Plant-derived extracellular vesicles: multifunctional nanocarriers bridging food bioactivity and therapeutics

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) are nanoscale lipid bilayer particles secreted by plant cells, carrying various bioactive molecules and exhibiting good biocompatibility and safety. They have emerged as promising candidates for functional food compounds and active delivery carriers. This review summarizes recent advances in the extraction, purification, characterization, and engineering of PDEVs, highlighting their multiple application potentials in the food field, especially in functional enhancement, bioactive delivery, and high-value utilization of agricultural by-products. Despite their advantages, large-scale application remains limited by technical challenges, necessitating further systematic research.