Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny biological nanovesicles ranging from approximately 30–1000 nm in diameter that are released into the extracellular matrix of most cell types and in biofluids. The classification of EVs includes exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, dependent on various factors such as size, markers, and biogenesis pathways. The transition of EV relevance from that of being assumed as a trash bag to be a key player in critical physiological and pathological conditions has been revolutionary in many ways. EVs have been recently revealed to play a crucial role in stem cell biology and cancer progression via intercellular communication, contributing to organ development and the progression of cancer. This review focuses on the significant research progress made so far in the role of the crosstalk between EVs and stem cells and their niche, and cellular communication among different germ layers in developmental biology. In addition, it discusses the role of EVs in cancer progression and their application as therapeutic agents or drug delivery vehicles. All such discoveries have been facilitated by tremendous technological advancements in EV-associated research, especially the microfluidics systems. Their pros and cons in the context of characterization of EVs are also extensively discussed in this review. This review also deliberates the role of EVs in normal cell processes and disease conditions, and their application as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Finally, we propose future perspectives for EV-related research in stem cell and cancer biology.

细胞外囊泡 (EV) 是一种微小的生物纳米囊泡，直径约为 30-1000 nm，可释放到大多数细胞类型的细胞外基质和生物体液中。EV 的分类包括外泌体、微泡和凋亡小体，取决于各种因素，例如大小、标记和生物发生途径。电动汽车的相关性从被认为是垃圾袋转变为关键生理和病理条件下的关键参与者，这在许多方面都是革命性的。最近发现 EV 通过细胞间通讯在干细胞生物学和癌症进展中发挥关键作用，有助于器官发育和癌症进展。本综述重点介绍了迄今为止在 EV 和干细胞之间的串扰及其生态位之间的作用以及发育生物学中不同胚层之间的细胞通讯方面取得的重大研究进展。此外，它还讨论了 EV 在癌症进展中的作用及其作为治疗剂或药物输送载体的应用。所有这些发现都得益于电动汽车相关研究的巨大技术进步，尤其是微流体系统。本综述还广泛讨论了它们在电动汽车表征方面的优缺点。本综述还探讨了 EV 在正常细胞过程和疾病状况中的作用，以及它们作为诊断和治疗工具的应用。最后，