Team Research
Engineered Plant Extracellular Vesicles as a Next-Generation Therapeutic Platform
Engineered Plant Extracellular Vesicles as a Next-Generation Therapeutic Platform
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an emerging class of therapeutics with broad applications in cancer, autoimmune disease, muscular disorders, regenerative medicine, wound healing, and neurological conditions. However, most EVs are currently derived from human mesenchymal stem cells or immune cells and face major barriers to clinical translation, including limited scalability, high cost, complex manufacturing, and immunogenicity. Leveraging our combined expertise in plant molecular genetics, chemistry and surface engineering, EV biology, and AI-driven materials design, we propose developing plant-derived EVs (pEVs) from sources such as ginger, grape, and tobacco, engineered through genetic or chemical modification as the next generation of therapeutic vesicles. These pEVs are inherently biocompatible, highly scalable, and can be tailored with specific payloads (proteins, antioxidants, RNAs), surface ligands (antibodies, small molecules, carbohydrates), and lipid membrane components (fatty acids, prostaglandins, sphingomyelins). This versatile and sustainable platform holds strong promise to deliver both direct therapeutic benefits and targeted delivery capabilities across a wide spectrum of diseases, with significant clinical and commercialization potential.
Team Lead
Jin Xie
jinxie@uga.edu
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Team Members
Li Yang
LI.YANG1@uga.edu
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Plant Pathology
Yao Yao
Yao.Yao@uga.edu
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Animal and Dairy Science, Regenerative Bioscience Center
Xianqiao Wang
xqwang@uga.edu
College of Engineering
School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural & Mechanical Engineering