Plant-Derived Exosome-Like Nanovesicles: A Multifunctional Natural Nano-Platform for Disease Therapy and Drug Delivery

Abstract

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PELNs) are nano-scale membrane vesicles secreted by plant cells, with a biogenesis mechanism analogous to mammalian exosomes. Enriched with lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and various bioactive small molecule metabolites, PELNs exhibit excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and favorable biodegradability, endowing them with significant potential for disease treatment. This article reviews recent applications of PELNs in gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., ulcerative colitis, constipation), metabolic diseases (e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance/obesity, sarcopenia), multi-organ damage protection (e.g., kidney, liver, lung, gastrointestinal mucosa), and their role as adjuvants in cancer immunotherapy. Research indicates that PELNs from various plant sources exert therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including intestinal barrier repair, gut microbiota modulation, inflammation suppression, and regulation of key signaling pathways and cellular metabolic processes. Furthermore, PELNs serve as natural nano-delivery platforms. Through surface engineering modifications or integration with synthetic materials, their drug-loading efficiency, targeting capability, and therapeutic efficacy can be significantly enhanced. The article concludes by summarizing current challenges, such as large-scale standardized production and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies, and outlines future directions for PELNs as intelligent oral delivery systems in biomedicine and nutrition.