The project supported the establishment and consolidation of Exo Lab Italia as an innovative startup specialised in the development and production of Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles (PDEVs). The funding contributed to the creation of the company's first laboratories at the Tecnopolo d'Abruzzo and to the acquisition of advanced instrumentation for the extraction, purification, characterisation and stabilisation of plant-derived exosomes. These activities turned over fifteen years of scientific research into a proprietary industrial technology platform, geared towards the first applications in the nutraceutical, cosmetic and biotech sectors.

Key Results

• Establishment of the first R&D and manufacturing infrastructure.
• Development of the proprietary PDEV platform.
• Launch of the first industrial and commercial applications.
• Strengthening of scientific and technological expertise.

The second Smart&Start project supports Exo Lab Italia's industrial growth phase through the expansion of production infrastructure and the integration of new human resources and specialised expertise. Activities focus on the development of the new manufacturing facility, process automation, the implementation of advanced quality standards and the international expansion of applications based on plant-derived exosomes.

Expected Outcomes

• Expansion of manufacturing capacity.
• Design and development of the new production facility.
• Strengthening of the technical, manufacturing and commercial teams.
• Support for international go-to-market activities.

The project aimed to develop and validate the use of plant-derived extracellular vesicles as innovative carriers for bioactive molecules, with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical sectors. Activities included the development of electroporation-based loading protocols, the morphological and physicochemical characterisation of the vesicles and the assessment of their stability and functionality. The results strengthened the technological maturity of the platform, reaching TRL 6.

Key Results

• Development of electroporation-based loading protocols.
• Loading efficiencies ranging from 10% to 40%, depending on the molecule.
• Preservation of vesicle integrity during the loading process.
• Morphological, physicochemical and functional characterisation.
• Advancement of the technology platform to TRL 6.

The project focuses on the industrial exploitation of Exo Lab Italia's intellectual property and on the development of new applications based on proprietary plant-derived exosome technologies. Activities aim to strengthen technology transfer, consolidate IP protection and support the industrialisation of innovative solutions for nutraceutical, cosmetic and biotech applications.

Key Results / Expected Outcomes

• Industrial exploitation of the patent portfolio.
• Support for the development of new commercial applications.
• Strengthening of the IP strategy and technology transfer activities.
• Consolidation of the proprietary PDEV platform.

The project supports the industrialisation of the Exo Lab platform through the design and fine-tuning of new production processes for the concentration, purification and loading of plant-derived exosomes. Activities include process validation, the development of new industrialisation protocols and the creation of nutraceutical and cosmetic prototypes.

Key Results

• Optimised protocol for PDEV concentration and purification.
• Development of protocols for loading PDEVs with bioactive compounds and functional ingredients.
• Validation of manufacturing and biological performance.
• Development of nutraceutical and cosmetic prototypes.
• Target increase in production capacity from approximately 1.5 L/day to 6–7 L/day.

The project supported Exo Lab Italia's organisational and production improvement by promoting operational efficiency, lean manufacturing and sustainable growth models aligned with ESG and Benefit Corporation principles. The activities helped strengthen the company structure, improve process management and prepare the company for a more structured phase of industrial development.

Key Results / Expected Outcomes

• Improvement of organisational processes.
• Introduction of lean manufacturing principles.
• Strengthening of ESG and Benefit Corporation practices.
• Support for industrial and organisational growth.

The project investigated the use of mixtures of extracellular vesicles obtained from organic fruits and vegetables as an innovative solution for food conservation and preservation. Activities included the standardisation of extraction, purification, characterisation and functional analysis protocols for plant-derived EVs, with assessment of their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The project also contributed to the digitalisation of scientific data and to the creation of structured datasets for future predictive applications.

Key Results

• Standardised protocol for extraction, purification, characterisation and functional analysis.
• Definition of quality parameters, including particle size distribution and colloidal stability.
• Validation on selected plant matrices.
• Identification of plant sources with superior biofunctional profiles.
• Development of a digital database and structured experimental protocols.

The project explored the role of plant-derived extracellular vesicles in skin regeneration and in the development of new cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. Activities included the isolation and characterisation of EVs from plant matrices, the assessment of size and concentration through Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, and the investigation of bioactive compounds and nucleic acids involved in skin repair processes. The project supported the advancement of the technology from TRL 7 to TRL 9.

Key Results

• Characterisation of extracellular vesicles derived from clementine and grapefruit.
• Particle size and concentration analysis using NanoSight PRO / NTA.
• Investigation of nucleic acids, antioxidants and regenerative biomolecules.
• Development of innovative cosmetic and dermatological formulations.
• Advancement of the technology from TRL 7 to TRL 9.

The project evaluated the potential of plant-derived exosomes as an innovative platform for nanomedicine and drug delivery. Activities included the physicochemical characterisation of PDEVs, the development and optimisation of loading protocols, biodistribution studies and functional evaluations related to the administration of bioactive molecules.

Key Results

• Development of advanced characterisation protocols.
• Investigation of PDEV biodistribution.
• Validation of their potential as drug delivery systems.
• Synergies with other VITALITY research lines and national nanocarrier initiatives.
• Strengthening of Exo Lab's positioning in plant-based nanomedicine.

The PDERNADEL project aims to develop new methodologies for loading therapeutic nucleic acids into plant-derived exosomes, leveraging PDEVs as natural, biocompatible and sustainable biological carriers. Activities include physicochemical and biochemical characterisation, molecular diagnostics for nucleic acid identification, the development of loading technologies and biodistribution studies. The project represents a strategic step towards future applications in RNA-based medicines and gene therapy.

Key Results

• Physicochemical and biochemical characterisation of PDEVs.
• Identification of nucleic acids through molecular biology techniques.
• Development of loading methods for therapeutic RNAs.
• Biodistribution and targeting studies.
• Development of a non-viral platform for RNA-based applications.