE 4
EXOs have shown promise in the treatment of PCOS, although there may be concerns to take into account. These include the possibility that EXOs might worsen pre-existing problems by carrying hazardous cargo, as well as dangers related to the EXOs’ source (such as human biologics or disease transmission). In particular, miRNAs that stimulate granulosa cell death or cancer cell migration may be present in EXOs from PCOS patients (). In addition, further study is required to completely understand the long-term benefits and potential negative outcomes of EXOs, as their usage in PCOS therapy is still relatively new.
6.3 Exosomes in primary ovarian insufficiency (POI)
Sex hormones are generally known they regulate the development of eggs and the functioning of reproduction. They have been shown to have pleiotropic effects in both men and women. Furthermore, alongside their transcription in typically targeted tissues, such as the ovaries and the uterus, their receptors have been discovered in other tissues, such as the bone and the circulatory system (Yan et al., 2022a). POI is an impairment of normal ovarian functionality taking place before reaching the age of forty. Menstrual irregularities in the absence of pregnancy indicate a physiological or pathological disturbance of this well-organized mechanism. Although the actual cause of POI is uncertain, the involvement of environmental and genetic variables in this condition has been demonstrated (Liu et al., 2023a).
POI is distinct from menopause in that it is a reversible ovarian syndrome that affects around 50% of POI patients. Furthermore, roughly 5%–10% of individuals with POI get pregnant and give birth to a healthy child following therapy (Nelson, 2009). There have been no reports of successful treatment yet. Hormonal treatment can only give brief relief for E2 deficiency. Other options, including egg transfer, are sometimes unfeasible owing to financial and ethical considerations (Huang et al., 2022a). Higher E2 levels and enhanced follicle growth, as well as an expanded population of antral follicles, indicate proper ovarian function, which eventually leads to a healthy pregnancy. Cellular differentiation, better vascular remodeling, decreased apoptosis, and upregulation of antioxidant molecules all contribute to the recovery of ovarian tissue structure and function (Yan et al., 2022a). Numerous investigations demonstrate that EXOs have therapeutic advantages in POI (Table 3; Tesarik et al., 2021). Exosome therapy with MSCs prior to chemotherapy can maintain ovarian health and safeguard fertility by overexpressing ATP synthase-binding cassette carriers, including ABCB1b (Park et al., 2024). As key players in folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, steroidogenesis, and ovulation, microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of ovarian function (Ghasroldasht et al., 2025; Nazdikbin Yamchi et al., 2023). EXOs affect several ovarian functions, including tissue remodeling, apoptosis, and division of cells. PCOS, POF, and gynecological cancers have all been related to dysregulation of miRNAs (Nouri et al., 2022).
TABLE 3
| Type of exosomes | Preparation method | Size | Model | Outcomes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESCs-EXOS | Differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation | 50–75 nm | In vivo: Mice | Enhanced granulosa cell proliferation and increased phosphorylated PI3K and AKT expression. | Liu et al. (2020c) |
| miR-126-3p-HucMSCs-EXOs | Ultracentrifugation | 10–100 nm | In vitro: Rat OGCs | Displayed both pro-angiogenic and anti-apoptotic effects | Qu et al. (2022) |
| HucMSC-Exos | Differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation | In vitro: Mice OGCs In vivo: Mice | Re-established hormone levels for the ovaries, leading to enhanced functionality and multiplication. | Li et al. (2021b) | |
| MenSCs-EXOs | Ultracentrifugation | In vivo: Rats | Increased the activity and reduced the death of VCD-induced granulosa cells in vitro. improved POI prognosis, restored ovaries bioactivities, and increased GCs activity. | Song et al. (2023) | |
| HUC-MSCs EXOs | Differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation | 141.6 nm diameter | In vivo: Mice | Restored ovarian phenotype and function, increased proliferation | Ding et al. (2020) |
| MenSCs-EXOs | Ultracentrifugation and ultrafiltration | 128 nm diameter | In vivo: Rats | MenSCs-EXOs exposure boosted granulosa cell proliferation in primordial and primary follicles | Zhang et al. (2021b) |
| MSC-derived EXOs | Centrifugation | NA | In vivo: Mice | Restored estrous cycle and serum hormone levels | Park et al. (2023) |
| BMSCS EXOs- miR-144-5p | Differential centrifugation | NA | In vivo: Rats | Effectively prevented CTX-induced POF and improved repair by inhibiting GC apoptosis through PTEN targeting. | Yang et al. (2020a) |
Investigation of exosomes therapeutic actions in POI.
BMSCs, Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; CTX, cyclophosphamide; ESCs, embryonic stem cells; HucMSC-EXOs, Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived-exosomes; HucMSCs, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells; MenSCs, Menstrual blood stromal cells; MSCs, Mesenchymal stem cells; OGCs, ovarian granulosa cells; PI3K, phosphoinositide-3-kinase.
HUCMSCs-EXOs stimulate primordial follicles by transporting functioning microRNAs. Intrabursal injection of HUC-MSCs-EXOs into elderly female mice resulted in enhanced oocytic synthesis and better performance, reversing impaired fertility (Yang et al., 2020b). In vitro, MSCs-EXOs dramatically increased cell proliferation and estrogen release while inhibiting apoptosis and pyroptosis. EXO’s therapy corrected erratic estrous cycles, reversed apoptosis of the follicles, and raised the conception rate and quantity of pups in POI mice (Xie et al., 2024).
Human amniotic epithelial cells-EXOs may recapture ovarian functioning in chemotherapy-triggered POF mice by transporting miRNAs (Zhang et al., 2019a). MiR-21 transported by HUCMSCs-derived EXOs might suppress LATS1, lowering phosphorylated LOXL2 and YAP, and, as a result, increasing estrogen release in ovarian granulosa cells (). Human endometrial stem cells (EnSCs)-EXOs dramatically increased ovarian granulosa cells (OGCs) proliferation and function via modulating the Hippo signaling system. These results add to our comprehension of EnSC-EXOs’ role in ovarian function recovery (Wang et al., 2024b). Serum sex hormone levels returned to normal following embryonic stem cell (ESCs)/EXOs transplantation. Furthermore, the number of follicles grew dramatically, while the amount of apoptotic cells dropped (Figure 5). The in vitro tests showed that ESCs-EXOs could dramatically boost granulosa cell proliferation and phosphorylated PI3K and AKT expression levels. Additionally, the beneficial impact on multiplication and the antagonistic influence on apoptosis found in GCs were clearly reduced when the PI3K/AKT system was blocked (Liu et al., 2020c). In a rat POF model, application of miR-126-3p-hUCMSCs- EXOs elevated E2 and AMH concentrations, raised body and female reproductive organs masses and follicle numbers, and decreased FSH (Qu et al., 2022).
FIGURE 5
In vitro, EXOs administration dramatically increased the activity of granulosa cells caused by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) while inhibiting apoptosis (Song et al., 2023). Menstrual stem cells (MenSCs) stimulated the division of granulosa cells, as well as prevented follicle apoptosis. In a rat model of POI, MenSCs-EXOs transplantation successfully increased follicle formation and augmented estrous cycle and normal levels of sex hormones, leading to a better live birth outcome (Zhang et al., 2021b).
Regarding the assessment of long-lasting impacts, MSCs-administered mice revealed that 60%–80% of the samples became pregnant in the second cycle of breeding. In contrast, mice that received EXOs became impotent again in the second cycle of reproduction (Park et al., 2023). BMMSCs-derived EXOs suppress degeneration of ovarian follicles in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-administered rats by transporting miR-144-5p, which could be transported to CTX-affected OGCs and reduce GC death (Yang et al., 2020a).
In POI rats, amniotic fluid EXOs transplantation may help ovarian function via activating the TGF-β/Smads signaling system (Nazdikbin Yamchi et al., 2023). In order to compare the fertility restoration, parallel breeding studies were also carried out. Comparing the MSCs-treated and EXOs-treated groups to the untreated POI mice, the former showed restored blood hormone levels and estrous cycles. After treatment, the group treated with MSCs had a pregnancy rate of 60%–100%, whereas the group treated with EXOs had a pregnancy rate of 30%–50%. Remarkably, in terms of long-term impacts, the mice that received MSCs continuously maintained a 60%–80% conception rate over a second breeding cycle, whereas the group treated with EXOs relapsed into infertility during the same period (Park et al., 2023).
Thirty women with reduced ovarian reserve who refused the egg donation process participated in a prospective, randomized, comparative research by Navarro et al. There were three trial groups, each with ten patients: the first received saline solution, the second PRP, and the third platelet-derived autologous EXOs. Women in the autologous Exosome group showed improvements in female reproductive factors such as FSH, LH, Estradiol, Anti-Müllerian hormone, and antral follicle count, in addition to edema of more oocytes acquired in Metaphase II, higher fertilization percentage, frozen embryos, and confirmed pregnancies. Autologous EXOs for ovarian biostimulation may provide a safe and effective treatment for lowering indicators of poor ovarian reserve (Navarro et al., 2025). In conclusion, research has shown the clear advantages of exosome therapies for the management of POI and in regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, there are not enough preclinical studies showing exosome therapy’s effectiveness and safety for POI.
