International Journal of Nanomedicine (Sep 2023)
Harnessing Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for the Regeneration of Degenerative Bone Conditions
Abstract
Zhiwei Jia,1 Shunxin Zhang,2 Wei Li3 1Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 101100, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ultrasound, 2nd Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Sports Medicine, Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Wei Li, Department of Sports Medicine, Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Shunxin Zhang, Department of Ultrasound, 2nd Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Degenerative bone disorders such as intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), osteoarthritis (OA), and osteoporosis (OP) pose significant health challenges for aging populations and lack effective treatment options. The field of regenerative medicine holds promise in addressing these disorders, with a focus on utilizing extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from stem cells as an innovative therapeutic approach. EVs have shown great potential in stimulating biological responses, making them an attractive candidate for rejuvenating degenerative bone disorders. However, a comprehensive review summarizing the current state of this field and providing a clear assessment of EV-based therapies in degenerative bone disorders is currently deficient. In this review, we aim to fill the existing gap by outlining the current knowledge on the role of EVs derived from different types of stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells, in bone regeneration. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential of EV-based treatments for IVDD, OA, and OP. By substantiating the use of stem cell-derived EVs, we highlight their promising potential as a cell-free strategy to improve degenerative bone disorders.Keywords: nanomedicine, extracellular vesicles, stem cells, regeneration, therapy