Exosomes Explained: Nature’s Intercellular Messengers

Exosomes are nanoparticles that are released and received by nearly all cells in the body. These highly-evolved vesicles act as one of our body’s communication systems, delivering important molecular payloads from cell to cell. Each exosome’s particular biological function is determined by molecules that reside either on its surface or in its interior.

Delivering Payloads

Exosomes seek out specific cellular targets and, upon arriving at their intended destination, can transfer their cargo to recipient cells or activate signaling pathways in order to change the behavior of the recipient cell.

Therapeutic potential

Exosomes may serve as a valuable therapeutic modality because of their ability to transfer a wide variety of therapeutic payloads among cells, opening the door to broad potential utility in treating diseases that have evaded other approaches.