Cells secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) for intercellular communication. EVs are natural nanovesicles that are surrounded by lipid bilayer for delivery of assorted cargoes for therapeutic purposes. In addition to their therapeutic roles, these vesicles are potential drug delivery systems. Exosomes are the most studied EVs as the delivery carriers that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) because of their nanosize. BBB is a diffusion barrier that is selective for small molecules to transit from blood to the brain. This barrier has been an obstacle for the delivery of drugs to the brain for the treatment of neurological disorders (NDs). For efficient drug delivery, synthetic vesicles such as liposomes have been employed as carriers for delivery of therapeutic molecules in clinical practice. However, these delivery systems are not without drawbacks. Among the limitations of these drug carriers include recognition by the body as foreign particles that encounter multiple defence systems that could recognize, neutralize and eliminate them. EVs are natural vesicles that may circumvent the body defence system to remain in systemic circulation for a long time. This unique property made them excellent drug delivery vehicles for clinical application. Here I discuss the progress, challenges and future directions of EVs (especially exosomes) as vehicles for targeted delivery of drug and at the same time deliver their cargoes for regenerative purposes in NDs. Recent developments in bioengineering and microfluidic technologies, which hold promise for clinical-grade production of EVs as drug delivery systems for NDs are also highlighted.

细胞分泌细胞外囊泡 (EV) 进行细胞间通讯。EVs 是天然纳米囊泡，被脂质双层包围，用于运送各种用于治疗目的的货物。除了它们的治疗作用外，这些囊泡是潜在的药物递送系统。外泌体是研究最多的 EV，因为它们的纳米尺寸可以作为可以穿过血脑屏障 (BBB) 的递送载体。BBB 是一种扩散屏障，可选择性地让小分子从血液传输到大脑。这种屏障一直是将药物输送到大脑以治疗神经系统疾病 (NDs) 的障碍。为了有效地递送药物，合成囊泡如脂质体已被用作临床实践中递送治疗分子的载体。然而，这些输送系统并非没有缺点。这些药物载体的局限性包括被身体识别为遇到多种防御系统的外来粒子，这些防御系统可以识别、中和和消除它们。EVs 是天然囊泡，可以绕过身体防御系统长时间保持在体循环中。这种独特的特性使它们成为临床应用的优秀药物输送载体。在这里，我将讨论 EV（尤其是外泌体）作为靶向药物递送工具并同时递送其货物用于 ND 中的再生目的的进展、挑战和未来方向。还强调了生物工程和微流体技术的最新发展，它们有望用于临床级生产 EV 作为 ND 的给药系统。这些药物载体的局限性包括被身体识别为遇到多种防御系统的外来粒子，这些防御系统可以识别、中和和消除它们。EVs 是天然囊泡，可以绕过身体防御系统长时间保持在体循环中。这种独特的特性使它们成为临床应用的优秀药物输送载体。在这里，我将讨论 EV（尤其是外泌体）作为靶向药物递送工具并同时递送其货物用于 ND 中的再生目的的进展、挑战和未来方向。还强调了生物工程和微流体技术的最新发展，它们有望用于临床级生产 EV 作为 ND 的给药系统。这些药物载体的局限性包括被身体识别为遇到多种防御系统的外来粒子，这些防御系统可以识别、中和和消除它们。EVs 是天然囊泡，可以绕过身体防御系统长时间保持在体循环中。这种独特的特性使它们成为临床应用的优秀药物输送载体。在这里，我将讨论 EV（尤其是外泌体）作为靶向药物递送工具并同时递送其货物用于 ND 中的再生目的的进展、挑战和未来方向。还强调了生物工程和微流体技术的最新发展，它们有望用于临床级生产 EV 作为 ND 的给药系统。