Extracellular vesicles in bone and periodontal regeneration: current and potential therapeutic applications

Oral mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretomes are considered important factors in the field of medical tissue engineering and cell free biotherapy due to their ease of access, differentiation potential, and successful therapeutic outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the conditioned medium (CM) from MSCs are gaining more attraction as an alternative to cell-based therapies due to the less ethical issues involved, and their easier acquisition, preservation, long term storage, sterilization, and packaging. Bone and periodontal regenerative ability of EVs and CM have been the focus of some recent studies. In this review, we looked through currently available literature regarding MSCs’ EVs or conditioned medium and their general characteristics, function, and regenerative potentials.

• 1
  EVs have essential roles in cell-to-cell interaction, organ-to-organ communication and also, can be introduced as a novel signaling mediator in whole-body communications.
• 2
  Blood vessels are the agents delivering minerals, growth factors, and progenitor cells to the area involved in regenerative activity and help sustain homeostasis. There is evidence suggesting possible angiogenic ability of EVs by improving vessel formation which may lead to stimulation of bone regeneration and growth
• 3
  EV-based intercellular communication between osteoblasts and osteoclasts may be considered as a novel regulator of bone remodeling.