The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (11): 1949-1958.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.11.008

• Chronic Disease Control • Previous Articles    

Research advances in functionalized exosomes for orthopedic disease treatment

Yuele MA1,2,Yan WANG1,Hongwei CUI1,2,Hui ZHANG1,2,Yujing CHEN1,Benchao DONG1,Peichuan YANG1,Jianxiong MA1()   

  1. 1.Tianjin Hospital Orthopedic Research Institute,Tianjin 300050,Tianjin,China
    2.Tianjin Medical University Orthopaedic Clinical College,Tianjin 300070,Tianjin,China
  • Received:2026-01-13 Online:2026-06-10 Published:2026-06-15
  • Contact: Jianxiong MA E-mail:yjslwtg@126.com

Abstract:

With the continuous development of society and the progress of medical science, the treatments for orthopedic diseases are gradually evolving towards precision medicine. As natural nanovesicles, exosomes possess outstanding biocompatibility and targeting abilities. Through functional modifications including genetic engineering, drug loading, and surface modification, exosomes can precisely facilitate bone regeneration, regulate bone metabolism, and reshape the immune micro-environment. They show remarkable potential in the treatment of orthopedic disorders such as fractures, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. Nevertheless, there are still challenges in standardized preparation, efficacy evaluation, safety assessment, and clinical translation. This article systematically reviews the most recent advances in functionalized exosomes for the treatment of orthopedic diseases, encompassing their sources, preparation methods, functionalization strategies, and mechanisms of action. It summarizes the application progress of functionalized exosomes in orthopedic therapy, discusses the current technical challenges and future development directions, and is of great significance for the translation of functionalized exosomes from laboratory research to clinical application in orthopedics.

Key words: fracture, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, exosomes, miRNA

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