Christian M. Sanchez-López

Extracellular vesicles are gaining attention in the pharmaceutical field due to their potential as therapeutic and delivery platforms. Among these, plant nanovesicles (PNVs) are particularly promising due to their reported biological activity. Pomegranate ( Punica granatum ) has been widely used in traditional medicine for its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. Recent studies have revealed that pomegranate juice contains PNVs with therapeutic potential. In this study, pomegranate‐derived nanovesicles ( Pg NVs) were isolated, characterized, and pharmacologically evaluated in dermatitis‐like in vivo murine models of delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) and chronic dermatitis. Subcutaneous administration of Pg NVs modulated pro‐inflammatory cytokine expression, particularly by reducing IL‐4 and IL‐1β levels in the DTH model. Moreover, in the chronic dermatitis model, Pg NVs‐treated mice exhibited reduced histopathological skin damage, decreasing epidermal hyperplasia, collagen deposition, and immune cell infiltration. Additionally, Pg NVs enhanced the secretion of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10, while decreasing the levels of pro‐inflammatory mediators like IL‐1β. Importantly, the long‐term effects of Pg NVs treatment were compared to those of topical corticosteroids (TCS), which constitute the current standard treatment for dermatitis. Unlike TCS, Pg NVs did not induce side effects. Overall, these findings support the therapeutic potential of Pg NVs as a promising, safe and sustainable alternative approach to treat chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

Aim: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas lacking specific therapy and frequently complicated by oxidative stress (OS) and long-term endocrine dysfunction, including pancreatogenic diabetes. Pomegranate-derived nanovesicles (PgNVs) contain bioactive lipids, proteins, and metabolites responsible for many health benefits of pomegranate juice. This study evaluated whether prophylactic PgNVs administration could mitigate pancreatic injury, OS, systemic inflammation, and subsequent endocrine impairment in a murine model of severe L-arginine-induced AP. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were distributed to three groups: control, AP, and AP + PgNVs. A single subcutaneous dose of PgNVs (10 µg; ≈ 5 × 1010 particles) was administered 2 h before AP induction via intraperitoneal L-arginine. Animals were analyzed at 3, 7, 30, and 60 days post-induction. PgNVs were isolated using differential centrifugation, tangential-flow filtration, and size-exclusion chromatography. Results: PgNVs pretreatment preserved pancreatic architecture, reduced edema, amylase activity, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in both tissue and plasma by limiting nuclear factor-κB-p65 phosphorylation. PgNVs restored redox balance by upregulating NQO1 [NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1], improving oxidized glutathione (GSSG)/reduced glutathione (GSH) and homocystine/homocysteine ratios, and maintaining PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha) expression. PgNVs protected β-cell mass, enhanced insulin secretion, and normalized glucose tolerance after AP. Proteomic profiling revealed that PgNVs changed extracellular vesicle composition, lowering pro-inflammatory markers [fibronectin, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4)] and restoring anti-inflammatory ITIH4 (inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor protein heavy chain 4). Conclusion: PgNVs exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protection in experimental AP and preserve long-term endocrine function, highlighting their potential as a natural nanotherapeutic strategy to prevent pancreatic injury and post-pancreatitis diabetes.

Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) are increasingly recognized as mediators of intercellular communication in plants, where they play roles in defense, signaling, and cell wall remodeling. In addition, PDNVs are gaining increasing attention for their biomedical potential, both as natural delivery systems and as bioactive entities, with promising applications in inflammatory disorders and cancer. In this study, we isolated carob nanovesicles (CbNVs) from the apoplastic fluid of carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua L.) using vacuum infiltration centrifugation followed by tangential flow filtration and size-exclusion chromatography. Morphological and biophysical analyses revealed spherical vesicles, while proteomic profiling identified 197 proteins, including suggested PDNV markers such as annexin, HSP70, GAPDH, elongation factors, malate dehydrogenase, and TET-8. These proteins were enriched in metabolic processes, stress responses, and cell wall modification pathways. Protein–protein interaction analysis further linked HSP70 to pectinesterases, reinforcing their role in cell wall remodeling and stress adaptation. Functionally, CbNVs were non-cytotoxic to human macrophages, keratinocytes, and intestinal cells. Notably, CbNVs significantly reduced LPS-induced NF-κB expression in macrophages and promoted wound closure in keratinocytes, with superior efficacy compared to the carob bioactive compound D-pinitol. These findings suggest that CbNVs harbor a synergistic cargo of bioactive molecules with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, highlighting their potential as natural nanotherapeutics.

