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Gupta et al. Extracell Vesicles Circ Nucleic Acids 2023;4:170-90 Extracellular Vesicles and
DOI: 10.20517/evcna.2023.12
Circulating Nucleic Acids

Review Open Access

Biodistribution of therapeutic extracellular vesicles

2
1,2
1
Dhanu Gupta , Oscar P.B Wiklander , Matthew J.A Wood , Samir El-Andaloussi 2
1
Department of Paediatrics. University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK.
2
Biomolecular Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska
Institutet, Huddinge 14151, Sweden.
Correspondence to: Dr. Dhanu Gupta, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Campus, Old Rd, Roosevelt Dr,
Headington, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK. E-mail: Dhanu.gupta@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk
How to cite this article: Gupta D, Wiklander OPB, Wood MJA, El-Andaloussi S. Biodistribution of therapeutic extracellular
vesicles. Extracell Vesicles Circ Nucleic Acids 2023;4:170-90. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/evcna.2023.12

Received: 7 Feb 2023 First Decision: 7 Mar 2023 Revised: 27 Mar 2023 Accepted: 3 Apr 2023 Published: 19 Apr 2023

Academic Editor: Yoke Peng Loh Copy Editor: Ying Han Production Editor: Ying Han

Abstract
The field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has seen a tremendous paradigm shift in the past two decades, from being
regarded as cellular waste bags to being considered essential mediators in intercellular communication. Their
unique ability to transfer macromolecules across cells and biological barriers has made them a rising star in drug
delivery. Mounting evidence suggests that EVs can be explored as efficient drug delivery vehicles for a range of
therapeutic macromolecules. In contrast to many synthetic delivery systems, these vesicles appear exceptionally
well tolerated in vivo. This tremendous development in the therapeutic application of EVs has been made through
technological advancement in labelling and understanding the in vivo biodistribution of EVs. Here in this review, we
have summarised the recent findings in EV in vivo pharmacokinetics and discussed various biological barriers that
need to be surpassed to achieve tissue-specific delivery.

Keywords: Exosomes, in vivo biodistribution, extracellular vesicles, targeted delivery, CNS targeting

INTRODUCTION
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of membranous nanoparticles actively secreted by all
cells. Based on their biogenesis, EVs are differentiated into three main subtypes: microvesicles (MVs),
[1,2]
exosomes, and apoptotic bodies . In addition to this classification, it is becoming increasingly evident that
various sub-populations of vesicles exist, especially different types of exosomes . EVs contain biologically
[3]

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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