Extracellular vesicle mimetics: Novel alternatives to extracellular vesicle-based theranostics, drug delivery, and vaccines

Extracellular vesicles are nano-sized spherical bilayered proteolipids encasing various components. Cells of all domains of life actively release these vesicles to the surroundings including various biological fluids. These extracellular vesicles are known to play pivotal roles in numerous pathophysiological functions. Extracellular vesicles have distinct characteristics, like high biocompatibility, safety, and nano-sized diameters that allow efficient drug loading capacity and long blood circulation half-life. These characteristics of extracellular vesicles have engrossed many scientists to harness them as new tools for novel delivery systems. This review will highlight the current state of the arts and problems of such extracellular vesicle-based theranostics, drug delivery and vaccines, and introduce “extracellular vesicle mimetics” as the novel alternative of extracellular vesicles. We hope to provide insights into the potential of extracellular vesicle mimetics as superior substitute to the natural extracellular vesicles that can be applied to theranostics, drug delivery, and vaccines against various diseases.