Exosomes are tiny vesicles secreted by nearly all cells in the body. Once considered cellular “waste bags,” they are now recognized as powerful messengers carrying proteins, RNA, and lipids that influence how cells communicate, heal, and fight disease. The new review, led by Dr. Fatemeh Soltanmohammadi and colleagues, explores how exosomes collected from everyday body fluids—such as blood, saliva, urine, and even breast milk—could transform diagnostics and therapies.

Why it matters

• Non-invasive diagnostics: Exosomes can act as “liquid biopsies,” offering clues about cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases without the need for painful tissue sampling.

• Therapeutic potential: They can deliver drugs, RNA, or immune signals directly to target tissues, opening doors for regenerative medicine, cancer immunotherapy, and even wound healing.

• Clinical translation: Several exosome-based tests, such as the FDA-approved ExoDx Prostate IntelliScore, are already in use. The review highlights ongoing clinical trials that could expand their role in precision medicine.

The challenges ahead

The paper doesn’t shy away from the hurdles. Isolating pure exosomes remains technically demanding, with methods like ultracentrifugation and microfluidic devices each offering trade-offs in yield, purity, and cost. Standardization and scalability are critical before exosome-based tools can become routine in clinics.

A vision for the future

By mapping the promises and pitfalls of exosome research, the Tabriz team positions these nanocarriers as a cornerstone of personalized medicine. Their work underscores how local researchers are contributing to global advances that may one day allow doctors to diagnose diseases earlier, deliver therapies more precisely, and harness the body’s own communication system for healing.

This publication is more than a scientific review—it’s a call to imagine a future where a simple saliva or urine test could reveal hidden disease, and where engineered exosomes could carry life-saving treatments directly to the cells that need them.

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