A method for the systemic delivery of a polypeptide within a subject is provided by creating genetically modified skin cells via topical introduction of a genetically engineered virus which delivers a nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic polypeptide for expression by the skin cells, wherein the expressed therapeutic polypeptide is secreted by the skin cells and is introduced into the circulatory system of the subject.

Methods and composition for cell-based therapy as well as somatostatin receptor-based therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a signaling defective somatostatin receptor mutant are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods involve a somatostatin constitutively active somatostatin receptor mutant.

A vaccine construct comprising an antigenic PCSK9 peptide and an immunogenic carrier, and methods of using the same that are effective to lower blood cholesterol levels in a mammal and treat dyslipidemias and related disease states in a mammal without the frequency of administration required by passive immunity strategies.

The disclosure provides, inter alia, compositions including cell-nanoparticle constructs and drug loaded nanoparticles, and methods for their use in the treatment of cancer. Also provided are unmodified cisplatin molecules encapsulated by silica nanoparticles, and their use in the treatment of cancer.

Disclosed herein are methods of forming compounds and exemplary compounds in the nature of a conjugated compound, which in some embodiments comprises an antigen and virus particle mixed in a conjugation reaction to form a conjugate mixture, such that the conditions and steps of forming these products allow for use of the conjugate mixture as a vaccine, including but not limited to use as a vaccine against various pathogens including for treatment of diseases caused by novel coronaviruses (including SARS-COV 2).

A method for producing exosomes in a large-scale by using a cyclic tensile bioreactor to stimulate cells to release exosomes. In addition, the exosome having an anti-HLA-G protein specific for cancer is used as a delivery vehicle to deliver therapeutic agents for treating cancer.

Disclosed herein include methods, compositions, and kits suitable for use in dynamic non-destructive imaging. The non-destructive imaging can be nonlinear ultrasound imaging. There are provided, in some embodiments, nucleic acid compositions encoding gas vesicles (GVs) capable of producing nonlinear ultrasound contrast upon expression in a prokaryotic cell (e.g., a probiotic bacterial cell) or a eukaryotic cell (e.g., a therapeutic mammalian cell).

Methods and composition for cell-based therapy as well as somatostatin receptor-based therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a signaling defective somatostatin receptor mutant are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods involve a somatostatin constitutively active somatostatin receptor mutant.

The present invention relates to compositions for the delivery of molecules such as a peptide, a nucleic acid and/or a small molecule drug. In particular, the present invention relates to an extracellular vesicle (EV) loaded with a peptide, a nucleic acid and/or a small molecule drug, along with methods of producing said EV.

Disclosed herein are methods of delivering a polypeptide, e.g., an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, to the central nervous system of a subject, by administering to the subject the polypeptide (e.g., antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof) conjugated to the surface of an extracellular vesicle (EV) derived from a neural cell, e.g., a neural progenitor cell or a neural stem cell. Conjugates comprising neural EVs coupled to a polypeptide, such as an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, and methods of use thereof, are also provided. Also disclosed herein are methods of delivering a polypeptide, e.g., an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, by administering to the subject the polypeptide (e.g., antibody or antigen-binding portion thereof) loaded within the lumen of an extracellular vesicle (EV) derived from neural cells.