The biological barriers of the body, such as the blood–brain, placental, intestinal, skin, and air-blood, protect against invading viruses and bacteria while providing necessary physical support. However, these barriers also hinder the delivery of drugs to target tissues, reducing their therapeutic efficacy. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanostructures with a diameter ranging from 30 nm to 10 μm secreted by cells, offer a potential solution to this challenge. These natural vesicles can effectively pass through various biological barriers, facilitating intercellular communication. As a result, artificially engineered EVs that mimic or are superior to the natural ones have emerged as a promising drug delivery vehicle, capable of delivering drugs to almost any body part to treat various diseases. This review first provides an overview of the formation and cross-species uptake of natural EVs from different organisms, including animals, plants, and bacteria. Later, it explores the current clinical applications, perspectives, and challenges associated with using engineered EVs as a drug delivery platform. Finally, it aims to inspire further research to help bioengineered EVs effectively cross biological barriers to treat diseases.

中文翻译：

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微型特洛伊木马：工程细胞外囊泡跨越生物屏障进行药物输送

身体的生物屏障，如血脑、胎盘、肠道、皮肤和气血，可以防止病毒和细菌的入侵，同时提供必要的物理支持。然而，这些障碍也阻碍了药物向靶组织的输送，降低了治疗效果。细胞外囊泡（EV）是细胞分泌的直径为 30 nm 至 10 μm 的纳米结构，为应对这一挑战提供了潜在的解决方案。这些天然囊泡可以有效地穿过各种生物屏障，促进细胞间通讯。因此，模仿或优于天然电动汽车的人工设计电动汽车已成为一种有前途的药物输送工具，能够将药物输送到几乎任何身体部位以治疗各种疾病。本综述首先概述了来自不同生物体（包括动物、植物和细菌）的天然 EV 的形成和跨物种摄取。随后，它探讨了当前与使用工程电动汽车作为药物输送平台相关的临床应用、观点和挑战。最后，它旨在激发进一步的研究，帮助生物工程电动汽车有效跨越生物障碍来治疗疾病。