42 EXOSOMES
Safety and allergen concerns? Despite coming from milk, these exosomes are typically lactose-free due to advanced purification techniques that filter out allergenic components.8-12
To date, no safety concerns
have been reported in clinical or preclinical trials, and ongoing studies continue to support their excellent safety profile, even for sensitive skin.15,16 Consumers sensitive to bovine milk proteins
would still need to exercise caution, and exosomes isolated from other sources, such as goat milk, may be better tolerated.
The bottom line Milk exosomes are uniquely abundant and remarkably similar to their human counterparts, sharing up to 90% of their composition. This similarity means they are naturally biocompatible, non-immunogenic, and capable of protecting and ferrying sensitive actives— such as peptides, antioxidants, and even genetic material—through the skin barrier more efficiently. Their proven efficacy both as a natural
ingredient and when loaded with these peptides, enhancing their bioavailability and skin repair performance, combined with their rescue/upcycled origin, can be woven into a cutting-edge portfolio innovation play and narrative by skilful cosmetics marketers. In contrast, plant exosomes, while
sustainable and vegan-friendly, often lack the complex protein and lipid profiles found in mammalian sources. This can limit their ability to encapsulate and deliver larger or more delicate molecules. Human exosomes, though ideal in theory,
are scarce, expensive, and raise ethical and regulatory questions for large-scale cosmetic use.
With robust research, scalable production,
shelf stability, and proven skin benefits, milk-derived exosomes are emerging as the most practical and powerful option in this rapidly evolving space. While other sources, such as human- or plant-derived vesicles, offer potential, they currently face significant scientific, regulatory, and, in the case of human- derived exosomes, ethical hurdles. As cosmetic science continues to evolve,
exosomes are poised to play a significant role in reshaping the future of skin care. The field is still young, but the outlook is undeniably exciting. Whether it is smoother skin, faster healing, or more radiant glow, these tiny messengers may hold the key to unlocking the next generation of beauty breakthroughs.
Conflict statement The author is an executive and shareholder at The Tiny Cargo Company, a Virginia, USA-based biotechnology firm focused on developing exosome-based delivery systems, particularly using milk-derived exosomes.
Figure 7: Cosmetic peptide cargoes that milk exosomes could carry
2. Marsh SR, Beard CE, Gourdie RG. Milk extracellular vesicles: A burgeoning new presence in nutraceuticals and drug delivery. Bioeng Transl Med. 2025; Jan 23;10(3):e10756
3. Mu N et al. Plant-derived Exosome- Like Nanovesicles: Current Progress and Prospects. Dove Press. 2023
4. Li X, Bao H, Wang Z, Wang M, Fan B, Zhu C, Chen Z. Biogenesis and Function of Multivesicular Bodies in Plant Immunity. Front Plant Sci. 2018; Jul 9;9:979
5. Bai G, Truong TM, Pathak GN, Benoit L, Rao B. Clinical applications of exosomes in cosmetic dermatology. Skin Health Dis. 2024; Feb 13;4(6):e348
6. Jakl V, Ehmele M, Winkelmann M, Ehrenberg S, Eiseler T, Friemert B, Rojewski MT, Schrezenmeier H. A novel approach for large- scale manufacturing of small extracellular vesicles from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells using a hollow fibre bioreactor. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023; Jan 24;11:1107055
7. The Guardian. Beauty Clinics in the UK offering banned treatments derived from Human Cells. 29 March 2025. https://www.
theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/29/ beauty-clinics-uk-offering-banned- exosome-treatments-derived-human-cells
8. Marsh SR, Gourdie RG. Oral delivery of therapeutic peptides by milk-derived extracellular vesicles. Nat Rev Bioeng. 2024; 2, 806–807
PC
References 1. Welsh JA et al. Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches. J Extracell Vesicles. 2024; Feb;13(2):e12404
PERSONAL CARE September 2025
9. Midtgaard SR et al. Industrial-Scale Production and Characterisation of a Whey Fraction Enriched in Extracellular Vesicle Material. Journal of Extracellular Biology. 2025; May
10. Dogan AB, Marsh SR, Tschetter RJ, E Beard C, Amin MR, Jane Jourdan L, Gourdie RG.
Stabilizing milk-derived extracellular vesicles (mEVs) through lyophilization: a novel trehalose and tryptophan formulation for maintaining structure and Bioactivity during long-term storage. J Biol Eng. 2025; Jan 13;19(1):4
11. Marsh SR, Pridham KJ, Jourdan J, Gourdie RG. Novel Protocols for Scalable Production of High Quality Purified Small Extracellular Vesicles from Bovine Milk. Nanotheranostics. 2021; Jul 5;5(4):488-498
12. Marsh SR, Amin MR, Toldo S, Beard C, Dogan AB, Mezzaroma E, Andres E, Stout RF, Bannon MS, Payne LB, Abbate A, Sassi Y, Letteri RA, Gourdie RG. Orally Delivered Milk- Derived Nanovesicles Loaded with Connexin 43 Peptides for Targeted Cardiac Ischemia- Reperfusion Therapy. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025; Jan 2:2025.01.01.630994
13. Lu L, Bai W, Wang M, Han C, Du H, Wang N, Gao M, Li D, Dong F, Ge X. Novel roles of bovine milk-derived exosomes in skin antiaging. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024; Apr;23(4):1374-1385
14. Tienda-Vázquez MA, Hanel JM, Márquez- Arteaga EM, Salgado-Álvarez AP, Scheckhuber CQ, Alanis-Gómez JR, Espinoza-Silva JI, Ramos-Kuri M, Hernández-Rosas F, Melchor- Martínez EM, Parra-Saldívar R. Exosomes: A Promising Strategy for Repair, Regeneration and Treatment of Skin Disorders. Cells. 2023 Jun 14;12(12):162
15. Jabłońska M, Sawicki T, Żulewska J, Staniewska K, Łobacz A, Przybyłowicz, KE. The Role of Bovine Milk-Derived Exosomes in Human Health and Disease. Molecules. 2024; 29(24), 5835
16. Exosomm Ltd. Whey Protein Milk-Derived Exosomes among Ulcerative Colitis patients. Phase 1B Clinical Trial.
https://ichgcp.net/ clinical-trials-registry/NCT06755021
www.personalcaremagazine.com
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