Cells communicate through a variety of mechanisms, traditionally described as either direct cell contact or the secretion of signaling molecules such as hormones, chemokines, and growth factors. In recent years, a third and equally important mode of communication has gained wide recognition—extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated transfer of biomolecules. EVs are nanosized, membrane-enclosed vesicles (approximately 70–200 nm in diameter) secreted by nearly all cell types across prokaryotic, plant, and animal kingdoms. During their biogenesis, specific proteins, RNAs, and metabolites are selectively packaged into EVs and subsequently released into the extracellular space. These vesicles can be taken up by neighboring or distant cells, where they release their cargo and modulate cellular behavior and physiological states, thus playing critical roles in intercellular communication and disease progression.

Despite their great promise, EV research in biomedical and clinical applications faces several methodological challenges. Their nanoscale size makes isolation, purification, and characterization difficult, while their compositional heterogeneity complicates biomarker discovery and functional studies. Addressing these limitations is central to our laboratory’s mission. Our research focuses on three major directions: