Extracellular Vesicles as Platforms for Therapeutic MicroRNA delivery

Abstract

Life does not exist in a vacuum. In other words, for there to be life, there had to be life. Historically, that notion may be challenged by life’s very origins. In the modern age, life may now be synthetized. Nevertheless, enshrined in the tenets of cell theory, this idea offers some solace in the face of the cosmic inconsequence that underlies existence. Life does not exist in a vacuum; therefore, life is never alone. From unicellular beings to complex organisms, life exists and thrives in tandem with itself. We could lose ourselves in the complexities of Archaea processes or the nuance of Bacteria interaction. A bit closer to home perhaps, we might ponder on the necessity of communities and hierarchies in plants and animals. The idea of family. All of that is brought together in a single aspect. Communication. All of life needs something to “speak” to. In fact, it depends on it. Exchange of molecular signals, establishment of functional populations, food chains, interpersonal relationships all depend on effective communication. And life has devised a number of unique forms of communication, including the subject of this thesis: extracellular vesicles. If life had a purpose, extrinsic to its self-perpetuating nature, would it then not be to be understood? We may never know, but in research we make use of the tools at our disposal to decode life’s speech and understand it. Whether life craves communication and understanding, or that is our observer’s bias, once a question is posed, what choice do we have but to answer it?