Current Applications and Challenges of Exosome in COVID-19: A Review

Abstract

The exosome is a nano-extracellular vesicle secreted by the cell, encasing proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, among others. Its specific structural composition gives it a role in the medical field. It may act as biomarkers, vaccines and drug carriers. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the rate of infection has increased dramatically worldwide, as it targets ACE2 in a wide range of human cells, posing a huge threat of loss to human and global health as well as the economy. Exosomes are highly investigated as a highly promising candidate when exploring prevention and treatment against COVID-19. Many experiments have been performed to demonstrate the potential of exosomes in a sufficiently well-documented manner. In this review, we summarize the potential of exosomes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of COVID-19, and analyze the problems, with the aim of providing valuable directions for further research on exosomes in the future.