The New Approach to Treating Erectile Dysfunction: Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles.

Erectile dysfunction refers to the inability of men to achieve or maintain sufficient erection during sexual activity, which significantly impacts their quality of life and mental health. The causes of erectile dysfunction are complex, involving multiple systems such as vascular, neural, endocrine, and psychological factors. Current treatment methods for erectile dysfunction have significant limitations in addressing organic lesions, particularly penile fibrosis and hypoxic microenvironments. However, the latest stem cell-derived nanovesicle technology has been found to significantly reverse cellular fibrosis and alter the cellular microenvironment, potentially offering a new therapeutic approach for erectile dysfunction. Additionally, extracellular vesicles derived from stem cells can exert stem cell-like regenerative effects while overcoming challenges associated with cell therapy, making them excellent tools for regenerative repair. Therefore, this paper summarizes the potential of extracellular vesicles from different stem cell sources in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and analyzes their engineered preclinical studies to facilitate their translation from the laboratory to clinical applications.