Exosomes are the latest focus in regenerative and aesthetic medicine. But what exactly are they, and how do they function?
- Exosomes are extracellular vesicles released by cells. Think of exosomes as tiny “pocket rockets” of information. They act as microscopic messengers, shuttling crucial messages between cells in the body.
- Unlike traveling within cells, exosomes journey through the extracellular fluid between cells. They influence the behaviour and function of other cells, playing a pivotal role in cellular communication, immune system modulation, regeneration and tissue repair.
- What sets exosomes apart is their cargo – a mix of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids like messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA). These cargo components include growth factors and cytokines, commonly utilized in aesthetic medicine. For instance, Fibroblast Growth Factor stimulates the cells responsible for producing elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid.
- In aesthetic medicine, exosomes serve multiple purposes, such as skin regeneration (promoting new collagen and elastin), immune modulation, anti-inflammatory effects (reducing reactions and speeding up healing), anti-apoptosis (prolonging cell lifespan), and anti-fibrosis (reducing scarring).
- Exosomes are biocompatible, biodegradable, and exhibit low immunogenicity. They can be sourced from human cells like stem cells and platelets, as well as animal and plant cells. They can also be bioengineered in a laboratory.
- In aesthetic procedures, exosomes are typically administered as a serum and applied topically (not injected) during treatments like microneedling, Fraxel, Tixel, and other ablative skin procedures.