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Engineering extracellular vesicles for therapeutic delivery in ischaemic stroke

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 22, page 219 (2025)Cite this article

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Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, with approximately 25% of people predicted to have a stroke in their lifetime. Ischaemic stroke accounts for 87% of strokes and occurs when the blood vessels supplying the brain are obstructed, which often results in permanent cognitive impairment. Available treatment options are limited, with a narrow therapeutic window and no treatments for the long-term damage sustained. Therefore, an ongoing need exists for the development of novel and effective therapies for ischaemic stroke.

Our group researches the use of short, inhibitory RNA molecules termed microRNAs, which post-transcriptionally repress gene expression. MicroRNAs bind to specific sequences in the 3′ untranslated region of mRNA and target it for degradation. However, the delivery of high levels of microRNAs can overload physiological conditions, so the use of a therapeutic vehicle such as extracellular vesicles could offer improved control over the delivery of microRNAs to the target site.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks the members of the Work research group (University of Glasgow, UK) for their contributions to the development and optimization of the therapeutic loading of extracellular vesicles, and the British Heart Foundation for funding this research.

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  1. School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Lara Anne Birch

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  1. Lara Anne Birch
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Correspondence to Lara Anne Birch.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Birch, L.A. Engineering extracellular vesicles for therapeutic delivery in ischaemic stroke. Nat Rev Cardiol 22, 219 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-025-01122-5

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