What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to develop an effective therapy for diabetic erectile dysfunction using extracellular vesicles delivered via a specialized hydrogel.

April 16, 2026Open Access

Decellularized extracellular matrix hydrogel-mediated EVs therapy alleviates diabetic erectile dysfunction by targeting the miR-203a-3p/TMEM33 Axis

Key Points

This research aims to develop an effective therapy for diabetic erectile dysfunction using extracellular vesicles delivered via a specialized hydrogel.
Fabricated a decellularized extracellular matrix hydrogel for sustained EV delivery.
Engineered EVs were produced by treating mesenchymal stem cells with pioglitazone.
Tested the therapeutic effects in a diabetic erectile dysfunction rat model.
Assessed the mechanism involving the miR-203a-3p/TMEM33 pathway related to endoplasmic reticulum stress.
The hydrogel significantly improved erectile function in the rat model.
It demonstrated extended retention and bioactivity of engineered EVs.
The pathway involving miR-203a-3p and TMEM33 was confirmed to alleviate diabetes-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Abstract

Diabetic erectile dysfunction (DMED) is a common complication among male patients with diabetes. Therapies primarily based on phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) often yield suboptimal results. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy; however, their clinical translation is hindered by rapid in vivo clearance and limited inherent bioactivity. Therefore, we developed an innovative combined therapeutic approach. First, we fabricated an injectable, thermosensitive hydrogel (ECMTA-Hydrogel) by combining a decellularized porcine corpus cavernosum extracellular matrix (ECM) with tannic acid, which exhibits excellent biocompatibility and rapid gelation at body temperature (37 °C), enabling prolonged local retention of EVs within the corpus cavernosum. Second, we pretreated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with pioglitazone to generate engineered EVs (PGZ-EVs) with enhanced bioactivity. Experiments confirmed that the ECMTA-Hydrogel facilitates sustained release of PGZ-EVs, extending their duration of action. In a DMED rat model, the combined ECMTA-PGZ-EVs therapy demonstrated superior efficacy, markedly improving erectile function and effectively reversing pathological phenotypic switching and apoptosis in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs). Mechanistically, we identified that miR-203a-3p, highly enriched in PGZ-EVs, directly targets and suppresses the endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein TMEM33, thereby mitigating diabetes-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). This pathway represents the key mechanism underlying the cytoprotective effects of PGZ-EVs. In summary, this study not only establishes an efficient natural matrix hydrogel-based delivery system but also augments the therapeutic potential of EVs via engineered modification. Furthermore, we elucidate a novel mechanism involving the miR-203a-3p/TMEM33/ERS axis, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of DMED.

Bookmark

View Full Paper