Episode 64: Exosomes & The Power of Platelets with Atta Behfar, MD, PhD & Saranya Wyles, MD, PhD

This may be our most fascinating podcast ever! We are joined by the Co-Founder of Rion, Inc., researcher and pioneer of regenerative medicine, and Cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, Atta Behfar, MD, PhD. We're also joined by Saranya Wyles, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Program Director of Clinical Regenerative Medicine Education at Mayo Clinic and the Principle Investigator for Rion Aesthetic's flagship product, (plated)™. 

Dr. Behfar spent several years in the initial stages of research getting a deep understanding of what influences cells to participate in wound healing. His research led him to find the major gap- communication-  which is where exosomes come into play. They are the mechanism by which cells communicate with one another and make things happen in the body. Next, it was about finding the best communicators which led him and his research team to identify a particular group of platelet-derived exosomes that were specifically communicating about regeneration and repair.  This was a true needle in a haystack endeavor, and thankfully it’s paid off-  it’s propelled regenerative medicine in aesthetics to a whole new level. 

Several years later, his findings turned into Rion, Inc as he continued on with research focused on organ regeneration (eventually the heart), and as a byproduct, he found an invaluable application within aesthetics. Looking into the future, he discusses what is possible with injectable exosomes to supercharge what filler, toxin and biostimulators can do in the tissue.  We won’t need to just fill or relax wrinkles, but there is the potential to repair the tissue enough that it’s no longer a concern.

If Dr. Behfar is where it started, Dr. Wyles is how it’s going. Not only is she an expert in regenerative medicine, but she’s also a practicing Dermatologist. She is using exosome technology in her practice daily, and to hear her discuss the effectiveness and results she sees with (plated)™ is remarkable. She is using it as a primer for her patients before procedures, as their primary skincare product, and for post-procedure healing. While this is not a sponsored Rion Aesthetic's podcast, the results she's seeing clinically, not just in the lab, are cause for major kudos to the Rion Aesthetics research team!

She’s working on next steps toward future research involving hair growth, injectable exosomes and atopic dermatitis among other potential uses- all pending the FDA of course. She truly is the perfect intersection of where the research lab meets the treatment chair. 

We are definitely at the tip of the spear in regenerative medicine with this episode. It’s rare to sit down with two of the best and brightest minds on the research front and get a solid breakdown of the science and the clinical application of something as novel as platelet-derived exosomes. In addition, Dr Wyles provides a checklist of sorts for you to consider before bringing exosomes into your practice. It’s important to check things like donor quality, batch consistency, batch effectiveness, platelet or stem-cell derived, and to ask for the clinical research that is backing the product. We know Rion Aesthetics has no shortage of research available, and from the sound of what’s next, they are only getting started!