Extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery of molecular compounds into gametes and embryos: learning from nature

results: Biocompatible engineered nanomaterials with high loading capacity, stability and selective affinity represent a potential versatile tool for the minimally invasive internalization of molecular cargo into gametes and embryos. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the translation of these experimental tools into clinical applications is likely to be limited by their non-biodegradable nature. To allow the subsequent use of these methodologies for clinical ART, studies should utilize biodegradable delivery platforms, which mimic natural mechanisms of molecular cargo trafficking as closely as possible. Currently, EVs represent the most physiological intracellular delivery tools for reproductive science and medicine. These natural mediators of cell communication combine the benefits of engineered nanomaterials, such as the potential for in vitro production, targeting and loading, with the essential feature of biodegradability.