Extracellular vesicles derived from milk for therapeutic applications based on intrinsic biological functions

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles (mEVs) are nanoscale (۳۰–۱۵۰ nm) phospholipid bilayer vesicles naturally present in mammalian milk that have emerged as a transformative platform at the intersection of therapeutic delivery and functional food science. In contrast to conventional synthetic nanocarriers, mEVs present unique advantages, including low immunogenicity, remarkable stability against gastrointestinal degradation, scalability from abundant milk sources, and intrinsic bioactivity derived from their cargo of lipids, proteins, and microRNAs, specifically miR-۲۰۰a and miR-۲۹. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on mEVs' molecular composition (including ~۱,۹۰۰ proteins and ~۱,۳۰۰ miRNAs identified), biological functions (Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial), and applications in gut health (Barrier integrity, microbiota modulation, and colitis management) and cancer therapy (Natural anticancer activity and drug delivery vehicles). Recent advances in drug loading strategies (Passive incubation, electroporation, sonication, and extrusion) and targeted delivery modifications are critically evaluated. Critical challenges addressed include isolation method standardization, scale-up for industrial production, stability during processing (pasteurization reduces EV concentration by more than ۶۰%), safety considerations for food applications, and regulatory pathways. Future opportunities in precision nutrition, personalized therapy, and "green" nanomedicine are explored. This review positions mEVs as a versatile, sustainable platform bridging nutritional science and nanomedicine, with significant potential for clinical translation and commercial food product development.

کلیدواژه ها:

Synthetic nanocarriers ، MicroRNAs ، Microbiota modulation ، Colitis management ، Nutritional science ، clinical translation ، Commercial food product