The function and clinical application potential of stem cell-derived exosomes in skin wound healing: A review of recent research advances.

The healing of skin wounds, particularly chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, presents significant clinical challenges, including inadequate infection control, imbalanced inflammatory regulation, and insufficient angiogenesis with traditional therapies. When these complications arise, effective treatment strategies are urgently needed. Stem cell-derived exosomes (SC-Exos; referred to herein as exogenously applied SC-Exos unless stated otherwise) are nanoscale vesicles containing bioactive components such as proteins and nucleic acids, with low immunogenicity and high biocompatibility. Through multiple mechanisms-including anti-inflammation, promotion of angiogenesis, accelerated cell proliferation, and enhanced antioxidant effects-exogenously applied SC-Exos synergistically regulate the four stages of wound healing (haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling), with these functional effects inferred from preclinical and clinical studies of exogenous administration. In relevant preclinical models, exogenously applied SC-Exos optimize the inflammatory microenvironment, promote vascular and collagen formation, and reduce pathological fibrosis-effects not yet directly validated for endogenous exosomes. This review provides a brief overview of recent advances in SC-Exos. It assesses their potential application as a therapeutic modality for skin wound healing, based on recent preclinical and clinical studies.