Extracellular Vesicles in Skin: Biological Function and Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale, lipid bilayer-enclosed particles containing bioactive molecules that play crucial roles in tissue homeostasis. These vesicles regulate cellular functions via delivery of protein, lipid, and nucleic acid cargos to target cells, thereby orchestrating essential biological processes, including cellular proliferation, activation, angiogenesis, and immune responses. The past decade has witnessed unprecedented growth in research examining EV functions in cutaneous physiology and pathogenesis. Here, we describe the biogenesis, composition and cellular uptake of EVs, critically highlighting the therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of EVs from mammalian, plant and bacterial cells in skin diseases, including skin wound healing, hair growth, aging, inflammatory diseases and cancers. In addition, we discuss clinical translation challenges and outline future research directions for advancing EV-based therapeutics in clinical dermatology.