Special Issue Announcement
2026 Special Issue Invitation LetterInvitation for Submissions:
2026 Special Issue on “Emerging Developments of Extracellular Vesicles for the Next Generation of Food, Nutrition, and Health”
Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025
Special Issue Editors:
Tang-Long Shen, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology & International Joint Degree Master's Program in Agro-Biomedical Science in Food and Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Wei-Hsuan Hsu, Department of Food Safety/Hygiene and Risk Management, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Bao-Hong Lee, Department of Horticulture, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale lipid-bilayer carriers in facilitating intercellular communication by transporting various bioactive molecules from donor to recipient cells. Recent research highlights their critical roles in maintaining health and participating in disease processes, positioning EVs as promising tools in various scientific disciplines and clinical applications. Within the context of food science and nutrition, EVs garner lots of attention for their potential as natural delivery systems, functional food components, and biomarkers for assessing health and disease status. In the past decade, extensive studies have focused on the characterization, functionality, and therapeutic potential of EVs. As the intersection of EV research and food science continues to grow, this Special Issue seeks to provide dedicated insight and platforms for pioneering research and discoveries into EV applications in food, nutrition, and health. The special issue welcomes submission of original research articles and comprehensive reviews on topics including, but not limited to:
- The roles of extracellular vesicles in improving food quality, safety, and functionality. This topic explores how extracellular vesicles (EVs) can be utilized to enhance the sensory attributes, shelf life, and overall safety of food products. It includes their potential applications in preventing microbial contamination, improving nutrient bioavailability, and fortifying food products with bioactive compounds. Research may also investigate how EVs contribute to food stability under varying storage and processing conditions.
- Health-promoting effects of EVs derived from food or probiotics. This area focuses on the bioactive properties of EVs originating from food sources, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and probiotics. Key aspects include their ability to modulate immune responses, support gut barrier integrity, and influence metabolic pathways associated with chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. This topic also investigates the role of food-derived EVs in maintaining microbiome balance and their therapeutic potential.
- Molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between EVs and the gut microbiota. This topic delves into the intricate biological pathways by which EVs modulate gut microbial composition and activity. It covers how EVs deliver functional molecules (e.g., proteins, lipids, RNA) to microbial communities and influence microbial growth, gene expression, and metabolite production. Understanding these mechanisms sheds light on the dynamic crosstalk between EVs, gut microbes, and host physiology, with implications for diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic syndrome.
- The potential of EVs as biomarkers for nutritional and health status. This topic examines the feasibility of using EVs as non-invasive biomarkers to assess individual nutritional profiles, metabolic states, and disease risk. It includes the identification of specific EV-associated proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that reflect dietary intake, gut microbiota composition, and systemic health. Such biomarkers could advance personalized nutrition and early detection of dietary deficiencies or chronic diseases.
- Technological advancements in isolating and characterizing EVs from food matrices. This area focuses on the development of innovative methods for extracting and analyzing EVs from complex food systems, such as fruits, vegetables, fermented products, and beverages. Emerging technologies, including microfluidics, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and advanced mass spectrometry, are discussed in terms of their potential to improve the purity, yield, and functional characterization of EVs. The challenges and solutions in standardizing EV isolation protocols for reproducible research and industrial applications are also covered.
Through this Special Issue, we aim to advance the understanding of EVs in the context of food science and their impact on nutrition and health. We look forward to receiving your innovative contributions.