# Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular Vesicles for Oral Wound Healing

## TL;DR

This review explores how extracellular vesicles can be used as a safe and effective treatment for oral wounds, offering an alternative to traditional cell-based therapies.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of extracellular vesicle sources, engineering, and delivery methods for oral wound healing.

## Key findings

- Extracellular vesicles offer a cell-free alternative with reduced risks compared to cell-based therapies.
- EVs can be engineered and delivered using advanced platforms like hydrogels and microneedles.
- Oral wound healing differs from cutaneous healing, requiring tailored therapeutic approaches.

## Abstract

Oral wound healing is a robust process; however, complications from surgery, systemic diseases, and aging can impair healing. While some treatments exist, regenerative therapies to promote mucosal wound healing remain limited. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in FDA-approved cell-based therapies; however, extracellular vesicles represent an emerging cell-free alternative that may mitigate risks associated with cellular therapies, including tumorigenesis and immunogenicity. These lipid-encapsulated nanovesicles can deliver therapeutic cargo, such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, or drugs, to the wound site. Extracellular vesicles can be derived from mesenchymal stromal cells, immune cells, bodily fluids, or bacteria, and engineered through genetic modification, preconditioning, or direct cargo loading to enhance therapeutic potency. Furthermore, advanced delivery platforms, including hydrogels, microneedles, and aerosols, allow for sustained and localized EV delivery to the oral wound site. This review examines differences between cutaneous and oral wound healing; factors that impair oral repair; extracellular vesicle sources and engineering strategies; and delivery strategies for developing EV-based therapeutics for oral wound healing.