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Esophageal cancer (EC) is a fatal digestive disease with a poor prognosis and frequent lymphatic metastases. Nevertheless, reliable biomarkers for EC diagnosis are currently unavailable. Accordingly, we have performed a comparative proteomics analysis on cancer and paracancer tissue-derived exosomes from eight pairs of EC patients using label-free quantification proteomics profiling and have analyzed the differentially expressed proteins through bioinformatics. Furthermore, nano-flow cytometry (NanoFCM) was used to validate the candidate proteins from plasma-derived exosomes in 122 EC patients. Of the 803 differentially expressed proteins discovered in cancer and paracancer tissue-derived exosomes, 686 were up-regulated and 117 were down-regulated. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (CD54) was identified as an up-regulated candidate for further investigation, and its high expression in cancer tissues of EC patients was validated using immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and western blot analyses. In addition, plasma-derived exosome NanoFCM data from 122 EC patients concurred with our proteomic analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity values for CD54 were 0.702, 66.13%, and 71.31%, respectively, for EC diagnosis. Small interference (si)RNA was employed to silence the CD54 gene in EC cells. A series of assays, including cell counting kit-8, adhesion, wound healing, and Matrigel invasion, were performed to investigate EC viability, adhesive, migratory, and invasive abilities, respectively. The results showed that CD54 promoted EC proliferation, migration, and invasion. Collectively, tissue-derived exosomal proteomics strongly demonstrates that CD54 is a promising biomarker for EC diagnosis and a key molecule for EC development.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. It is characterized by occult onset resulting in most patients being diagnosed at advanced stages and with poor prognosis. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles with a lipid bilayer envelope released by various cells under physiological and pathological conditions, which play an important role in the biological information transfer between cells. There is growing evidence that HCC cell-derived exosomes may contribute to the establishment of a favorable microenvironment that supports cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. These exosomes not only provide a versatile platform for diagnosis but also serve as a vehicle for drug delivery. In this paper, we review the role of exosomes involved in the proliferation, migration, and metastasis of HCC and describe their application in HCC diagnosis and treatment. We also discuss the prospects of exosome application in HCC and the research challenges.

As membrane structural bodies secreted by cells, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become a hot topic in the field of plant science in recent years. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) play a key role in both plant physiological activities and the interaction between plants and the environment. These vesicles are involved in plant growth, development, and response to adversity by delivering signaling molecules, proteins, and other bioactive substances. Current studies have shown that PDEVs also exhibit promising potential for clinical applications, including as drug carriers, vaccine development, and biomarkers for disease diagnosis. In this paper, we review studies related to compositional characterization, isolation and purification methods, biological roles, and clinical applications of PDEVs. We aim to provide a systematic theoretical basis and practical guidance for future studies to promote their application in biomedical fields.

Exosomes are tiny vesicles with a double membrane structure that cells produce. They range in diameter from 40 to 150 nm and may contain a variety of biomolecules including proteins and nucleic acids. Exosomes have low toxicity, low immunogenicity, and the ability to encapsulate a wide variety of substances, making them attractive drug delivery vehicles. MSCs secrete large amounts of exosomes and hence serve as an excellent source of exosomes. MSCs-derived exosomes have regenerative and tissue repair functions comparable to MSCs and can circumvent the risks of immune rejection and infection associated with MSC transplantation, indicating that they may be a viable alternative to MSCs’ biological functions. In this review, we summarized the drug delivery methods and advantages of exosomes, as well as the advancement of MSC exosomes as drug carriers. The challenges and prospects of using exosomes as drug delivery vectors are presented.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as natural nanoscale carriers with exceptional biocompatibility, target specificity, and drug-loading capabilities, positioning them as promising tools in the field of drug and vaccine delivery. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape surrounding EV-based delivery systems, highlighting their applications in mRNA vaccines and cancer immunotherapy. By examining the biological properties of EVs, along with contemporary methods for their isolation, modification, and functionalization, the review contrasts EVs with traditional nanocarriers such as lipid nanoparticles, emphasizing both their unique advantages and the challenges they face. Furthermore, we discuss recent clinical developments and ongoing trials that underscore the translational potential of EVs. Ultimately, this article aims to elucidate the pivotal role of EVs as next-generation platforms for advanced drug and vaccine delivery, offering insights into future research directions and therapeutic innovations.

Exosomes are nanoscale, double-membraned vesicles released by a variety of living cells. A wide variety of cargoes, including proteins, DNA and RNA, are transported by exosomes to target cells, thereby transmitting biological signals. In addition to being an essential component of the exosomal cargo, exosomal proteins are a reflection of the physiological state of the originating cell, and play an essential part in intercellular communication in numerous diseases, including cancer. The present review provides a summary of the novel uses of exosomal proteins in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and highlights the distinct qualities that exosomal proteins possess, when compared with typical serological measurements.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC is characterized by insidious onset, and most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage with a poor prognosis. Identification of biomarkers for HCC onset and progression is imperative to development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. CD147 is a glycoprotein that is involved in tumor cell invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis through multiple mechanisms. In this review, we describe the molecular structure of CD147 and its role in regulating HCC invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. We highlight its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC.

As the world’s population ages, neurodegenerative diseases are becoming more widely acknowledged as serious global health and socioeconomic issues. Although many resources have been devoted to the research of these illnesses, little progress has been made in the creation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by all cell types and contain proteins, microRNAs, mRNAs, and other biologically active molecules. EVs play an important role in intercellular communication as well as in the regulation of neuroinflammation. Determining the mechanisms by which EVs contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases will aid in the development of new therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tools. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown in studies to control immunological responses, promote the growth of new brain connections, promote the production of blood vessels, and heal damaged tissues. There is growing evidence that MSCs’ ability to treat patients is mostly due to the neurotrophic compounds they secrete through EVs. Since their tiny size allows them to pass through biological barriers and reach injured parts of the central nervous system, MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) retain many of the therapeutic qualities of their parent MSCs. This review discusses the role of EVs in neurodegenerative diseases and highlights the potential of MSC-EVs in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The paper also examines the challenges that still need to be overcome and the prospects for using MSC-EVs to treat neurodegenerative illnesses.

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) have emerged as a novel class of bionanocarriers, garnering significant attention in the targeted delivery of antitumor drugs due to their low immunogenicity, excellent biocompatibility, and intrinsic antitumor properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biological characteristics and extraction methods of PDEVs, emphasizing their recent advances in the field of antitumor drug delivery. We critically analyze the mechanisms by which PDEVs derived from various plants modulate the tumor microenvironment, enhance drug targeting specificity, and stimulate antitumor immunity. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages and current challenges faced by PDEVs as drug delivery vectors, including standardization, reproducibility, in vivo targeting evidence. The review also explores the promising potential of PDEVs in precision oncology, highlighting their role in improving therapeutic outcomes and minimizing off-target effects. This review aims to provide theoretical insights for the development and clinical application of PDVEs in the targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs.