Engineering fungal extracellular vesicles: the next phase of nanobiotechnology and biofabrication

Abstract

Fungal Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a critical frontier in nanobiotechnology and biofabrication, offering a dynamic interface between microbial biology and engineered nanosystems. These membrane-bound particles, actively secreted by fungi, are now recognised as pivotal mediators of intercellular communication, molecular transport, and host-pathogen interactions. Recent advances have underscored their structural diversity and molecular cargo, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and secondary metabolites, which confer them the ability to modulate both microbial physiology and host responses. While EVs were traditionally viewed as passive by-products, evolving research has reframed them as programmable biological entities with vast potential for bioengineering. This article examines the next phase in fungal EVs science: the deliberate engineering of vesicles to serve as tailored tools for drug delivery, vaccine development, biosensor integration, and regenerative applications. Drawing upon synthetic biology and gene editing platforms, researchers are now designing EVs with custom cargo profiles and surface functionalities, enhancing their utility across clinical and industrial domains. Moreover, the biofabrication potential of engineered fungal EVs offers new pathways for creating sustainable nanomaterials and biologically active scaffolds. Despite these advances, significant hurdles persist, particularly concerning biosafety, immunogenicity, standardisation of production processes, and translational scalability. As the field evolves, interdisciplinary convergence with artificial intelligence (AI), multi-omics technologies, and microfluidics is set to amplify the precision and throughput of EVs engineering. Engineered fungal EVs are thus positioned not merely as passive nanocarriers, but as intelligent, responsive platforms within the broader nanobiotechnological ecosystem.