Abstract:

Intercellular communication between neurons and glial cells via extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a novel mechanism of information transfer has been shown to be involved in regeneration processes within the central nervous system (CNS). Hence, to take advantage of EV signaling for therapeutic applications appears to be a completely new approach to promote regeneration. One fundamental reason why influencing neuronal recovery after damage remains problematic is due to limited access to molecular processes, which are essential for the transcription of growth-promoting cues. EVs are currently under investigation for their use as hybrid vectors containing both therapeutic agents and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) that can be remote guided using an external magnetic field. SPIO binding and accumulation at the extracellular membrane and the subsequent internalization in EVs have to be ensured. It is also certainly necessary to characterize SPIO behavior under standardized conditions in cell cultures of individual cells as well as mixed cell cultures, for instance, containing neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells. Under these conditions, the possibility of influencing EV cargos and their delivery could indeed open up new strategies for affecting information transfer within the brain to promote neuroregeneration.