Overview

• Researchers introduced a design framework for hydrogels where extracellular vesicles function simultaneously as polymer crosslinkers and carriers of regenerative signals.
• In immunocompetent mice, the material drove formation of new blood vessels within a week and showed no adverse effects.
• By leveraging yogurt-derived vesicles and polymer crosslinking, the team overcame previous yield constraints for EV-based biomaterials.
• The platform’s adaptability was confirmed by incorporating vesicles from mammalian cells and bacteria, underscoring its modular design.
• Ongoing experiments are probing the immune pathways triggered by the hydrogel to optimize its tissue-repair capabilities.