ABSTRACT
Blood cell-derived microvesicles are an indispensable component of the systemic circulation, mediating long distant communication between cells and tissues. These nano-to-micro-sized vesicles are abundantly secreted by various blood cells, particularly those derived from red blood cells and platelets are extensively studied. The molecular cargo packaged inside the vesicles largely depends on the environmental stimulus conferring MVs as an excellent source of biomarkers. Owing to their easy accessibility, these minimally invasive tool is of immense clinical relevance for early diagnosis of diseases such as cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Besides, they serve as delivery vehicles of therapeutic molecules such as drugs or miRNAs, which when encapsulated inside the lipid bilayer are protected from degradation in the harsh pathological environment. Engineered MVs used to deliver therapeutic cargo to the targeted region, offers an off-theshelf alternative for therapeutic interventions. This chapter summarizes the characteristic properties of various MVs present in circulation and the significant role they play in regulating normal homeostasis or adaptive response in diseased conditions. We further discuss the multifaceted clinical 162accreditations of these circulating nanosystems focusing on the diagnostic, immunomodulatory and drug delivering potential implicating MVs as novel platform for cell-free therapeutic development for precision medicine.
