For a long time, humans have been drawn towards the idea of beauty, and they want to enhance the appearance of their skin as well as their hair. This has been made possible through treatments like medical aesthetics. Medical aesthetics involves a wide range of solutions for humans, from wound repair and hyperpigmentation inhibition to anti-aging and hair-loss prevention. This involves many advanced techniques like antioxidant injections and stem cell therapy. Of course, there are both benefits and disadvantages of these techniques. One term that is commonly discussed in medical aesthetics is exosomes. What exactly are these, and what is their role in the treatments? Let’s find out!
Defining Exosomes
The tiny vesicles that are secreted by cells and are abundant in proteins, bioactive molecules, and nucleic acids are termed “exosomes.”
Properties of Exosomes that Make them Ideal for Medical Aesthetics
Exosomes are known to possess unique physicochemical properties which make them ideal to be used as therapeutic drug delivery carriers for medical aesthetics treatments. They are capable of passing through tissue barriers and also have targeting properties when they are carrying drugs. In addition to this, they have mononuclear phagocytic cell systems. In contrast to conventional nanomaterials, exosomes have better biocompatibility, lower immunogenicity, and lower toxicity.
Methods of Exosome Release
There are many ways to ensure the release of exosomes in the human body, primarily promoted by the modification of genes. These include:
- Overexpression of HSP20
- Overexpression of TSPAN6
- Overexpression of LMP1
- Cortactin overexpression
- Combined expression of STEAP3, syndecan-4
- Overexpression of the tetraspanin CD9
- miR-126-3p-overexpressing combined with chitosan wound dressing
The percentage of increase in exosome release is variable for the above modifications.
Understanding the Role of Different Exosomes in Medical Aesthetics and their Mechanism of Action
1. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes
Role: Wound healing
Mechanism: When coated with MSCS-Exos, miR-223 is known to regulate the M2 polarization of macrophages. It does so by targeting the Pknox1.
2. Keratinocyte-Derived Exosomes
Role: Hyperpigmentation
Mechanism: Carrying miR-330-5p works on the inhibition of melanin production. It does so by targeting the TYR.
3. Exosomes Derived From Human Amniotic Stem Cells
Role: Hyperpigmentation
Mechanism: miR-199a and miR-181a-5p reduce the MITF expression, thereby working on the inhibition of melanin production.
4. Milk Exosomes
Role: Hyperpigmentation
Mechanism: miR-2478 targets rap1a and thus regulates the production of Melanin, thereby reducing the abundance of Melanin in the Melanocytes.
5. Human-Induced Potent Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes
Role: Anti-aging
Mechanism: Inhibits the P53 and P21 in HDFs and decreases the activity of SA-β-Gal.
6. Exosomes Derived From Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell
Role: Control hair loss
Mechanism: Activates the hair inductivity in DPCs, works on the phosphorylation of AKT, and regulates the proliferation of DPCs.
There are many other kinds of exosomes that function in specific ways and involve targeting different pathways to help achieve four primary functions - control hair loss, hyperpigmentation, anti-aging, and wound healing.
Administration of Exosomes in Medical Aesthetics
There are two different kinds of applications of exosomes in medical aesthetics like:
- Topical application
- Local injection
The Bottom Line:
If specialists in medical aesthetics want to best use the properties of exosomes for the benefit of humans, it is important to ensure that the right exosome engineering technologies are used and the best isolation techniques are employed. It is also essential to maintain proper conditions for the preservation of exosomes.
All in all, the regulatory mechanism of exosomes can be extremely beneficial in the field of medical aesthetics, and this clinical practice, when enhanced, will be ideal for obtaining medical beauty.
