Extracellular vesicles show promise for diagnosing and treating oral diseases

A comprehensive review has explored the diverse roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the oral and maxillofacial region, highlighting their immense potential in disease detection, targeted therapies, and tissue regeneration. The review explores the sources of EVs and provides a thorough overview of how EVs serve as messengers, influencing and regulating key physiological and pathological processes.

The oral and maxillofacial region-comprising the teeth, gums, and facial structures-plays a vital role in speech, chewing, and overall facial aesthetics. However, diseases affecting this area, such as infections, developmental deformities, and cancers, pose significant hurdles. These conditions often disrupt daily life, with current diagnostic methods and treatments failing to fully meet the complexities of these issues. With the growing demand for more effective, precise, and non-invasive approaches, EVs have emerged as a promising solution to improve both diagnosis and treatment.

In an insightful review (DOI: 10.1038/s41368-024-00341-9) published on February 4, 2025, in the International Journal of Oral Science, a team of researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine delves into the multifaceted roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in oral and maxillofacial diseases. The review reveals that EVs are present in various sources, including cells, tissues, and body fluids, and are involved in crucial physiological processes such as tooth development, wound healing, and immune regulation. Specifically, salivary EVs, which vary significantly between healthy individuals and patients, could serve as non-invasive diagnostic indicators. Furthermore, the review discusses the potential applications of engineered exosomes, which show significant clinical potential in areas such as tumor treatment, tissue regeneration, and repair; they have also demonstrated better therapeutic effect and targeting capacity compared to natural exosomes. Additionally, the review addresses the technical challenges associated with the clinical translation of exosomes, including large-scale production and quality control, and highlights the significant research potential in overcoming these obstacles.

Dr. Mengfei Yu, an expert in the field, underscores the transformative promise of EVs for oral medicine.

Our study summarizes that EVs can serve as powerful tools for diagnosing and treating a wide range of oral and maxillofacial diseases. The ability to engineer these vesicles opens up new avenues for personalized medicine."

Dr. Mengfei Yu

This review systematically summarizes the latest research on EVs within the oral and maxillofacial region, and highlights the potential applications of engineered exosomes. It provides a valuable reference for future research, aiming to fully exploit the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of EVs and usher in a new era of personalized oral healthcare.