Innovative Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Hydrogel Promises Advanced Tissue Regeneration

Researchers at Columbia Engineering have pioneered a novel bioactive hydrogel platform that harnesses extracellular vesicles (EVs) from milk, particularly yogurt, to facilitate tissue healing and regenerative medicine. This injectable hydrogel incorporates EVs not only as carriers of biological signals like proteins and genetic material but also as structural components that cross-link with biocompatible polymers. This dual role enhances the material’s capacity to mimic natural tissue mechanics and actively promote cellular regeneration.

The breakthrough, published in the journal Matter, addresses longstanding challenges in developing biomaterials that are both biocompatible and effective in tissue repair. By utilizing milk EVs, the team overcame previous limitations related to low yield and complexity in sourcing EVs from mammalian cells, making the process more accessible and scalable.

Correa and his colleagues demonstrated that yogurt EVs enable the hydrogel to deliver regenerative signals over sustained periods, supporting cell growth and tissue repair without the need for additional chemical additives. Early experiments with yogurt EV-based hydrogels in immunocompetent mice indicated high biocompatibility, with the material fostering new blood vessel formation—a critical factor in effective tissue regeneration—and creating an immune-environment conducive to healing.

This innovative approach is further strengthened through international collaboration with researchers from the University of Padova, integrating expertise in agricultural EV sourcing and nanomaterials. The platform’s modular design allows use of EVs from various sources, including mammalian and bacterial origins, broadening potential applications.

This research opens new avenues in regenerative medicine and wound healing, leveraging simple and sustainable sources like yogurt EVs. Such biomaterials could revolutionize treatments by enabling long-term tissue repair strategies that are both effective and minimally invasive, delivered locally via injection.

Correa’s team is actively exploring how these EV-based hydrogels modulate immune responses to further enhance healing processes, holding promise for next-generation therapies that closely mimic the body’s natural regenerative environment.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-scientists-tissue-gel-derived-extracellular.html