From hope to healing: Exploring the therapeutic potential of exosomes in spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the damage to the spinal cord causing paralysis below the injury site causing compromised patient life quality. Exosomes are nanosized vesicles released during physiological or pathological processes. They present a promising avenue for therapeutic drug delivery due to their tissue specificity and biocompatibility, offering enhanced efficacy with reduced accumulation-based toxicity. In SCI, exosomes target inflammation, apoptosis, microglial polarization, and autophagy, contributing to therapeutic interventions. This article comprehensively explores the pathophysiology of SCI, diverse exosome synthesis processes, their limitations and challenges to overcome, and the potential of exosomes from various cellular sources in SCI treatment.

Keywords

• Spinal cord injury
• Extracellular vesicle
• Exosome
• Nanocarrier
• Drug delivery