Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (1): 175-183.doi: 10.12307/2025.569

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Stem cell exosomes and biomaterial-assisted exosomes in bone defect repair

Liu Nian1, Dong Xinyue2, Wang Songpeng1, Xu Yingjiang1, Zhang Xiaoming1   

  1. 1Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou 256600, Shandong Province, China; 2Binzhou People’s Hospital, Binzhou 256600, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2024-09-28 Accepted:2024-12-14 Online:2026-01-08 Published:2025-07-02
  • Contact: Xu Yingjiang, MD, Associate chief physician, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou 256600, Shandong Province, China; Co-corresponding author: Zhang Xiaoming, MS, Chief physician, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou 256600, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Liu Nian, Master candidate, Physician, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou 256600, Shandong Province, China. Dong Xinyue, MS, Physician, Binzhou People’s Hospital, Binzhou 256600, Shandong Province, China. Liu Nian and Dong Xinyue contributed equally to this article.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82200981 (to XYJ); Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, No. ZR2022QH358 (to XYJ); Shandong Taishan Scholars Program Special Fund, No. tsqn202312384 (to XYJ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A large number of studies have demonstrated that stem cell exosomes play an important role in the repair of bone defects, either directly as carriers for loading other small molecules or surface modifications, or by binding to biomaterials to promote the repair and regeneration of bone tissue.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the osteogenic mechanisms of stem cell exosomes from different sources and their research progress in bone defect repair. 
METHODS: Chinese search terms “stem cell, exosome, bone, biomaterial, carrier, bioceramic, polymer, metal, hydrogel, engineered exosome” were used to search CNKI. English search terms “stem cell, exosome, bone defect, biomaterial, carrier, bioceramic, ploymer, metal material, hydrogel, engineering exosome” were used to search PubMed database. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 77 relevant articles were finally included for summary.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Exosomes from stem cells of different origins can promote osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, promote angiogenesis, and regulate osteoclast activity and macrophage phenotype to promote bone formation and bone mineralization. In addition, many achievements of exosomes in the field of bone defect repair were described from two aspects: biomaterial-assisted exosomes and engineered exosomes. However, the current research on stem cell exosomes in bone tissue engineering is still insufficient, and most of these studies are limited to small animal models, while the treatment of bone defects in large animals, including humans, will be more complex, which will also become a major challenge for the treatment of bone defects. This will also be a great challenge in the dissemination of exosome therapy.


Key words: stem cell exosome, bone defect, bone regeneration, bone repair, osteogenesis, angiogenesis, bioscaffold, carrier

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