Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (31): 8264-8271.doi: 10.12307/2026.853

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An innovative strategy for engineered exosomal long non-coding RNAs in treatment of osteoporosis

Zhang Chuanlin, Wu Yuhuai, Zhou Haixiang, Liu Jianping, Xu Qian, Zhang Lili, Li Cuie   

  1. Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/People's Hospital of Yuxi City, Yuxi 653100, Yunnan Province, China
  • Received:2025-11-13 Accepted:2026-01-22 Online:2026-11-08 Published:2026-05-26
  • Contact: Li Cuie, MS, Associate chief physician, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/People's Hospital of Yuxi City, Yuxi 653100, Yunnan Province, China
  • About author:Zhang Chuanlin, Chief physician, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/People's Hospital of Yuxi City, Yuxi 653100, Yunnan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Science and Technology Plan Project - Basic Research Program - General Program, No. 202301AY070001-133 (to LCE)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In recent years, long non-coding RNAs in exosomes have gradually become a focus of research on the mechanism of osteoporosis. The combination of exosomes and tissue engineering technology plays a significant role in the targeted delivery of osteoporosis treatment drugs, proteins, and RNA and other small molecule substances.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of exosomes in osteoporosis so as to provide new therapeutic strategies for exosomes in the treatment of osteoporosis.
METHODS: The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed databases were searched using Chinese keywords such as "exosomes, long non-coding RNA, osteoporosis, extracellular vesicles, engineered exosomes," and English keywords such as "exosomes, lncRNA, osteoporosis, extracellular vesicles, engineered exosomes." The search period covered the entire database history up to July 2025. Totally 77 relevant articles were selected for analysis and summary.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Exosomes derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and other tissue cells can regulate miRNAs and their downstream signaling pathways by delivering long non-coding RNAs, thereby promoting osteoblast activity, increasing the thickness of cortical bone and the number of trabeculae in osteoporotic mice, and alleviating osteoporosis. (2) By knocking down long non-coding RNAs in osteoclasts, the symptoms of osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice can be alleviated, and bone loss can be reduced. (3) By attaching bone-targeting peptides to the surface of exosomes, they can exert bone-targeting and bone generation effects in osteoporotic mice, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of exosomes in treating osteoporosis. (4) Other in vitro modifiers that enhance the effect of exosomes include alendronate, bifunctional peptides, gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles, and recombinant probiotics, which can promote the osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. (5) Exosomes encapsulating specific messenger ribonucleic acid and modified with bone-targeting peptides can significantly enhance bone-targeting efficiency and alleviate bone loss in osteoporotic mice. (6) By loading drugs such as curcumin, cordycepin, and 17β-estradiol into the exosomes modified with bone-targeting peptides through ultrasound, the synergistic effect of drugs and exosomes in treating osteoporosis can be achieved, demonstrating a more significant osteoporosis repair effect than exosomes without drug loading.

Key words: exosomes, long non-coding RNA, osteoporosis, bone-targeting peptide, extracellular vesicles, engineered exosomes, mesenchymal stem cells, surface modification

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