Advances in Functional Characteristics, Nutritional Applications and Engineering Strategies of Plant-Derived Exosome-Like Nanoparticles

This review examines the role of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) in nutrient delivery and their potential contributions to human health and wellness. PELNs are nanoscale membrane vesicles isolated from plants that exhibit structural and functional similarities to animal-derived exosomes (ADEs), which facilitate intercellular communication in animals. These PELNs serve as bioactive carriers, encapsulating a tripartite array of constituents—including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and secondary metabolites—that are essential for cellular signal transduction and homeostatic modulation within biological systems. Notably, PELNs demonstrate anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities, suggesting their potential in nutritional therapy. In addition, PELNs show promise as delivery systems and functional food components, capable of transporting both endogenous biomolecules and exogenous therapeutic agents to enhance nutritional therapy and bioavailability. However, several challenges persist in fully elucidating their biosynthesis mechanisms, optimizing isolation and purification techniques, and clarifying their in vivo pathways of action. Furthermore, comprehensive safety evaluations, encompassing meticulous analyses of potential toxicological and immunological profiles, are imperative to determine suitability for integration into food matrices. Thus, to realize the potential of PELNs in nutrition delivery and health promotion, future studies should focus on investigating their biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms, delineating their specific in vivo pathways, and conducting thorough safety assessment.