Uterine luminal-derived extracellular vesicles: potential nanomaterials to improve embryo implantation

J Nanobiotechnology. 2023 Mar 7;21(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12951-023-01834-1.

Abstract

Most pregnancy losses worldwide are caused by implantation failure for which there is a lack of effective therapeutics. Extracellular vesicles are considered potential endogenous nanomedicines because of their unique biological functions. However, the limited supply of ULF-EVs prevents their development and application in infertility diseases such as implantation failure. In this study, pigs were used as a human biomedical model, and ULF-EVs were isolated from the uterine luminal. We comprehensively characterized the proteins enriched in ULF-EVs and revealed their biological functions in promoting embryo implantation. By exogenously supplying ULF-EVs, we demonstrated that ULF-EVs improve embryo implantation, suggesting that ULF-EVs are a potential nanomaterial to treat implantation failure. Furthermore, we identified that MEP1B is important in improving embryo implantation by promoting trophoblast cell proliferation and migration. These results indicated that ULF-EVs can be a potential nanomaterial to improve embryo implantation.

Keywords: Extracellular vesicles; Implantation; MEP1B; Nanomedicine materials; Uterine luminal fluid.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Embryo Implantation
  • Extracellular Vesicles*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nanostructures*
  • Pregnancy
  • Swine
  • Uterus