{"id":3180,"date":"2026-03-11T20:57:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T20:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/team-research\/?post_type=projects&p=3180"},"modified":"2026-03-13T12:42:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T12:42:07","slug":"engineered-plant-extracellular-vesicles-as-a-next-generation-therapeutic-platform","status":"publish","type":"projects","link":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/team-research\/projects\/engineered-plant-extracellular-vesicles-as-a-next-generation-therapeutic-platform\/","title":{"rendered":"Engineered Plant Extracellular Vesicles as a Next-Generation Therapeutic Platform"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant Program<\/a><\/h1>\n

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Engineered Plant Extracellular Vesicles as a Next-Generation Therapeutic Platform
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1642018498769{margin-right: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”3277″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right” css=”.vc_custom_1773405717329{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #004e60 !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1595855041843{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Team Lead<\/h4>\n

Jin Xie<\/strong>
\njinxie@uga.edu<\/a>
\nFranklin College of Arts and Sciences
\nDepartment of Chemistry<\/p>\n

Team Members<\/h4>\n

Li Yang<\/strong>
\nLI.YANG1@uga.edu<\/a>
\nCollege of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
\nDepartment of Plant Pathology<\/p>\n

Yao Yao<\/strong>
\nYao.Yao@uga.edu<\/a>
\nCollege of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
\nDepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, Regenerative Bioscience Center<\/p>\n

Xianqiao Wang<\/strong>
\nxqwang@uga.edu<\/a>
\nCollege of Engineering
\nSchool of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural & Mechanical Engineering<\/p>\n

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