6.4 Ashermann syndrome (AS)
It is a gynecological illness that was originally reported by Israeli physician Joseph Asherman in 1948 (Khan, 2023). It is a complex illness that involves the partial or total loss of the uterus and/or cervical canals. It is a hotly debated issue due to its significant impact on both reproductive outcomes and gynecological disorders (Liu et al., 2020a). According to recent findings, damage to the endometrium is the primary driver of intrauterine adhesion development (He et al., 2022; Dong et al., 2025). If neglected, these adhesions can produce several manifestations, from mild to catastrophic (Tarafdari et al., 2023).
Recovering the uterine cavity’s dimensions and form, limiting adhesion recurrence, encouraging the endometrium’s regeneration and repair, and reestablishing regular reproductive processes are the goals of treatment for Asherman syndrome. Numerous surgical procedures have been described within the past century (Saribas et al., 2020; Khan, 2023). Following surgery, the uterine cavity can be restored and the endometrium can be regenerated, allowing all three patients to resume regular menstruation (Tan et al., 2021). However, patients’ postoperative hysterosalpingography (HSG) findings showed persistent endometrial scarring. In situations when the uterus is completely obliterated and there are no markers to help the surgeons separate the cavity walls, the researchers concluded that this procedure has shown promising outcomes in restoring the integrity of the uterus (Katre et al., 2024). However, to confirm the effectiveness of this method, many patients must undergo longer-term follow-up evaluations. This therapy should only be used in the most severe circumstances, and patients should have received counseling on the risks of scar rupture during subsequent pregnancies, the chance for bleeding with a hysterectomy, and the difficulties of a laparotomy (Zhang et al., 2023c; Tsiampa et al., 2024).
Newton et al. (1989) and have reported on laser vaporization surgery, employing Nd-YAG and KTP lasers. In the latter technique, the necrosis depth has been reported to be low, ranging from 1 to 2 mm. Although the technique has been employed in outpatient settings with CO2 distension, it is only applicable to individuals who have filmy intrauterine adhesions. Nowadays, hysteroscopic adhesiolysis seldom ever uses this technique (Echeng et al., 2024). While Asherman’s syndrome was first recorded over a century ago, and several preventative measures have been developed, a viable non-invasive treatment for preventing adhesion recurrence must be presented and proven (Table 4; Ghajari et al., 2023).
TABLE 4
| Type of EXOs | Cargo | Preparation technique | Size | Model | Outcomes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCs/MSCs-EXOs | Ultra-centrifugation | 120–400 nm in diameter | In vivo: Rats | Minimized concentrations of proinflammatory TNFα and boosted the release of anti-inflammatory IL-10, as well as endometrial receptivity cytokines VEGF and LIF. | Mansouri-Kivaj et al. (2023) | |
| uterine-derived MSCs-EXOS | Immunoprecipitation | 40–100 nm | In vivo: Rats | Enhanced vascularization and proliferation in uterine tissue, as well as reduced fibrosis faster than MSCs. | Saribas et al. (2020) | |
| BMSCs-EXOs | Immunoprecipitation | 130 ± 11 nm. | In vivo: Rabbits | TGF-b1 can reverse the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rabbits. | Yao et al. (2019b) | |
| ADSC-EXOs- loaded PEG-Ag hydrogel | ADSC-EXOs | Differential centrifugation | 50–100 nm in size | In vitro: HUVEC In vivo: Rats | In vitro: improved their angiogenic potential. In vivo: promoted endometrial regeneration | Lin et al. (2021b) |
| ADSC-EXOs | Differential ultracentrifugation | 30–200 nm | In vitro In vivo: Rats | Restoring endometrium to normal shape, decreasing fibrotic mediators. | Zhao et al. (2020) | |
| UCMSC-EXOs | Differential ultracentrifugation | 50–150 nm | In vitro: endometrial stromal cells (ESC) | Alleviated TGFβ1-induced endometrial fibrosis. | Li et al. (2023b) |
Exosomes benefit in Ashermann syndrome therapy.
ADSC-EXOs, Adipose stem cell-derived exosomes; BMSC, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell; ESC, endometrial stromal cells; IL, interleukin; LIF, leukemia inhibitory factor; MSCs, Mesenchymal stem cells; PEG, poly ethylene glycol; TGF, transforming growth factor; UCMSC-EXOs, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.
Numerous paracrine factors involved in angiogenesis and regeneration are found in EXOs. EXOs are very interesting in the field of regenerative medicine since they include a wide range of materials, including non-immunogenicity (Mansouri-Kivaj et al., 2023; Hou et al., 2025). EXOs miR-122 can boost endometrium rejuvenation and repair of conceiving capability in mice ().
Although there are EV20K and EV110K subpopulations, EV110K populations are in fact often smaller than EV20K populations (Hosseinkhani et al., 2020). Mansouri-Kivaj et al. mechanically damaged adult rat uteri to construct an AS model. A homogenous population of BMMSCs, MSCs, or MSCs-derived EXOs subpopulations (EV20K and EV110K) was then administered to the mice right away. MSCs and EXOs transplantation helped to heal the endometrium and promote female fertility, most likely by inhibiting extensive fibrotic and inflammatory reactions, increasing endometrial cell division, and regulating mediators associated with endometrial receptivity. BMMSCs outperformed traditional MSCs in terms of reproductive functionality restoration. Furthermore, EV20K is more affordable and viable for the avoidance of AS than traditional EXOs (EV110K) (Mansouri-Kivaj et al., 2023).
MSCs and exosome therapies improved uterine tissue growth and vascularization. MSCs and EXOs treatment raised MMP-2 and MMP-9 transcription, but TIMP-2 concentrations dropped. MSCs and exosome treatments boosted multiplication and vascularization while decreasing fibrosis in the uterus, with better results in EXOs-treated groups (Saribas et al., 2020). BMMSCs-derived EXOs, like BMMSCs, can heal wounded endometrium and could counteract EMT in rabbit epithelial ECs generated by TGF-β1. BMMSCs-EXOs may stimulate endometrial healing via the TGF-β1/Smad system (Yao et al., 2019b). ADSCs-EXOs Laden PEG Hydrogel has a remarkable neovascularization-promoting impact, increasing HUVECs division and tube formation by 1.87 and 2.2 times. This platform enhanced vascularity and tissue regeneration while blocking fibrosis in vitro and in vivo (Lin et al., 2021b).
Adipose stem cells EXOs (ADSC-EXOs) therapy in the IUA model preserved typical uterine morphology, accelerated endometrial rejuvenation and restructuring of collagen, increased levels of integrin-β3, LIF, and VEGF, and increased responsiveness of the rejuvenated endometrium (Zhao et al., 2020). Umbilical cord stem cells EXOs (UCMSCs-EXOs) can stop endometrial cell fibrosis via modulating the miR-145-5p/ZEB2 axis, suggesting a possible innovative method to enhance endometrial healing (Li et al., 2023b).
Tan et al. extracted BMSC-Exo using the magnetic bead affinity technique and examined its biological makeup. In this study, the exosome-specific proteins CD9, CD63, and CD81 were expressed by BMMSCs-EXOs. The contents may be transported into the target cells by BMMSCs-Exo. Both in vitro and in vivo, BMMSCs-Exo can support endometrial healing. Overexpression of miR-29a in BMMSCs-Exo may decrease αSMA, Collagen I, SMAD2, and SMAD3 (Tan et al., 2020).
6.5 Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is one of the “enigmatic obstetrical syndromes” in which several, sometimes interconnecting pathologic events activate a similar pathway that includes endothelial cell stimulation, intravascular inflammatory processes, and syncytiotrophoblast stress (MacDonald et al., 2022). Preeclampsia is a hypertensive pregnancy condition that, if detected and treated early, can significantly reduce the risk of fetal mortality (Lin et al., 2022).
Nowadays, invasive laboratory testing and clinical signs like proteinuria and hypertension are used to diagnose preeclampsia. Establishing preventative measures to lower the incidence and severity of preeclampsia (PE) and its related consequences requires the development of methods for earlier identification of people who are susceptible to PE (Verlohren and Dröge, 2022).
Kim et al. used maternal urine and urinary EXOs to study the function of soluble proteins and EXOs in noninvasively detecting preeclampsia. They found that urine as-is had larger quantities of soluble proteins than urinary EXOs, including placental growth factor (PlGF) and fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1). The sensitivity of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio proved to be 1.5 times greater in tests using urine-derived EXOs and 4.0-fold greater in urine testing when compared with commercial blood tests. Their research presents encouraging opportunities for the early and non-invasive detection of high-risk patients who may develop preeclampsia, enabling all-encompassing preventative care (Kim et al., 2024).
