Advances in extracellular vesicle-based combination therapies for spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition with limited curative options, creating an urgent need for new treatment strategies. Combination therapies, which involve using multiple therapeutic approaches simultaneously, may be more effective in achieving recovery after SCI. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanovesicles released from cells that facilitate intercellular communication. Combining EVs with other therapeutic strategies, such as nanoparticles, exogenous drugs, and biomaterials, may improve their targeting ability and enhance therapeutic effects. The review highlights combined strategies for extracellular vesicle-based technology for spinal cord injury, including the combination of extracellular vesicles with nanoparticles, exogenous drugs and/or biological scaffold materials.

• 1
  Combining EVs with nanoparticles, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP), can improve their targeting ability to the injured spinal cord tissue, especially when guided by an external magnetic field.
• 2
  Loading EVs with exogenous drugs, such as siRNAs or small molecule drugs like berberine and FTY720, can enhance their therapeutic effects by targeting specific signaling pathways or overcoming regenerative barriers in the SCI microenvironment.
• 3
  Combining EVs with biomaterials, such as hydrogels and collagen scaffolds, can provide structural support, promote cell adhesion, and facilitate the sustained release of EVs at the injury site, leading to improved tissue repair and functional recovery.