Harnessing Nature's nanoSecrets: biocompatibility, biodistribution and bioactivity of extracellular vesicles derived from microalgae

Abstract

Nanoalgosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by microalgal cells that can mediate intercellular and cross-kingdom communication. In the present study, starting from the optimized nanoalgosome manufacturing from cultures of marine microalgae, we evaluated their innate biological properties in preclinical models. Our investigation of nanoalgosome biocompatibility included toxicological analyses, starting from studies on the invertebrate model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, proceeding to hematological and immunological evaluations in mice and immune-compatibility ex vivo. Nanoalgosome biodistribution was evaluated in mice with accurate space-time resolution, and in C. elegans at cellular and subcellular levels. Further examination highlighted the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities of nanoalgosomes. This holistic approach to nanoalgosome functional characterization showcases that nanoalgosomes are innate effectors and potential drug delivery system for novel cosmetic formulations and EV-based therapies.