Salomon proposed that measuring the amount of placenta-derived EXOs in maternal blood, as well as the expression of hsa-miR-486-1-5p and hsa-miR-486-2-5p, might help us monitor asymptomatic women who are at risk of developing PE (Salomon et al., 2017). Because placental protein 13 is essential for initial placental growth and the modulation of maternal immunoreaction via T-cell and macrophage apoptosis, low quantities of this protein in EXOs may be significant for confirming the diagnosis of PE (Pillay et al., 2017). Additionally, syncytin-2, an immunosuppression protein generated from EXOs, can prevent T lymphocyte and NK cell activation via the Fas ligand and PD-L1 (Mincheva-Nilsson and Baranov, 2014). STBs often use exocytosis to create placenta-derived EXOs, which are then released into the mother’s bloodstream. By activating maternal lymphocytes (which leads to the detection of paternal placental antigens) and inducing the apoptosis of trophoblasts through exosome-driven secretion of FasL, STB-derived EXOs play a role in immunoregulation during pregnancy and contribute to the pathophysiology of PE (Mincheva-Nilsson, 2021; Jaremek et al., 2021; Yu et al., 2022).
EXOs play a critical part in fetoplacental development in normal pregnancies (Figure 6; Tantengco et al., 2021). In this regard, Tang et al. effectively collected HucMSCs-EXOs which could partly reverse Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) triggered HUVECs dysfunction in vitro. The addition of HUCMSCs-EXOs partially restored the reduced eNOS protein expression seen in OV-sFlt-1-HUVECs. Endothelium cellular migration may be facilitated by MSCs-EXO’s delivery of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). It has been shown that EXOs MMP2 stimulates endothelial angiogenesis through the VEGF/Erk1/2 signaling system (Tang et al., 2019).
FIGURE 6
Versican (VCAN), which is abundantly expressed in tissues with metabolic activity, can drive angiogenesis and may rely on interactions with VEGF to affect the ECM’s assembly (Sagae et al., 2023). These proteins deposited in HUC-MSCs-EXOs were taken up by the vascular endothelium and stimulated angiogenesis, relocation, and cell division to repair compromised vascular tissues in animals that resembled preeclampsia. In mice, HUCMSCs-EXOs alleviated hypertension and improved fetal birth weight; furthermore, preeclamptic dams injected with these regenerated extensive placental vascularity ().
In a different investigation, it was shown that EXOs miR-139-5p from HUCMSCs-EXOs accelerated trophoblast invasion and migration, activated the ERK/MMP-2 pathway, and blocked trophoblast apoptosis by decreasing protein tyrosine phosphatase expression, all of which improved PE manifestations in rats (Liu et al., 2020b). Furthermore, research found that the placenta of PE patients had greater amounts of Notch2, TIM3, and mTORC1 and decreased expression of miR-18b. By releasing microRNA-18b, which inhibits trophoblasts’ production of Notch2, HUC-MSCs-EXOs stimulated trophoblast motility. They also used HUCMSCs-EXOs in a rat model of PE and discovered that it helped pregnant animals with PE symptoms (Yang et al., 2021b). Additionally, it was discovered that by delivering miR-101 to trophoblasts and suppressing BRD4 expression, HUCMSCs-EXOs stimulated trophoblast recruitment and penetration. Under hypoxic circumstances, MSCs-EXOs stimulated trophoblast migration and invasion as well as autophagy and trophoblast multiplication (Cui et al., 2020). In addition to suppressing trophoblast inflammation in hypoxic circumstances, Jiang et al. found that HUC-MSCs-EXOs enhanced the growth, migration, and spreading of hypoxic trophoblasts and decreased FSTL3 expression via transferring miR140-5p (Jiang et al., 2022). Amniotic MSCs-derived EXOs promote trophoblast proliferation by blocking the EZH2/mTOR signaling pathway, which in turn enhances autophagy in trophoblasts (Chu et al., 2020).
Even though EXOs have much promise for therapeutic uses, their restricted capacity to target in animal trials results in issues such as short half-lives and decreased therapeutic effectiveness. By directly altering EXOs without requiring cell modification, biochemical engineering provides a quicker, easier, and more efficient method to increase certain exosome secretion (Xu et al., 2021).
King et al. investigated the possibilities of tumor-homing peptide iRGD, which attaches to the placental surface in mice and humans in a selective manner without obstructing normal development. As a result, iRDG-EXOs may have essential proteins or genes that target the placenta preferentially and are essential for treating PE (King et al., 2016). In addition to improving our knowledge of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, additional investigation into particular chemicals found in EXOs makes it possible to find more sensitive and precise biomarkers for the start of the condition. It has potential as a therapy for preeclampsia as well.
6.6 Gynecological cancers
Gynecological carcinomas are cancers of the female reproductive tract, which includes the uterus, ovary, fallopian tube, and placenta (Kataki et al., 2023). These illnesses constitute an international health concern for women (Sun et al., 2024). Gynecological malignancies are predicted to cause around 17 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), accounting for one-sixth of all cancer-related DALYs in women (Kocarnik et al., 2022).
Ganesh et al. treated HeLa cells with Allyl Isothiocyanate (AITC) and looked at the effect of miR16-enriched EXOs on human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells. When EXOs were grown with fibroblasts, miR-16 transcription rose within the cells. AITC-exposed HeLa EXOs raised the Bax/Bcl2 ratio while decreasing PCNA, HIF-1α, SDF-1α, IL-6, and p22phox expression in fibroblasts. Knocking down miR16 in fibroblasts reduced AITC-induced increases in the Bax/Bcl2 ratio while restoring production of VEGF, PCNA, HIF-1α, SDF-1α, IL-6, and p22phox. These findings highlight the promise of AITC-mediated EXOs miR16 enrichment as an efficient strategy to suppress cancer growth and progression, as well as a novel possibility for the treatment of cancer (Ganesh et al., 2025).
6.6.1 Ovarian cancer (OC)
OC is the primary cause of mortality among females who receive a diagnosis of gynecological cancer (Menon et al., 2021). In addition, it is the seventh leading cause of death among women worldwide (Gaona-Luviano et al., 2020). EXOs have also been found to influence the tumor immunological milieu and subsequent immune responses, including presenting antigens, movement, metastasis, and tumor infiltration (Guo et al., 2022). Despite accurate diagnosis and early treatment approaches, the outcome for OC patients remains poor since chemotherapy’s efficiency is restricted by resistance and off-site effects (). EXOs are widely regarded as reliable carriers thanks to their capacity to circumvent current pharmacokinetic issues. EXOs, unlike other nano vectors, may bypass the endosomal and lysosomal routes and transfer their cargos straight into the cytoplasm of target cells (Figure 7; Table 5; Li and Wang, 2017).
FIGURE 7
TABLE 5
| Type of exosomes | Cargo | Preparation metho | Dimensions | Model | Outcomes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| miR-199a-3p-EXOs | Ultracentrifugation and density gradient ultracentrifugation | 100 nm | In vitro: OC cell lines (CaOV3; SKOV3; OVCAR3) | Inhibited cell proliferation and invasion significantly reduced peritoneal spread | Kobayashi et al. (2020) | |
| ThP-1 cells EXOs/IDEM | DOXO | Ultracentrifugation | EXOs: 112 ± 14 nm IDEM 177 ± 19 nm. | In vitro: SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells | Targeted cytoxicity | Pisano et al. (2020) |
| eNK-EXOs | Differential ultracentrifugation | ∼80 nm | In vitro: SKOV3 cells | Selective cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative impact. | Luo et al. (2023a) | |
| HENPs | TP and miR497 | Ultracentrifugation and Ultrafiltration | 104 ± 11 nm | In vitro: SKOV3 cells In vivo: Mice | Significantly enhancing tumor cell apoptosis without any negative effects in vivo. | Li et al. (2022c) |
| OCSCs-EXOS- miR-4516 | Ultra-high-speed centrifugation | 30–150 nm | In vitro: SKOV3/DDP In vivo: mice | Pan et al. (2024a) | ||
| MSCs-EXOs | miR-424 | High-speed centrifugation | 30–120 nm | In vitro: SKOV-3, HO8910, A2780 and HUVECs. | Blocked ovarian cancer cell growth, immigration, and infiltration. | Li et al. (2021a) |
| hUC-MSC-derived EXOs miR-146a | Differential ultra centrifugation | ∼100 nm | In vitro: A2780 and SKOV3 | Reduced ovarian cancer cell proliferation and resistance to chemotherapy. | Qiu et al. (2020) | |
| ADSCs -EXOs | Immuno precipitation | 70 nm and 100 nm | In vitro: A2780 and SKOV-3 | Reduced in viability and proliferation. | Reza et al. (2016) |
Exosomes in management of ovarian cancer.
ADSCs, Adipose stem cells; eNK-EXOs, exosomes derived from expanded natural killer cells; EXOs, Exosomes; HENPs, Hybrid exosomes nanoparticles; HucMSCs, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells; HUVECs, Human umbilical vein endothelial cells; IDEM, immune derived exosome mimetics; MiRNAs, Micro ribonucleic acids; MSCs, Mesenchymal stem cells; OV, ovarian cancer; OCSCs, ovarian cancer stem cells; TP, triptolide.
