Extracellular Vesicles Research Group

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles that cells use to transport substances to outside and respond to external influences. These vesicles can detach from the cell membrane and be released into the liquid envronment around cells or interact with target cells.

For example, exosomes are nano vesicles produced by cells and transported to other cells. These vesicles can transport various biomolecules, such proteins, nucleic acids and lipids and play a role in regulating intercellular communications.

Extracellular vesicles, especially exosomes, have been used effectively in diagnostics and regenerative therapy in medicine, drug delivery systems in pharmacy, as well as in understanding stem cell and cancer biology in basic science.

Our Extracellular Vesicles Research Group focuses on the growth factor-independent differentiation of multipotent and pluripotent stem cells by exosomes derived from tissue-specific cells; the use of these exosomes in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches; and the effects of immune system exosomes on pro-tumorigenic processes.

Team supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Derkuş