Seminal plasma contains a heterogeneous population of extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to characterize the lipidomic profile of two subsets of differently sized sEVs, small (S-) and large (L-), isolated from porcine seminal plasma by size-exclusion chromatography and characterized by an orthogonal approach. High-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry was used for lipidomic analysis. A total of 157 lipid species from 14 lipid classes of 4 major categories (sphingolipids, glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, and sterols) were identified. Qualitative differences were limited to two cholesteryl ester species present only in S-sEVs. L-sEVs had higher levels of all quantified lipid classes due to their larger membrane surface area. The distribution pattern was different, especially for sphingomyelins (more in S-sEVs) and ceramides (more in L-sEVs). In conclusion, this study reveals differences in the lipidomic profile of two subsets of porcine sEVs, suggesting that they differ in biogenesis and functionality.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignancy of bad prognosis, and advances in early detection and treatment are needed. GBM is heterogenous, with varieties differing in malignancy within a tumor of a patient and between patients. Means are needed to distinguish these GMB forms, so that specific strategies can be deployed for patient management. We study the participation of the chaperone system (CS) in carcinogenesis. The CS is dynamic, with its members moving around the body in extracellular vesicles (EVs) and interacting with components of other physiological systems in health and disease, including GBM. Here, we describe the finding of high amounts of Hsp70 (HSPA1A) and the calcitonin receptor protein (CTR) in EVs in patients with GBM. We present a standardized protocol for collecting, purifying, and characterizing EVs carrying Hsp70 and CTR in plasma-derived EVs from patients with GBM. EVs from GBM patients were obtained just before tumor ablative surgery (T0) and 7 days afterwards (T1); Hsp70 was highly elevated at T0 and less so at T1, and CTR was greatly increased at T0 and reduced to below normal values at T1. Our results encourage further research to assess Hsp70 and CTR as biomarkers for differentiating tumor forms and to determine their roles in GBM carcinogenesis.

There is increasing evidence that food is an important factor that influences the composition of the gut microbiota. Usually, all the attention has been focused on nutrients such as lipids, proteins, vitamins, or polyphenols. However, a pivotal role in these processes has been linked to dietary-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (DELNs). While food macro- and micronutrient composition are largely well established, there is considerable interest in these DELNs and their cargoes. In this sense, traditionally, all the attention was focused on the proteins or miRNAs contained in these vesicles. However, it has been shown that DELNs would also carry other bioactive molecules with a key role in regulating biochemical pathways and/or interactions with the host’s gut microbiome affecting intracellular communication. Due to the scarce literature, it is necessary to compile the current knowledge about the antimicrobial capacity of DELNs and its possible molecular mechanisms that will serve as a starting point. For this reason, in this review, we highlight the impact of DENLs on different bacteria species modulating the host gut microbiota or antibacterial properties. It could be concluded that DELNs, isolated from both plant and animal foods, exert gut microbiota modulation. However, the presence of miRNA in the vesicle cargoes is not the only one responsible for this effect. Lipids present in the DELNs membrane or small molecules packed in may also be responsible for apoptosis signaling, inhibition, or growth promoters.

Tumor-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) are the main mediators of cell-cell communication, permitting cells to exchange proteins, lipids, and metabolites in varying physiological and pathological conditions. They contain signature tumor-derived molecules that reflect the intracellular status of their cell of origin. Recent studies have shown that tumor cell-derived EVs can aid in cancer metastasis through the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, suppression of the immune system, pre-metastatic niche formation, and subsequent metastasis. EVs can easily be isolated from a variety of biological fluids, and their content makes them useful biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, monitorization of cancer progression, and response to treatment. This review aims to explore the biomarkers of cancer cell-derived EVs obtained from liquid biopsies, in order to understand cancer progression and metastatic evolution for early diagnosis and precision therapy.