Adipose stem cells-released extracellular vesicles as a next-generation cargo delivery vehicles: a survey of minimal information implementation, mass production and functional modification

Objectives To investigate current situation of minimal information implementation highlighted by minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018) guidelines, and explore technological advances towards mass production and functional modification in aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery. Methods Original articles on extracellular vesicles (EVs) of adipose stem cells (ASCs) were identified. Statistics upon minimal information for EVs research, such as species, cell types, culture conditions, conditioned media harvesting parameters, EVs isolation/storage/identification/quantification, functional uptake and working concentration, were analyzed. Results The items of cell culture conditions such as passage number, seeding density, conditioned media harvesting time, functional uptake and working concentration were poorly documented, with a reporting percentage of 47.13%, 54.02%, 29.89%, 62.07% and 36.21%, respectively. However, there were some studies not reporting information of ASCs origin, culture medium, serum, EVs isolation methods, quantification and identification of EVs, accounting for 3.45%, 10.34%, 6.90%, 3.45%, 18.39% and 4.02%, respectively. Serum deprivation and trophic factors stimuli were attempted for EVs mass production. Several technological advances towards functional modification included hypoxia pre-condition, engineering EVs and controlled release. Presently, ASCs EVs have been applied in multiple fields, including diabetic/non-diabetic wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation modulation, fat grafting, hair regeneration, antiaging, and healing and regeneration of cartilage/bone/peripheral nerve/tendon. Conclusion Our results highlight normative reporting of ASCs EVs in functional studies to increase reliability and reproducibility of scientific publications. The advances towards mass production and functional modification of ASCs EVs are also recommended to enhance therapeutic effects.

Automated summary

The study revealed insufficient reporting of minimal information for extracellular vesicles (EVs) of adipose stem cells (ASCs) in terms of cell culture conditions, and lacking information on the origin, culture medium, serum, EVs isolation methods, quantification and identification of EVs.