The majority of OC patients respond sensitively to the recommended platinum and paclitaxel (PTX) treatment. Regretfully, the majority of patients die from increasingly chemotherapy-resistant illness and relapse within 6–12 months (). In pharmaceutical-resistant human ovarian cancer cells, the lysosomal proteins ATPase copper-transporting alpha and beta (ATP7A and ATP7B), which are potential CIS-export carriers, can increase the EXOs transfer of platinum (Safaei et al., 2005).
Berry bioactive agents show potential for cancer prevention and treatment. Aqil et al. investigated the inhibitory actions of berry anthocyanidins (Anthos) on the division of ovarian cancer cells. EXOs Anthos (EXOs Anthos) had a much higher anti-proliferative efficacy against ovarian cancerous cell growth and reduced tumor development more effectively than other groups. Paclitaxel (PAC) is often effective in treating patients with cisplatin-resistant cancers. Finally, they found that the amalgamation of Anthos and PAC lowered PgP levels in OVCA432 cells in a dosage-dependent way. The amalgamation of ECOs@PAC and EXOs @Anthos demonstrated considerably increased anticancer efficacy against A2780 tumor xenografts ().
MiR-199a-3p-Exo significantly reduced peritoneal spread in the OC mouse model and decreased c-Met transcription, ERK phosphorylation, and MMP2 levels in cancers (Kobayashi et al., 2020). Pisano et al. presented immunologically derived EXOs, Mimetics (IDEM) from monocytic cells as an innovative technique for targeting and killing ovarian cancerous cells. Drug uptake by IDEM was better than natural EXOs, revealing IDEM’s advantage in decreasing negative reactions while increasing cytotoxicity in the targeted tissues by administering a lesser dose of the chemotherapy (Pisano et al., 2020). Moreover, eNK-EXOs can be selectively absorbed by SKOV3 cells and are cytotoxic to OC cells. Additionally, eNK-EXOs loaded with cisplatin enhance OC cells’ responsiveness to cisplatin’s anti-proliferative impact. In addition, they could stimulate NK cells from the inhibitory tumor micro-environment (Luo et al., 2023a).
MSCs-derived EXOs transport miR-424, which downregulates MYB, hence inhibiting ovarian cancer development and angiogenesis. Thus, this work provides a possible predictive indicator and treatment approach for ovarian carcinoma (Li et al., 2021a). HUCMSCs-EXOs inhibited cell proliferation and chemo resistance in OC (Qiu et al., 2020). In addition, hAMSCs-derived EXOs increased apoptosis signaling by increasing several pro-apoptotic mediators, while minimizing the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2. More precisely, cancerous cells showed decreased survivability after being treated with fresh or protease-digested EXOs (Reza et al., 2016).
EXOs have lately been exploited as medication delivery vehicles due to their inherent benefits. To enhance patient outcomes with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, innovative medication delivery strategies are required. Sonication disrupted the EXOs’ membrane, allowing for great loading efficiency. Loading cisplatin into M2 EXOs significantly improved its cytotoxicity in chemo-resistant A2780/DDP cells (1.7×) and pharmaceutical-responsive A2780 cells (1.4×) (Zhang et al., 2020c).
More studies are needed to ascertain the diagnostic sensitivity and selectivity of exosome analysis and miRNA expression profiling in early-stage ovarian cancer, despite some studies suggesting its diagnostic promise (). For instance, Todeschini et al. examined two cohorts of 168 patients with stage III–IV HGSOC and 65 healthy controls. They showed that miR-1246 has clinical potential as a diagnostic biomarker for High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), as evidenced by the significantly higher expression of miR-1246 in serum samples of HGSOC patients than in healthy individuals. In order to find potential diagnostic miRNAs, this work employed a unique microarray data normalization technique. RT-qPCR was then utilized to validate the signatures. According to the study, HGSOC patients had considerable overexpression of miR-1246, miR-595, and miR-2278. MiR-1246 had the best detection capability, with an 87% diagnostic sensitivity, 77% specificity, 84% accuracy, and 0.89 AUC (Todeschini et al., 2017).
Likewise, there have been suggestions regarding the clinical potential of EXOs in ovarian cancer. Zhang et al. examined the function of four exosome proteins Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LPB), Fibrinogen Gamma Chain (FGG), Fibrinogen Alpha Chain (FGA), and Gelsolin (GSN) as diagnostic biomarkers by comparing plasma samples from 40 stage III or IV EOC patients to 40 healthy controls (Zhang et al., 2019b). According to this study, the ovarian cancer group had considerably lower levels of FGG and LBP and significantly higher levels of FGA and GSN. With an AUC of 0.8459, FGA had the best diagnostic sensitivity of the four choices. In a different research, Schwich et al. found that the plasma circulating EXOs of 78 EOC patients (63 stage III-IV and 7 stage I-II) had seven times higher HLA-G levels (mean 14.3 ng/mL) than healthy controls (1.9 ng/mL) (Schwich et al., 2019). As a result, research on miRNA and exosome analysis has been focused on patients with advanced ovarian cancer thus far; further studies are required to clarify their diagnostic value for early-stage illness.
Since EXOs cannot reproduce and are not mutagenic, they are a safer option for biological carriers than viral vectors or cell therapy. Therefore, there are not many regulatory worries about toxicity or the emergence of neoplasia. Experiments using in vivo EXOs therapy have shown little to no harm (Elsharkasy et al., 2020). EXOs generated from HEK293T cells are not harmful when given to mice systemically (Zhu et al., 2017), while siRNA-engineered EXOs remain non-toxic even after being given to animals repeatedly (Kamerkar et al., 2017). Exosome safety is demonstrated by these investigations as well as several other tests. Nonetheless, there are major differences between complement activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA) in big animals and small animals (rodents) (Dézsi et al., 2014), Exosome safety is demonstrated by these investigations as well as several other tests. However, safety trials in rodents require cautious interpretation since the CARPA in small animals (rodents) differs fundamentally from that in big mammals. When administered as an intramuscular vaccination, serum-derived EXOs from virus-infected pigs do not exhibit any CARPA-related toxicities (Montaner-Tarbes et al., 2018).
6.6.2 Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent female carcinomas and the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in females globally (). As a prominent therapeutic technique in cervical cancer, chemotherapy can increase the survival rate of patients by forcing cancerous cells to undergo apoptosis (Shelley et al., 2021). However, due to the action of chemotherapy medications, cancerous cells eventually develop resistance against chemotherapy (Sherer et al., 2022).
Numerous processes enable cancer cells to withstand the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of medications, which leads to drug resistance in these cells. The primary cause of this is the membrane protein of the ATP-binding cartridges, which can extract harmful substances from the intracellular medium (). The varied activity of cytochrome P450, which is brought on by different genetic variations of the CYP gene family, is another factor contributing to drug resistance (Ding et al., 2018). These genetic variations are connected to cancer cells’ efficient drug metabolism, which lessens the cytotoxic effects of medications (). Furthermore, the majority of anticancer medications target DNA impairment, which is repaired via various cancer’s efficient mechanisms. Vesicles have been implicated in the failure of cytostatic therapies, according to studies (; Shi et al., 2024). The microenvironment of cancerous lesions is rich in EXOs, which have a role in the invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and treatment resistance of these malignancies (Mashouri et al., 2019; Sahebi et al., 2020). EXOs miR-651, produced from cancer, specifically targeted ATG3 and inhibited cisplatin resistance, suggesting that it may be an effective therapy.
Initiation of cancer cell ferroptosis has been advocated as a therapy for a variety of types of cancers. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) serve an essential function in increasing tumor malignancy and therapeutic resistance (Deng et al., 2022). Luo et al. observed that TAMs-derived EXOs carrying miR-660-5p into cervical cancer cells might inhibit arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15) transcription and hence attenuate ferroptosis. The process is then hampered by this miR-660-5p, which suppresses the production of ALOX15 in cancer cells, a crucial enzyme involved in ferroptosis. The paper also emphasizes the findings’ clinical significance, indicating that modifying the expression of miR-660-5p or focusing on TAMs may be viable treatment approaches for cervical cancer (Luo et al., 2023b).
It is well known that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in the development of CC. It was discovered that the plasma EXOs of CC patients had decreased levels of MiR-423-3p. EXOs have been linked to macrophage polarization, and exo-miRNAs have been shown to be putative modulators of cancer development. EXOs miR-423-3p can reduce tumor growth and CC cell development by blocking macrophage M2 polarization. By targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) mRNA, miR-423-3p can control macrophage M2 polarization. It also suppresses the phosphorylation of the signal transduction and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) via CDK4 to reduce the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) (Yan et al., 2022b).
6.6.3 Endometrial cancer
As stated by Global Cancer Statistics 2020, endometrial cancer (EC) is the second most prevalent malignancy of the female genital tract and the sixth most prevalent female cancer, with significantly greater rates of incidence in developed countries than in developing countries (Sung et al., 2021). EC is mostly an illness of postmenopausal women, with an average age of onset of 65 (Karkia et al., 2025).
