Extracellular Vesicles in Regenerative Medicine, a Brief Review

Extracellular vesicles were initially known as cellular waste carriers, while recent studies demonstrate that extracellular vesicles play important biological roles in all aspects of life-from single cells to mammalians. Their pathophysiological roles in some diseases like cancer are being decoded. Extracellular vesicles are divided into some classes and there are different strategies to isolate them. Regenerative medicine is a collective term which comprised of different approaches to heal and repair damaged tissues and organs. A wide spectrum of options in regenerative medicine, makes this more dynamic field, which is appealing prospect for cell therapists and tissue engineers. EVs derived from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells and other probable sources are one of the options on the table to regenerate damaged tissues with lower risks, but their potential roles have not been fully elucidated. This cell-free based approach inspires cell therapist and tissue engineers in order to control immune reactions as well as regeneration at the same time.