Emergence of the Stem Cell Secretome in Regenerative Engineering

The secretome is defined as the set of molecules and biological factors that are secreted by cells into the extracellular space. In the past decade, secretome-based therapies have emerged as a promising approach to overcome the limitations associated with cell-based therapies for tissue and organ regeneration. Considering the growing number of recent publications related to secretome-based therapies, this review takes a step-by-step engineering approach to evaluate the role of the stem cell secretome in regenerative engineering. We discuss the functional benefits of the secretome, the techniques used to engineer the secretome and tailor its therapeutic effects, and the delivery systems and strategies that have been developed to use the secretome for tissue regeneration. The stem cell secretome has emerged as a promising cell-free alternative to cell-based therapies.Secretome-based therapies have many of the therapeutic benefits of cell-based therapies, while obviating many of the safety and logistical concerns associated with directly using stem cells.The secretome is highly dynamic and its therapeutic effects can be engineered and customized according to its intended application.Delivery systems and strategies have been developed to harness the therapeutic benefits of the secretome for the repair and regeneration of various tissues and organs.