Han Young Kim, Seunglee Kwon, Wooram Um, Sol Shin, Chan Ho Kim, Jae Hyung Park,^* and Byung-Soo Kim^*

H. Y. Kim
Department of Biomedical-Chemical Engineering The Catholic University of Korea Bucheon 14662, Republic of Korea

S. Kwon, W. Um, C. H. Kim, J. H. Park
School of Chemical Engineering Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea

S. Shin, J. H. Park
Department of Health Sciences and Technology SAIHST Sungkyunkwan University Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea

J. H. Park
Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea

B.-S. Kim
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering Interdisciplinary Program of Bioengineering Institute of Chemical Processes Institute of Engineering Research BioMAX Seoul National University Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea

H.Y.K. and S.K. contributed equally to this work.

^*Corresponding author.

The unique biological characteristics and promising clinical potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) have galvanized EV applications for regenerative medicine. Recognized as important mediators of intercellular communication, naturally secreted EVs have the potential, as innate biotherapeutics, to promote tissue regeneration. Although EVs have emerged as novel therapeutic agents, challenges related to the clinical transition have led to further functionalization. In recent years, various engineering approaches such as preconditioning, drug loading, and surface modification have been developed to potentiate the therapeutic outcomes of EVs. Also, limitations of natural EVs have been addressed by the development of artificial EVs that offer advantages in terms of production yield and isolation methodologies. In this review, an updated overview of current techniques is provided for the functionalization of natural EVs and recent advances in artificial EVs, particularly in the scope of regenerative medicine.