Extracellular particles are membrane particles released by cells which comprise exosomes, microvesicles, exomeres, apoptotic bodies and other non-vesicular biomolecules. Their primary role includes transportation of biological molecules such as RNAs, proteins and lipids in a form of cargo. Typically, the size of extracellular particles varies from 30 nm – 5000 nm, which are approximately 20x smaller than mesenchymal stem cells.

They were once deemed as ‘garbage bag’ of cells, used as a tool to remove unwanted cellular materials. Presently, it has been established that exosomes, microvesicles and exomeres, are integral to intercellular communication by facilitating the transportation of biological signals to regulate a wide range of cellular functions. ¹