Published Paper Details:

Abstract Plant-derived exosome-mimetic nanocarriers (PDENMs) represent a rapidly advancing class of bioinspired drug delivery systems that bridge the gap between natural extracellular vesicles and synthetic nanocarriers. These vesicles, derived from edible and medicinal plants or fabricated using plant lipid extracts, exhibit unique advantages such as excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, biodegradability, scalability, and intrinsic affinity for biological membranes. Oral and vaginal routes of drug administration are particularly attractive due to their non-invasive nature; however, both routes present formidable physiological barriers that limit drug stability, absorption, and therapeutic efficacy. PDENMs have demonstrated the ability to protect encapsulated drugs from harsh biological environments, enhance mucosal penetration, and enable targeted or sustained drug release. This comprehensive review critically examines the current state of research on PDENMs, covering their sources, isolation and fabrication techniques, physicochemical characterization, drug loading and functionalization strategies, and mechanisms of cellular uptake. Special emphasis is placed on oral and vaginal drug delivery applications, supported by preclinical evidence. Safety, toxicity, regulatory considerations, and future research directions are discussed to provide a translational perspective on the clinical potential of PDENMs.