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Extracellular Vesicles as Biological Nanocarriers: Methods for Isolation, Engineering, Characterization and Biological Applications

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Guest Editors

Marco Fidaleo

Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies Charles Darwin, Rome, Italy.

Dr. Marco Fidaleo obtained his double PhD degree for a joint research doctoral thesis in Developmental and Cellular Biology from the University of Rome Sapienza in Italy and in Science de la Vie from the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon (France). He is an assistant professor at the University of Rome Sapienza. He has a great interest in neuroscience, toxicology, nanocarriers and in vitro advanced models aiming at reproducing the complexity of in vivo drug delivery and toxicity. His recent research deals with the characterization and establishing the role of extracellular vesicles in neuroinflammation.

Stefano Tacconi

University of Salento, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Lecce, Italy.

Dr. Stefano Tacconi, completed his master’s degree in 2016, he then carried out research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in the field of mitochondrial function in hepatic steatosis. In 2017 he began his PhD research at the Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy and Cytology of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Salento, with a research period carried out at the Carmen Laboratory of the University of Lyon and at the laboratory of analytical chemistry of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. His PhD focused on the field of extracellular vesicles, metabolic alterations and immune function. He currently works as a researcher at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Salento, dealing with the development of nano-formulated pesticides for the treatment of plant diseases. In addition, he has a great research interest in extracellular vesicles in metabolic, neurodegenerative and cancer diseases, immunity, nano-formulated systems and their therapeutic use and toxicology.

Collection Overview

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are natural-occurring lipid bilayer membrane structures secreted by cells. An increasing number of findings have shown the involvement of EVs in cell-to-cell communication, highlighting their pivotal role in transferring of information. They can carry both small molecules like metabolites, and macromolecules including proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. Interesting features of EVs include the ability in crossing biological barriers, stability in circulation and biological fluids, and precise-targeting delivery. Furthermore, they exhibit low toxicity and immunogenicity. Altogether, EVs are very attractive as possible nanocarriers, in both forms i.e., as they are and after biological engineering. Protocols regarding their isolation and characterization are constantly updated thanks to the improvement of types of equipment or innovative approaches used. The use of EVs as biomarkers and biological nanocarriers has various limitations. Attempts to load EVs with exogenous compounds are very recent and the evaluation of their biological effects require complex cellular models or specific protocols in animal models. In addition, no gold standard methods are currently established for the isolation and concentration of pure EVs from cell culture, tissue, and biological fluids. The aim of this Methods Collection is to deal with the current methods for isolation and characterization of EVs and includes protocols regarding both their use as nanocarriers (e.g., EVs-loading and functionalization methods) as well as their evaluation on biological models (e.g., in vitro cell model to evaluate EVs capability to cross biological barriers).