Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (32): 8544-8554.doi: 10.12307/2026.428

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Mechanism of action of extracellular vesicles loaded with biomaterials in repairing spinal cord injury

Zheng Ying1, Li Mengyao1, Zheng Fanfan2, He Zhao1, Zhang Ning1, Zou Jialun1, Li Youlei1, Gao Feng1   

  1. 1Yan’an Medical College, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, Shaanxi Province, China; 2Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jin Cheng People’s Hospital, Jincheng 048000, Shanxi Province, China
  • Accepted:2026-01-01 Online:2026-11-18 Published:2026-04-29
  • Contact: Gao Feng, MS, Master’s supervisor, Professor, Yan’an Medical College, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, Shaanxi Province, China
  • About author:Zheng Ying, MS candidate, Yan’an Medical College, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Foundation Project of Shaanxi Province, No. 2025JC-YBMS-1027 (to GF); Shaanxi Province’s “Scientist+Engineer” Team Construction Project of Qinchuangyuan, No. 2025QCY-KXJ-185 (to GF) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Combining exosomes with biomaterials such as hydrogels and biological scaffolds enables targeted delivery, providing effective support for damaged tissue and significantly enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of exosomes, thus positively impacting spinal cord injury repair.
OBJECTIVE: To review the action mechanisms and research progress of exosomes combined with biomaterials in spinal cord injury.
METHODS: Databases including CNKI, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched using the Chinese and English search terms “spinal cord injury, exosomes, hydrogel, biological scaffold, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, axonal regeneration, angiogenesis.” Based on the inclusion criteria, 106 articles were finally included in this review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Current research focuses on the repair of secondary injury after spinal cord injury, and how to better alleviate the damage caused by secondary injury is a key research question. Exosomes combined with biomaterials treat spinal cord injury mainly through regulating neuroinflammation, promoting axonal regeneration, and alleviating oxidative stress. This approach avoids immune rejection, addresses the problem of low exosome bioavailability, and provides effective tissue support to the injured site, effectively alleviating secondary symptoms after spinal cord injury. Most studies on exosome-loaded biomaterials for treating spinal cord injury are limited to cell and animal experiments, lacking clinical trial data. More mechanistic studies, safety evaluations, and relevant clinical trials are needed in the future.


Key words: spinal cord injury, exosomes, hydrogel, biological scaffold, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, axonal regeneration, angiogenesis

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