Endosymbiosis-Inspired Engineering of Mitochondrial-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles Supercharges Host Mitochondria via the Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway

March 2026

F. Chen, Dao-Kun Deng, Xuan Li, Hongyu Wang, Fang Li, Y Chen, Yi Tian, Nan Jia, Jun Bi, Jiu-Jiu Zhang, Wen-Jie Zhang, Yuhan Chen, Yin Xiao, Xiao-Tao He, Bei-Min Tian

mitochondria extracellular vesicles autophagy-lysosome pathway mitochondrial dysfunction macrophages diabetic wound healing

Studysummary In this study, researchers engineered extracellular vesicles enriched with functional mitochondria to enhance healing in diabetic wounds by reversing mitochondrial and immunometabolic dysfunction in macrophages.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This study explores a novel method for enhancing diabetic wound healing by transferring functional mitochondria using engineered extracellular vesicles (EVsMito). The research identifies mitochondrial and immunometabolic dysfunction in macrophages as key factors in delayed healing. By employing a coextrusion strategy, EVsMito successfully deliver mitochondria to diabetic macrophages, reversing dysfunction and promoting healing. The transferred mitochondria are processed through the autophagy-lysosome pathway, which is crucial for their therapeutic effect, as disrupting this pathway negates the benefits. This approach offers a promising strategy for mitochondrial transfer and potential treatments for diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction.

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