Through EXOs, endometrial cancer cells can transfer short regulatory RNAs to endometrial fibroblasts (). EXOs produced from endometrial cancer cells contained EXOs miR-133a, which was transferable to normal endometrial cells (Shi et al., 2020). By controlling the miR-381-3p/E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) axis, EXOs lncRNA deleted in lymphocytic leukemia1 (DLEU1) generated from endometrial malignancies enhanced the migrative and invasive capabilities of endometrial cancerous cells (Jia et al., 2020). However, the MSCs EXOs miR-499 decreased tumor development and angiogenesis in vivo and prevented the division of endometrial cancer cells and tube development of endothelial cells in vitro (Jing et al., 2020).
Cancer-associated fibroblasts’ EXOs lncRNA NEAT1 promotes the growth of endometrial cancer through the STAT3/YKL-40 signaling pathway controlled by miR-26a/b-5p (Fan et al., 2021). In conclusion, the impact of EXOs released by various cell types on the development of endometrial cancer is diverse. EXOs, which demonstrated promise in cancer treatment since they act as drug delivery vehicles and may influence tumor growth. They can transport therapeutic materials, including RNA, proteins, and medicines, targeting endometrial cancerous cells and potentially improving the efficacy of current treatments while reducing adverse effects (Figure 8; Song et al., 2021).
FIGURE 8
HUCMSCs-derived EXOs are regarded as ideal instruments for target-based treatments. HUCMSCs can convey engineered EXOs overexpressing tumor-suppressor miRNAs to EC cells, inhibiting their growth. Utilizing this technique, Li et al. targeted EC cells with miR-302a overexpressing EXOs, which inhibited their division and migration by lowering cyclin D1 levels and deactivating the AKT signaling (Li et al., 2019). Additionally, these EXOs decreased the levels of mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) in EC cells, inhibiting tumor formation (Pan et al., 2022).
The most common cause of death from endometrial cancer (EC) is still metastasis. EXOs have been used in treatment plans due to their biological role and regenerative qualities. Numerous malignancies have reduced SERPINA5 expression, which is associated with invasion and migration of tumor cells (Fan et al., 2022; Yang et al., 2024a). Exogenous SERPINA5 loading of EXOs may be a unique treatment method for metastatic EC, according to Song et al., who also observed that low levels of SERPINA5 transcription are associated with decreased survival outcomes in EC (Song et al., 2022).
The lining of the uterus is impacted by endometrial cancer. EXOs are a promising option for treating cancer because of their endogenous action, intrinsic targeting, and capacity to interact with the host defense system (Rodolakis et al., 2023). These advantages suggest that MSCs’ EXOs laden with paclitaxel and carboplatin may function similarly to immune cells in the fight against cancer.
In comparison to normal endometrium, Ma et al. discovered that carboplatin (Car)/paclitaxel (Pac)@MSCs EXOs downregulated endometrial cancer (EC) cells. The effects of varying dosages of Car-Pac@EXOs on ECC-1 and HEC-1A EC cells were investigated in vitro. EXOs from Car-Pac@ MSCs caused apoptosis in EC cells. By decreasing MMP-2 expression through Rac1/NF-κB signaling, the formulation of Car-Pac@ MSCs EXOs decreased EC cell migration and invasion. The findings suggested that Car-Pac@ MSCs EXOs might be a useful tool for EC diagnosis and therapy (Ma et al., 2024).
7 Limitations in contemporary exosomes investigations
Notwithstanding the growing technological focus in the field of EXOs, investigations on EXOs in female reproductive health vary with regard to accuracy and systematic aspects (Yu et al., 2021; Liu et al., 2023b; Shen et al., 2023).
7.1 Isolation techniques
Isolation approaches differ in terms of their capacity to distinguish soluble elements from EXOs and the dimensions of the EXOs they can isolate (Le Gall et al., 2020). The use of varied methodologies resulted in inconsistencies in the size and components of EXOs evaluated in numerous EXOs investigations to date (Zhang et al., 2018). The viscosity and protein content of various fluids differ, requiring particular procedures depending on the biofluid or tissue under examination (Zebrowska et al., 2022). While a variety of solutions exist for harmonizing reconstruction and selectivity, research has thus far been impeded by a lack of approach standardization, which is crucial for reducing artifacts (Li et al., 2022d; Lopez de las Hazas et al., 2021). While differential ultracentrifugation is generally regarded as the hallmark of exosome separation, it has an enormous burden and frequently contains proteins and lipoproteins (Kverneland et al., 2023). While advances may be made by hyphenating distinct approaches of separation, such as ultracentrifugation and immunoaffinity capture, which draw on the capabilities of both the physical and biological worlds, it is important to consider the added workload and expense (Ciftci et al., 2023; Jang et al., 2023). Similarly, ultrafiltration has limits, despite being a common exosome separation method. For example, ultrafiltration is susceptible to obstruction and blockage, resulting in a shorter membrane lifespan and worse separation efficiency (Gao et al., 2022). EXOs can also bind to the membranes and become inaccessible for subsequent analyses, leading to decreased productivity and occasionally misinterpretation of outcomes from tests (Gao et al., 2022).
Furthermore, size-based separation of EXOs is complicated by the existence of a significant amount of nanoparticles (some non-vesicular) that are identical in dimensions to EXOs. SEC can produce extremely pure EXOs, but it requires specially designed machinery and is not easily scaled (Lu et al., 2021b). Since SEC is commonly conducted utilizing gravitational flow, vesicle shape and functionality are essentially intact, as is exosome biological activity. Furthermore, the SEC has remarkable repeatability. Nevertheless, its long run time restricts its capacity for large-scale scenarios (Shu et al., 2021).
Immunoaffinity capture is a powerful tool for separating EXOs of a given source as well as subpopulations of EXOs. However, as a fledgling area, the finest EXOs tags have yet to be developed (Pei et al., 2024). Given that only a portion of EXOs encoding the antibody-recognized protein is collected, yields are typically lower but considerably greater in purity than those separated using exosome physical features (Zhang et al., 2021a).
Underestimations and inaccurate findings may also result from disparities in antigen expression and regulation as the disease grows. Furthermore, the antigenic epitope can be inhibited or disguised. Although exosome precipitation is simple and exosome isolation can be completed in a single step, inconsistent yields, time-consuming sampling and cleaning processes, and a shortage of a suitable targeted isolation technique undoubtedly compromise the high quality of the separated EXOs, compromising subsequent analyses (Wang et al., 2021; Fernandes et al., 2025).
EXOs have been found to co-precipitate with other cellular components, including other extracellular vesicles, protein clumps, and even extremely abundant proteins, in a variety of biofluids such as plasma and serum. Furthermore, the varying viscosity and sample matrix need distinct exosome precipitation quality requirements, compromising precipitation technique harmonization. Despite tremendous advancements, none of the first-generation microfluidic devices are suitable for clinical trials due to difficulties like adaptability, assurance, and consistency (Huang et al., 2021; ).
Furthermore, some of the instruments have lengthy specimen pretreatments, while others developed for use with clean specimens have extremely low isolation efficacy. So far, all microfluidic devices produced use a single exosome quantification method, which results in limited yield or selectivity. Furthermore, their limited processing capabilities may impair further analysis due to inadequate levels of proteins and nucleic acids in the separated EXOs. As a result, contemporary exosome separation methods, despite significant advancements over the last decade, have brought an entirely novel array of obstacles to scientists in the area (Shirejini and Inci, 2022).
Another critical difficulty that should be addressed is the integration of exosome separation techniques into downstream analysis, which will eliminate the requirement of handling exosome extraction and subsequent examination independently. With integration, exosome analyses take a shorter period and include fewer stages, significantly enhancing the productivity and precision of exosome separation and analysis (Zhao et al., 2025).
7.2 Challenges in standardizing EXOs quantification
The literature describes a variety of approaches for isolating and quantifying EXOs (Miron and Zhang, 2024; Wu et al., 2021b). However, insufficient agreement on a ‘gold standard’ has emerged. Additionally, most researchers working in the domain of exosome investigation acknowledge that a uniform method of separation is essential for achieving greater comparability between findings and investigations (Wu et al., 2021b).
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is the most widely used method for exosome analysis 3. FACS offers the advantage of allowing cells from diverse sources to be compared in a single step using fluorescent labeling. FACS is not sufficiently accurate to distinguish particles smaller than 0.5 µm, but EXOs are typically between 30 and 120 nm in diameter (5), making it difficult to determine their dimensions ().
Other methods for analyzing exosome particle size and shape include scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (Sharma et al., 2023). Nevertheless, both SEM and TEM have the drawback of taking time to prepare samples, requiring laborious stages, and posing some danger of artifact creation. Neither approach is appropriate for increased sampling rates and characterization of thousands of individual particles from a single sample. Furthermore, performing statistical analyses for clinical daily routines in which samples must frequently be examined concurrently or within a brief amount of time is problematic (Shi et al., 2023). Newer methods, such as ambient SEM, currently enable us to examine EXOs without requiring extensive preparation. These current approaches remain rather cumbersome for assessing large volume solutions harboring EXOs to evaluate their average quantity and size distribution.
