Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) represent one specially free form of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS). They have the characteristics of solid phase and gel phase, low density, high ratio of carbon to nitrogen, and high stickiness. So, they play an important role in the geochemical cycles of aquatic ecosystems. Based on the literature at home and abroad and the investigation of Lake Taihu, we summarized the research status and dynamics of TEP. The origin and form of TEP, the abundance and significance of TEP in freshwaters were summerized. It should be noted that the study of TEP in freshwater lakes was still relatively few, although there were many researches about the charateristics of TEP in oceans. This suggests that the significance and importance of TEP in geochemical cycle of nutrient elements have not been fully understood. The directions for future research should focus on the origin and form mechnisms of TEP in freshwater ecosystems, especially on the relatioship between TEP and the other forms in EPS pool, the correlative mechanism between TEP and the microorganism and phytoplankton (including bloomingcyanobacteria), the degradation, the fate and cycling of TEP, and the impact of TEP on aquatic ecosystems. Besides, the impact of TEP on the water treatments should be also given attention.