Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of outer membrane vesicles derived from Escherichia coli on proliferation, apoptosis and migration of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells in vitro. Methods The outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) were obtained from wild-type Escherichia coli with ultracentrifugation method, and the morphology of the OMVs was observed by transmission electron microscopy and the vesicle diameter was determined using MALVERN ZEN3690. Human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells were treated with the OMVs at low (100 μg/mL), moderate (500 μg/mL) and high (1000 μg/mL) doses, and 24, 48 and 72 h later, the cell proliferation activity was detected with MTT assay. The expressions of apoptosisrelated marker caspase-3 was detected using Western blotting, and TUNEL assay was performed to detect the cell apoptosis. The migration capacity of SK-N-SH cells was evaluated using Transwell migration assay. Results The isolated OMVs showed a circular or elliptical hollow structure with double-layer membrane and a diameter range of 30-450 nm. Compared with the control cells, SK-N-SH cells treated with the OMVs showed significantly lowered cell proliferation capacity with enhanced expression of caspase-3. Treatment of the cells with the OMVs resulted in increased cell apoptosis and significantly lowered migration capacity (P<0.05). Conclusion The OMVs derived from Escherichia coli can produce cytotoxicity against SK-N-SH cells and might serve as a therapeutic agent for refractory neuroblastoma.