Nanoparticle-tracking analysis (NTA) is another extremely accurate approach for detecting and analyzing EXOs. This strategy makes use of two distinct physical concepts. Initially, when a laser beam is used for radiating particulates, the light dispersed by them is measured (Santos-Coquillat et al., 2022). The second phenomenon is commonly referred to as Brownian motion, which states that the dispersion of particles in a liquid solution is inversely correlated to their sizes. This method is very effective for examining particles with an average diameter of below 100 nm (Cordero et al., 2025).
The dimension and concentration are measured using the ZetaView Brownian and Electrophoresis Motion Video Analysis Microscope. This is a partially computerized desktop nanoparticle monitoring equipment for liquid samples (also known as the particle monitoring analyzer). It comprises a particle detector and a laptop loaded with data processing software. This approach works equally well with complex biological specimens and homogenous inorganic particle suspensions. A laser scattering microscope equipped with a video camera is used to identify particles and track their course (Sausset et al., 2023).
While determining the best method for analyzing separated EXOs is one issue, another is effectively isolating EXOs from various media like blood, urine, or cell cultures. So far, several approaches have been published, including ultracentrifugation, commercial kits (for example, Exoquick), magnetic beads for antigen segregation, and ultrafiltration stages ().
Filipe et al. contrasted NTA and DLS to analyze polystyrene beads with established diameters. Diameters of used beads (60, 100, 200, 400, and 1,000 nm) appeared comparable for both approaches; however, larger particles were measured somewhat larger using DLS (e.g., 1,056 nm [DLS] against 989 nm [NTA]. A 100/400 nm bead mixture was spiked with 1,000 nm beads to assess the impact of a tiny amount of bigger particles. DLS observed a peak at 750 nm, which appeared to be an average of the three sizes, but NTA was capable of resolving peaks at 106/420 and 997 nm, providing an improved understanding of the combination (Filipe et al., 2010).
Van der Pol and coworkers examined the particle size arrangement of EXOs from urine and polystyrene beads using TEM, flow cytometry, NTA, and resistive pulse sensing (RPS). Polystyrene beads and urinary EXOs were analyzed. Forward scatter (FSC) was linked to the dimension of vesicles utilizing beads of identified dimensions and the Mie theory. Remarkably, each approach produced a varied range of sizes and content for the same vesicle specimen. These disparities were mostly caused by variances in the minimally detected vesicle measurements, which were 70–90 nm for NTA, 70–100 nm for RPS, 150–190 nm for the specialist flow cytometer, and 270–600 nm for ordinary flow cytometry (Van der Pol et al., 2014).
Maas et al. examined EXOs sorting employing three distinct detection approaches: NTA, RPS, and an optically tuned excellent quality FCM. They examined both EXOs and artificial analogues like liposomes of established sizes. They discovered more disparities in quantification for liposomes than for EXOs using all three approaches. When fluorescence-based activation was used, however, RPS and flow cytometry (FCM) produced equivalent EEXOs quantification findings. This was most likely owing to changes in the quantity of fluorophore molecules associated with EXOs vs. liposomes caused by varying sizes or labeling efficiency (Maas et al., 2015).
Additionally, van der Pol et al. discovered that EV measurement by FCM was 15 times lower than NTA and RPS. These disparate results could potentially be attributed to changes in the EXOs purifying procedure, FCM equipment, threshold triggering mechanism, and kind of EXOs evaluated. These findings highlight the significance of standardization and the execution of additional meticulous research like this (Van der Pol et al., 2014).
7.3 Cell culture
Appropriate culturing, division, and differentiation methods are critical for successful therapy results. As a result, choosing the best culture procedure and methodologies for MSCs cultivation is critical. Culture medium, cell count, and the environmental factors, including soluble O2 and CO2 levels, pH, and temperature, all have an impact on study outcomes (Clément et al., 2022).
In investigations that extract EXOs from the culture medium, EXOs extracted from body fluids utilized in the media may contaminate the results. To reduce impurities, it is advised to incubate cells for EXOs investigations in serum-free medium (). If this is not achievable, it is critical to separate EXOs supplied to the culturing media for control (Takagi et al., 2021).
EXOs generated from cells cultivated in standard cell culture dishes vs. two-chamber bioreactors had comparable shape, size distribution, and surface indicators. Nevertheless, the resulting quantity of EXOs was more than 100 times higher in bioreactors than in dishes, and the metabolomic data indicated substantial changes (Palviainen et al., 2019). For optimal development, the different kinds of cells demand a distinct medium composition, as well as seeding volume, passage frequency, and medium replenishment. Aside from adjusting sample purity, Patel et al. demonstrated that using varied cell counts may possess a direct influence on exosome cargo and activities (Patel et al., 2017). To ensure the repeatability and consistency of the amounts and payload of separated EXOs, the same cell seeding process must be established and followed. Utilizing a comparable passage of producing cells improves the consistency of exosome quality (Xu et al., 2024; Salehpour et al., 2024).
7.4 Storage
The storage of EXOs is an important factor affecting the outcomes of EXOs investigations. Freezing materials at −70 °C prevents crystal formation, reduces cryo-precipitation, and preserves EXOs (Lee et al., 2016). Furthermore, it is recommended that the aliquots be frozen and thawed only once before analysis (Maroto et al., 2017). To acquire trustworthy findings, select the EXOs separation technique based on the cargo to be tested. It is also critical to carry out replications and compensate for numerous comparisons (Willms et al., 2016).
Moreover, repetitive freeze-thaw cycles may reduce the amount of exosome indicators, perhaps due to membrane damage. The short shelf life of liquid treatments filled with EXOs, along with severe freezing requirements, continues to hamper their clinical adoption. As a result, several investigations have turned attention to the production of solid agents, notably freeze-dried powder incorporating EXOs ().
In addition to the proprietary freeze-drying process, a common strategy in experiments is to gather EXOs utilizing the previously outlined separation method. Following that, a freeze dryer is used to manufacture freeze-dried EXOs in accordance with a widely recognized “freezing step program,” which usually comprises generic procedures including freezing, vacuum, sublimation, and drying (Dehghani P. et al., 2024). This method preserves the proteins and vesicle configuration of EXOs, resulting in consistent biophysical characteristics even when maintained at −20 °C or ambient temperature (Popowski et al., 2022). Scientists have tried adding a variety of lyoprotectants, such as sucrose, trehalose, mannitol, and other analogous compounds, to minimize lyophilization destruction and preserve the quality and dimensions of EXOs. However, the possible effects of freeze-drying methods on biomolecules such as miRNAs need to be further investigated.
7.5 Standardization of functional assays
EXOs have much potential as a means of transport for proteins, RNAs, and tiny molecules in medicine because of their native origin and biocompatibility. However, there are still many issues with their bioavailability, systemic stability, and pharmacokinetics. Research indicates that most of the intravenously administered EXOs are quickly removed from circulation by the mononuclear phagocyte system in a matter of minutes, thus reducing their therapeutic range (Honda et al., 2025).
The kind of donor cell, surface ligands, and delivery technique can all have a substantial impact on the biodistribution of EXOs. Techniques, including surface modifications, PEGylation, or fusion with targeted peptides, are being investigated to extend their circulation duration. However, these methods still require thorough safety evaluation and additional improvement. Furthermore, following distribution, EXOs experience physiological alterations that are still unclear and pose serious translational hazards, including morphological reconstruction, cargo disintegration, or fusion with undesired cells (Nakase, 2021).
EXOs’ dual immunomodulatory role adds to the complexity of the issue. In order to optimize the effectiveness of therapy, the competing immune reactions must be carefully handled, which emphasizes the necessity of exact management of the source and composition of EXOs in medicinal preparations (Li et al., 2022e).
Upgraded genetic designs, including inducible knock-in systems and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated lineage tracing, are crucial for comprehending the complexities of exosome synthesis and cargo packing in vivo and for overcoming the existing obstacles in exosome exploration. Integrating multi-omics techniques may assist in discovering biochemical signatures that describe distinct exosome subpopulations ().
Recent developments like barcoded RNA sequencing and single-vesicle analysis tools have greatly improved our capacity to examine exosome polymorphism in previously unheard-of depth. Furthermore, early cancer identification and monitoring have been greatly enhanced by the combination of EXOs RNA characterization and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, which represents a substantial advancement in personalized oncology. Additionally, the use of machine learning and AI-driven data integration holds significant potential for improving the precision of therapeutic prognosis and speeding up the discovery of EXOs biomarkers (Galbiati et al., 2021).
To reach their maximum therapeutic capacity, EXOs-based technologies must overcome a number of significant obstacles. These involve problems with delivery stability, biogenesis, separation techniques, and a better comprehension of their intricate biological function. It will take multidisciplinary creativity to overcome these challenges, but doing so may open the door to turning exosome-based technologies into revolutionary instruments for next-generation diagnostics and individualized therapies (Li et al., 2022a; Zhou Y. et al., 2023; Wang et al., 2022a).
