Role of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells and Their Extracellular Vesicles in the Regenerative Medicine of Musculoskeletal System
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 79
Special Issue Editors
Interests: mesenchymal stem cells/multipotential stromal cells (MSCs); MSC trophic and immunomodulatory actions; MSC functionalization ex vivo; inflammation and fibrosis reversal; synovitis; osteoarthritis; regenerative sports medicine; regenerative orthopaedics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: regenerative medicine; mesenchymal stromal cells; osteoarthritis; extracellular vesicles; miRNA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in the field of regenerative medicine, particularly in the repair and regeneration of the musculoskeletal system. MSC possess multilineage differentiation potential, enabling them to give rise to bone, cartilage, tendon, and muscle tissues, making them ideal candidates for treating musculoskeletal disorders. Beyond their differentiation capacity, MSC exert profound paracrine effects through the secretion of bioactive molecules and EVs, which include exosomes and microvesicles. These EVs carry proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that modulate inflammation, enhance angiogenesis, and promote tissue regeneration by influencing resident cells in damaged tissues. Importantly, MSC-derived EVs offer a cell-free therapeutic alternative that reduces the risks associated with cell-based therapies, such as immune rejection or tumorigenicity. As a result, both MSC and their EVs are being extensively studied for applications in osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, bone fractures, and tendon injuries, representing a promising frontier in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine.
In this Special Issue, original research articles, communications and reviews covering the entire field of musculoskeletal system regeneration are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:
- MSC functionalization (e.g., cell phenotype-based purification, cell priming, 3D cell culturing);
- MSC-derived EVs functionalization (e.g., modulation of bioactive cargo, targeted delivery and therapeutic capacity);
- Benefits and limitations of MSC versus MSC-derived EVs for musculoskeletal therapeutic applications;
- MSC and MSC-derived extracellular vesicle effects on immunomodulation and anabolism;
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Dimitrios Kouroupis
Dr. Enrico Ragni
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- mesenchymal stem/stromal cells
- extracellular vesicles
- musculoskeletal regeneration
- immunomodulation
- anabolism
- cell therapy
- cell-free therapy
- secretome
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
