Harnessing Extracellular Matrix and Exosomes for Translational Applications

The extracellular matrix (ECM) and exosomes are fundamental regulators of cellular behavior and tissue homeostasis. The ECM is a dynamic, bioactive scaffold composed of proteins, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans that directs cell adhesion, migration, differentiation, and mechanotransduction. Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles released by most cell types and serve as key mediators of intercellular communication, shuttling proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids to modulate gene expression and phenotype in recipient cells. A growing body of evidence points to a bidirectional crosstalk between ECM remodeling and exosome signaling across both physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer progression, fibrosis, and tissue repair. Advances in bioengineering, multi-omics, and nanomedicine have allowed us to probe these interactions more deeply, uncovering their potential as both therapeutic platforms and diagnostic tools. Looking forward, integrating biomaterials (both ECM and non-ECM) with exosomes offer a promising strategy to mimic native microenvironments and boost translational outcomes for a range of clinical applications.This topic titled Harnessing Extracellular Matrix and Exosomes for Translational Applications, aims to bring together current knowledge and trigger new ideas at the crossroads of ECM and exosome research and their application toward translation. The series will explore fundamental mechanisms such as how ECM components regulate exosome biogenesis, cargo packaging, and targeting, and reciprocally, how exosomes modulate ECM composition and remodeling. A core goal is to translate these insights into clinically viable strategies, including engineered exosomes, ECM-derived biomaterials, and hybrid delivery systems. The series also seeks to advance ECM- and exosome-based biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and patient stratification. By bridging basic science with clinical translation, this collection will identify scalable, reproducible, and regulatory compliant approaches that accelerate bench-to-bedside application. We particularly encourage contributions that integrate multi-omics, advanced imaging, and computational modeling to improve precision and therapeutic outcomes.We invite submissions exploring, but not limited to, the following areas: (i) molecular mechanisms driving ECM–exosome crosstalk; (ii) their roles in disease microenvironments, including cancer, fibrosis, and inflammatory disorders; (iii) engineering ECM-mimetic biomaterials or decellularized matrices for controlled exosome delivery; (iv) designing and functionalizing exosomes for targeted therapies; (v) scaling up production, purification, and characterization of clinical-grade exosomes; (vi) how ECM-derived cues shape stem cell fate and regenerative outcomes; (vii) diagnostic and prognostic applications, such as liquid biopsy; and (viii) computational and systems biology models of ECM–exosome interactions. Preclinical and clinical studies that demonstrate safety, efficacy, and translational feasibility are welcome. We especially encourage interdisciplinary work bridging bioengineering, materials science, cell biology, and clinical research. Also, studies particularly tackling manufacturing, standardization, and regulatory challenges involved in ECM and exosome are welcomed. For exosome studies, please follow International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (https://www.isev.org/) guidelines for isolation, characterization, and quantification methods in sufficient detail to ensure reproducibility. Topic editors: Karthikeyan Narayanan, Amudha Ganapathy Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81329/harnessing-extracellular-matrix-and-exosomes-for-translational-applications