Plant-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles: current applications in systemic conditions and future horizons in oral diseases

Plant-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles (PDVLNs) refer to nanoscale vesicular structures isolated from plants. They can be internalized by human cells, deliver functional molecules, and exert biological effects. Substantial progress was made in exploring the biomedical application of PDVLNs. However, these studies primarily focus on various systemic diseases, with limited attention given to oral diseases. Oral diseases affect both oral and systemic health, and their treatment modalities are compromised by the dynamic oral environment, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. The natural biocompatibility, modifiability, and diverse functionality of PDVLNs make them promising new strategies. Systematically exploring the potential of PDVLNs in oral diseases represented by dental diseases, periodontal diseases, oral mucosal diseases, and maxillofacial bone diseases is of critical importance for expanding the application of PDVLNs into the field of oral medicine. This review briefly introduces the overview of PDVLNs, including their biogenesis, isolation, and characterization. It then demonstrates the distribution and safety profile of PDVLNs following cellular and systemic uptake. Importantly, it provides a detailed summary of research findings on the application of PDVLNs treating systemic and oral conditions. Finally, it discusses the challenges PDVLNs face in clinical translation and highlights their potential applications in oral disease treatment.