About this Research Topic
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are heterogeneous cell-derived membranous vesicles that carry diverse cargos, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Growing evidence has demonstrated the critical contributions of EVs in mediating cell-to-cell communication, maintenance of homeostasis, and regulation of host response to various pathological conditions including infectious diseases. The cargoes carried by the EVs that are released from various cell types and that enter into the circulatory system can serve as valuable source of biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, the ability of EVs to regulate disease progression can also be leveraged for developing promising therapeutic interventions. Of note, bioengineered EVs containing therapeutic agents have been successfully employed for attenuation of the pathogenesis associated with several diseases.
The properties of EVs of isolation from biofluids and of carrying disease-associated cargos endow them the ability to function as promising, potential candidate biomarkers, while also being exploited as conduits for delivering therapeutic mediators for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and infectious disorders. Indeed, an increasing number of studies have reported EV-associated proteins or microRNAs as new candidate disease biomarkers. Furthermore, a range of approaches has been used to engineer EVs for various biomedical applications. However, many important aspects of EV biology such as standardization of EV isolation methods, development of novel and reliable EV biomarkers, alterations in EV uptake during disease, and the biodistribution profiles and pharmacokinetics of both natural and exogenously administered EVs, remain an enigma.
Our Research Topic is aimed at integrating recent progress in EV function and utility, specifically in neurological diseases and disorders with neurological complications, with an emphasis on diagnostics, therapeutics, and theranostic applications. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
• New methods of EV isolation, characterization, and bioengineering technology
• New technological advances in the development of EV-based therapeutics or diagnostics
• Mechanisms involved in the internalization of EVs
• Circulation kinetics and biodistribution of natural and engineered EVs
• Identification of promising EV cargos for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
The properties of EVs of isolation from biofluids and of carrying disease-associated cargos endow them the ability to function as promising, potential candidate biomarkers, while also being exploited as conduits for delivering therapeutic mediators for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and infectious disorders. Indeed, an increasing number of studies have reported EV-associated proteins or microRNAs as new candidate disease biomarkers. Furthermore, a range of approaches has been used to engineer EVs for various biomedical applications. However, many important aspects of EV biology such as standardization of EV isolation methods, development of novel and reliable EV biomarkers, alterations in EV uptake during disease, and the biodistribution profiles and pharmacokinetics of both natural and exogenously administered EVs, remain an enigma.
Our Research Topic is aimed at integrating recent progress in EV function and utility, specifically in neurological diseases and disorders with neurological complications, with an emphasis on diagnostics, therapeutics, and theranostic applications. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
• New methods of EV isolation, characterization, and bioengineering technology
• New technological advances in the development of EV-based therapeutics or diagnostics
• Mechanisms involved in the internalization of EVs
• Circulation kinetics and biodistribution of natural and engineered EVs
• Identification of promising EV cargos for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
Keywords: Extracellular Vesicles, EVs, Neurological Disorders, Diagnostics, Therapeutics
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