Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Exosomes Promote Critical-Sized Bone Defect Repair by Enhancing the Homing of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

This study demonstrates that exosomes derived from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs-Exos) can significantly enhance the repair of critical-sized bone defects by promoting the homing and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In vitro experiments showed that ADSCs-Exos increased BMSC proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation, with upregulation of key genes like Cxcr4 and Runx2. In a rat calvarial defect model, the use of a hydrogel for sustained delivery of ADSCs-Exos led to improved BMSC recruitment and new bone formation, highlighting a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy for bone repair.