Engineered Extracellular Vesicles: Next-Generation Platforms for Therapeutic Delivery

Advances in nanotechnology have opened new frontiers in drug and gene delivery, offering innovative strategies to overcome the limitations of traditional therapeutic platforms. This talk will highlight the development and application of engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) as next-generation, non-viral nanocarriers for targeted therapeutic delivery. EVs are naturally derived, nanoscale carriers that mirror the molecular characteristics of their donor cells and play key roles in intercellular communication. By engineering these vesicles, we can enhance their innate advantages, including barrier penetration, low immunogenicity, and biofluid stability, to enable precise delivery of genetic and pharmacologic payloads. This presentation will discuss how engineered EVs can bypass critical challenges associated with viral vectors, such as size limitations and redosing restrictions, while demonstrating their potential to reprogram somatic cells and promote tissue repair and regeneration.