8 Clinical translation of exosomes
EXOs increased wound healing in preclinical models and encouraged tissue regeneration by transferring bioactive molecules (del Pozo-Acebo et al., 2021). Their impacts were achieved via regulating inflammation, angiogenesis, cellular division, and matrix production (). EXOs provide an attractive cell-free treatment for tissue engineering. However, obstacles remain in scaling isolation, understanding processes, and applying this technique in human trials (). Addressing these issues will allow for effective clinical implementation of EXOs for personalized medical applications. Establishing therapeutic uses with exosome technology has become a prominent area of research in recent years (Pak et al., 2023). Their application as medicinal carriers has sparked a lot of curiosity and financial investment. To demonstrate this, the total amount of clinical trials employing EXOs has increased sevenfold over the previous 5 years, with targeted illness areas such as cancer, inflammatory conditions, and immunotherapy (Dhodapkar et al., 2025).
Another significant concern is the stability and lifespan of EXOs in bodily fluids. Getting enough EXOs is the biggest obstacle. An initial amount of 10–100 µg of EXOs is needed for this. However, the amount obtained from 1 mL of culture media is often less than 1 μg, which is the issue (; Yamashita et al., 2016). Exosome quality varies as well; when extracted from biological fluids, they are frequently marked by poor performance and impurities (Zheng et al., 2022). The culture media’s volume, composition, cell passage, and viability all have an impact on exosome retrieval. Standardizing procedures and optimizing manufacturing are crucial for obtaining EXOs (Zhu et al., 2021).
Cultures in bioreactors are utilized to generate a significant number of EXOs; brief cultures can yield even ten times larger numbers (Lee et al., 2023). Physical, chemical, and biological stress are among the disorders that affect exosome formation. Another potential source of contamination is the nutrition media (Clément et al., 2022). Although serum-free circumstances put cells under much stress and change the production of EXOs, EXOs obtained from culture media incorporating serum possess few contaminants (Wang et al., 2025).
Exosome usage in regenerative medicine lowers the possibility of undesirable side effects linked to cell transplantation (Tu et al., 2021). Additionally, such substances are therapeutic modulators because they may alter target molecules in recipient cells, such as by reducing inflammation. EXOs can be harmed during separation and purification, which is a drawback of employing them (Emam et al., 2021).
Despite a number of obstacles, the development of EXOs as medication transporters is moving forward quickly (Zhao et al., 2024). The primary challenges for EXOs’ delivery technologies to reach clinical stages are their quick elimination from the bloodstream and their poor targeting capability. Naturally, a number of engineering techniques have been established to produce engineered EXOs with improved efficacy and sensitivity ().
As far as we know, there is no current clinical trial employing exosome-based treatment in the management of female infertility disorders. However, there is a specimen-collection research posted on clinicaltrials.gov assessing the influence of EXOs on clinical effects in advanced ovarian cancer (Dorayappan et al., 2016). In the first phase I clinical trial (NCT01159288), the scientists administered autologous dendritic cells EXOs as a vaccine against metastatic melanoma and demonstrated their safety. Nevertheless, they did not see substantial CD4+ or CD8+ T cell responses. It is still necessary to investigate the mechanistic processes behind vaccination antigen dispersion (Escudier et al., 2005). Additionally, the first-in-human clinical study utilizing allogeneic, platelet-derived EXOs as a possible treatment for delayed wound healing was carried out by Johnson et al. In this study, we show that platelet EXOs (pEXOs) of clinical grade may be effectively separated from active platelets using Ligand-based Exosome Affinity Purification (LEAP) chromatography while maintaining the parent cell’s capacity for regeneration. LEAP-isolated pEXOs carry vital proteins involved in wound healing processes, such as insulin growth factor (IGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), and exhibit the anticipated biophysical characteristics of EXOs populations. According to in vitro research, pEXOs enhance the angiogenic potential of dermal endothelial cells and promote the migration and proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, indicating their capacity to repair wounds. The ERK and Akt signaling pathways in recipient cells are activated by pEXOs therapy. They showed that injections of LEAP-purified pEXOs demonstrated acceptable safety in their phase I clinical trial of healthy volunteer adults, which was primarily conducted to evaluate safety with regard to wound healing (Plexoval II study, ACTRN12620000944932). Following administration of a single dosage of pEXOs, all wounds closed quickly and entirely. The results of this investigation demonstrate that pEXOs produced using the LEAP process can be safely administered to humans as an alternative therapy for wound healing, and they call for additional research in clinical trials created specifically to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness in patients with retarded or interrupted wound healing (Johnson et al., 2023).
The clinical applications of EXOs are still in their early stages; future research will help to identify cost-effective and time-efficient approaches for massive exosome synthesis. In fact, EXOs can transport relevant medicinal products used for disease management (). It is essential to determine suitable approaches for additional personalizing EXOs as pharmaceutical transporters with a substantial carrying capability, outstanding selectivity, biocompatibility, and minimal immunogenicity (Huo et al., 2025). In addition, the separation, categorization, and purification of EXOs must be standardized to ensure that EXOs can be used clinically (Cordero et al., 2025). Without a question, EXOs are an exciting development in the realm of nanomedicine and may hold the key to solving a number of current medical problems (). Despite encouraging first findings, few studies demonstrate the superiority of EXOs in delivering FDA-approved nanomedicine (such as liposomes); hence, more research on EXOs as therapeutic agents and pharmaceutical carriers is unavoidable in this setting.
9 Future research directions
Reproductive health is intimately linked to individual standards of living. Women are very interested in understanding the mechanics of reproductive aging and how to halt this process (Liu et al., 2025). Exosome therapy has emerged as a potential star in gynecological research, but there are still several practical issues that impede its clinical implementation (Park et al., 2024).
To enhance the clinical use of EXOs, collaboration across disciplines and fields is required, ranging from fundamental to clinical, medicine to engineering (Jin et al., 2023). EXOs play a crucial role in several biological processes, and their significance in reproductive system problems in females is becoming more widely recognized (; Zhao et al., 2022). EXOs, as a key regulator of interaction between cells, have a significant influence on the mitigation of infertility (Freger et al., 2021; Lin et al., 2024).
Infertility studies regarding exosome roles, underlying processes, and therapeutic capacity are still in their early stages, and many concerns remain unanswered. Given the increasing technological breakthroughs, there is discussion regarding the possible application of exosome-based treatments for infertility (Wang et al., 2024d).
While stem cell-based treatments have proved extremely effective in treating tissue regeneration and reproductive system problems, they are also subject to a number of limitations, including immunogenicity, undesired differentiations, and ethical concerns (Xie et al., 2024).
EXOs have the same functions as MSCs, but they possess the added benefits of focused administration, minimal antigenicity and immunological rejection, and great repair potential (; Wang et al., 2024d; Yang et al., 2020b). As previously stated, EXOs have distinctive characteristics and an outstanding therapeutic effectiveness, making them an intriguing therapy option for infertile women (Park et al., 2024).
Although the use of EXOs is becoming more widespread, achieving optimal therapeutic results remains difficult. EXOs undoubtedly play an important part in female fertility. The high therapeutic capacity of EXOs in female reproductive disorders has paved the way for further research (Hadidi et al., 2023). In accordance with the presented findings, using these nano-therapeutics as a cell-free method can overcome several technical issues with cell-based treatments ().
Currently, integrating EXOs with designed polymers has proven to be highly beneficial in improving exosome selectivity and reliability. Liang et al., for example, used EXOs produced from decidual stromal cells (DSCs) in sodium alginate hydrogel as a new therapeutic method for promoting endometrial rejuvenation and restoring fertility. The researchers discovered that injecting DSCs-derived EXOs (DSCs-EXOs)/SAH into the uterine cavity could stimulate uterine angiogenesis, trigger mesenchymal-to-epithelial transformation (MET), encourage collagen deposition, favor endometrial regeneration, increase endometrial responsiveness, and give rise to fertility restoration (Liang et al., 2024).
EXOs are at a turning point in therapeutic applications. Considering their recent identification as crucial participants in physiology and disease, the utilization of these tiny vesicles in therapeutic applications is quickly growing (Navarro et al., 2025; Zhang et al., 2025; Vaiciuleviciute et al., 2025).
The major therapeutic uses in cancer and inflammation take advantage of the exosome’s involvement in immune system modulation and its utilization as a vehicle for targeted medication delivery. Numerous scholarly papers, in addition to extremely valuable investments in pharmaceutical research focused on EXOs, reveal widespread and cross-sector interest in these biotechnological advances (Wang et al., 2024a; Wang et al., 2024d; Taravat et al., 2024; Li et al., 2024b).
Several techniques for increasing the therapeutic effectiveness of EXOs are being researched. The regulatory environment is improving to enable safe and effective clinical trials. Enhanced scaling-up solutions are achieved to address the limits associated with production and characterization procedures. Thus, while still in its earliest stages, the exosome area is rapidly maturing for the greater good of patients (Liang et al., 2024).
