Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes have emerged as a promising cell-free therapy for tissue engineering. Compared to intact stem cells, exosomes have advantages like low immunogenicity and ability to carry regenerative cargo. This review examined the potential of exosomes to treat defects in skin, bone and cartilage. In preclinical models, exosomes improved wound healing, stimulated bone regeneration, and enabled cartilage repair by transferring proteins, mRNAs and microRNAs. Their effects were elicited by modulating inflammation, angiogenesis, cell proliferation and matrix synthesis. Exosomes represent a promising cell-free therapy for tissue engineering. However, challenges remain regarding scalable isolation, elucidating mechanisms, and translating this approach to human trials. Understanding these challenges will enable the successful clinical translation of exosomes for regenerative medicine applications.