Exosome-containing scaffolds have proven to be far more successful in mending injured tissues than scaffolding or EXOs alone. The immediate disposal of these scaffolds will likely be employed at the bedside for better and quicker tissue restoration. Although there are a number of techniques for isolating and characterizing EXOs, some can be too costly or time-consuming for researchers (Wu et al., 2024). Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the current problems in order to expand the practical usage of EXOs. Several avenues of research might be useful in expanding the comprehension of exosome-based medicines and their prospective uses, including the following: 1 Additional research is needed to standardize and validate exosome-based products. The regulatory environment for exosome-based therapeutics requires additional development and clarification. 2 Exosome-mediated delivery requires a thorough understanding of its biological mechanics. Approaches for monitoring the fate of EXOs require further research. EXOs should be investigated in conjunction with other medicinal agents. The creation of tailored therapeutics based on patient-derived EXOs should be researched.
Besides these fields of inquiry, there are numerous more possible uses of EXOs that need further examination, as the follows: 1 EXOs have the potential to cure several disorders in regenerative medicine. 2 Exosome-based gene therapy has the potential to address several genetic problems. 3 EXOs in vaccine development have the potential to treat several ailments, notably infectious disorders and cancer. 4 EXOs in diagnostics might be utilized to diagnose a variety of disorders.
In general, our comprehension of the biological functions of EXOs is inadequate, and further research is required. Nonetheless, the utilization of EXOs in complicated clinical settings in the near future is not surprising.
10 Concluding remarks
Reproductive wellness is closely related to individual standards of living. Women are very interested in understanding the mechanics of fertility disorders and how to tackle their issues. Exosome therapy offers several theranostics potentials in experimental studies, but there are still several practical issues that impede their clinical translation. To enhance the clinical administration of EXOs, collaboration across disciplines and fields is required, ranging from fundamental to clinical, medicine to engineering. As a result, in this article, we completely explain the roles and fundamental processes of exosome treatment in treating female infertility issues.
Animal investigations have shown that exosome treatment can fight apoptosis and promote regeneration which consequently results in counteracting of reproductive aging. However, clear clinical proof is now absent, and further basic study is needed to investigate their bioactivity. Given the similar clinical hallmarks of inflammation and fibrosis, exosome treatment established for heart disease may be useful to other disciplines, including reproductive aging. Furthermore, there are significant uncertainties associated with the exosome manufacturing process.
We present a comprehensive description of the complete process, from exosome separation, filtration, and sourcing to agent preservation, applications, and customization. Quality control procedures for EXOs and their metabolites are thoroughly reviewed. This detailed explanation seeks to provide prospective investigators with a clear grasp of the limits of current methodologies, allowing them to make educated decisions throughout the exosome research process. Furthermore, we discuss alternative remedies to present problems. The combination of many modern innovations with EXOs have shown limitless possibilities for progression, and it is set to increase their potentials in personalized medicine.
While the use of EXOs is becoming more and more popular, there are still several obstacles in the way of achieving satisfactory therapeutic results. EXOs undoubtedly have a big impact on female fertility, egg implantation, and embryo development. Further research has been made possible by the outstanding therapeutic effectiveness of EXOs in conditions associated with female reproduction. The published results indicate that some technical issues with cell-based treatments can be resolved by using these nanotherapeutics as a cell-free method. At the moment, exosome durability and targeting capacity have been greatly improved by integrating them with synthetic polymer-based biomaterials. More research is required since there is currently a dearth of information on the pharmacological specifics of EXOs and exosome-loaded biomaterials. However, it is not at all surprising that EXOs will be used in complicated clinical diseases in the years to come.
Statements
Author contributions
AAA: Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. SK: Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing, Formal Analysis, Software. ET: Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. AAb: Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing, Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Resources, Software, Validation, Visualization. GA: Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. DM: Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. DN: Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. RA: Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. DZ: Data curation, Formal Analysis, Software, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. HH: Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. AMA: Data curation, Formal Analysis, Software, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. KA: Data curation, Formal Analysis, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. EE: Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. AAl: Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. ME-S: Data curation, Software, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. AE-F: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Software, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. SA: Data curation, Methodology, Resources, Validation, Investigation, Software, Writing – review and editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work is supported via funding from Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University project number (PSAU/2025/R/1447), Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, this study was supported by the Researchers Supporting Project number (MHIRSP202538), AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is also partially funded by Zarqa University-Jordan.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Generative AI statement
The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.
Publisher’s note
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Supplementary material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1605174/full#supplementary-material
Glossary
- ADSC-EXOs
Adipose stem cell-derived exosomes
- AEC
Amniotic epithelial cells
- AFC
Antral follicle count
- AFSC-EXOs
Amniotic fluid stem cell-derived exosomes
- AITC
Allyl isothiocyanate
- ALOX15m
Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase
- AMH
Anti-müllerian hormone
- AMH
Anti-müllerian hormone
- AMSCs
Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells
- AS
Asherman syndrome
- ATPS
Aqueous two-phase system
- BBB
Blood-brain barrier
- BMI
Body mass index
- BMMSCs
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
- CARPA
Complement activation-related pseudoallergy
- C-BMSCs
Canine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
- CCN2
Cellular communication network-2
- CCs
Cumulus cells
- CD
Cluster of differentiation
- CDK4
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4
- COX
Cyclo-oxygenase
- CS
Collagen scaffold
- CTF1
Cardiotrophin-1
- CTX
Cyclophosphamide
- DALYs
Disability-adjusted life years
- DBCO
Dibenzocyclooctyne
- DDSs
Drug delivery systems
- DEP
Dielectrophoretic
- DEX
Dextran
- DLEU1
Deleted in lymphocytic leukemia1
- DSCs
Decidual stromal cells
- E2
Estradiol
- EC
Endometrial cancer
- ECM
Extracellular matrix
- EE
Ectopic endometrium
- EECs
Ectopic endometrium cells
- EESCs
Ectopic endometrial stromal cells
- EMS
Endometriosis
- ENK-EXOs
Exosomes derived from expanded natural killer cells
- ESCs
Endometrial stem cells
- EUE
Eutopic endometrium
- EVs
Extracellular vesicles
- EXOs
Exosomes
- EXOs-Anthos
EXOs anthocyanidins
- EXOs-HP
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes encapsulated in heparin-poloxamer hydrogel
- FACS
Fluorescence activated cell sorting
- FCM
Flow cytometry
- FDA
Food and drug agency
- TFF
Tangential flow filtration
- FF
Follicular fluid
- FGA
Fibrinogen alpha chain
- FGG
Fibrinogen gamma chain
- FSH
Follicle-stimulating hormone
- GALA
Glu-Ala-Leu-Ala
- GPX1
Glutathione peroxidase 1
- GSN
Gelsolin
- HEnSCs
human endometrial stromal cells
- HENPs
Hybrid exosomes nanoparticles;
- HIF-1α
Hypoxia-inducible factor1-alpha
- HO-1
Heme oxygenase-1
- HUCMSCs
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells
- HUVECs
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells
- I/R
Ischemia-reperfusion
- IDEM
Immune derived exosome mimetics
- IGF
Insulin growth factor
- IL
Interleukin
- IUA
Intra uterine adhesions
- LATS1
Large tumor suppressor kinase 1
- LEAP
Ligand-based exosome affinity purification
- LH
Luteinizing hormone
- LIF
Leukemia inhibitory factor
- LOXL2
Lysyl oxidase homolog 2
- LPB
Binding protein
- MDE
Mammalian derived exosomes
- MenSCs
Menstrual blood stromal cells
- MEST
Mesoderm-specific transcript
- MHC
Major histocompatibility complex
- MiRNAs
Micro ribonucleicacids
- MMP2
Matrix metalloproteinase 2
- MnSOD
Manganese-containing superoxide dismutase
- MSCs
Mesenchymal stem cells
- NF-kB
Nuclear factor kappa B
- NK
Natural killer
- NP
Nucleus pulposus
- Nrf2
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
- NTA
Nanoparticle-tracking analysis
- OCSCs
Ovarian cancer stem cells
- OGCs
Ovarian granulosa cells
- AITC
Allyl isothiocyanate
- PAC
Paclitaxel
- PBMCs
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- PCNA
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen
- PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome
- pEXOs
Platelet exosomes
- PD
Parkinson’s disease
- PEG
Poly ethylene Glycol
- PEN1
Penetration
- PI3K
Phosphoinositide-3-kinase
- PI3Ks
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases
- PlGF
Placental growth factor
- pMφ
Peritoneal macrophages
- PODXL
Podocalyxin-like
- POI
Primary ovarian insufficiency
- PPARγ
Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma
- PRP
Platelet rich plasma
- PTEN
Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10
- PTr2
Pig trophoblast cells
- SASP
Senescence-connected secretory phenotype
- SDF-1α
Stromal cell derived factor-1 alpha
- SEC
Size-exclusion chromatography
- SEM
Scanning electron microscopy
- sFlt-1
Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1
- SOD1
Superoxide dismutase 1
- STAT3
Signal transduction and activation of transcription 3
- T
Testosterone
- TAMs
Tumor associated macrophages
- TEM
Transmission electron microscopy
- TGF
Transforming growth factor
- THP
Tamm horsfall protein
- TP
Triptolide
- TrxR2
Thioredoxin reductase
- UC-MSCs
Umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells
- VCAN
Versican
- VCD
Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide
- VEGF
Vascular endothelial growth factor
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Summary