Carvedilol parenteral sustained release systems by IV infusion, injection, or subcutaneous routes are disclosed. Preparation of carvedilol disperse systems such as liposomes, biodegradable microparticles or nanparticles, and polymeric microparticles or nanparticles have been presented in the present invention. Compositions containing carvedilol encapsulated in liposomes showed higher bioavailability and lower clearance rate than that of the free solution after intravenous administration. In vitro release of those liposomes in buffer solutions shows drug extended release over 48 hours, and correspondingly the in vivo animal data shows that parenteral administration of carvedilol encapsulated in liposomal materials has sustained release PK profile.

Compositions, pharmaceutical preparations and methods are disclosed for protecting non-neoplastic cells from damage caused by cancer chemotherapeutic agents or radiation therapy, during the course of cancer therapy or bone marrow transplant. These are based on the use of chemoprotective inducing agents that induce or increase production of cellular detoxification enzymes in target cell populations. The compositions and methods are useful to reduce or prevent hair loss, gastrointestinal distress and lesions of the skin and oral mucosa that commonly occur in patients undergoing cancer therapy. Also disclosed is a novel assay system for identifying new chemoprotective inducing agents.

The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.

The present invention relates to the mannose-receptor selective lysinylated cationic amphiphile and a process for preparation thereof. The compounds of the present invention can target DNA vaccines to antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), via mannose receptors expressed on the cell surface of APCs. The cationic amphiphiles disclosed herein show enhanced cellular and humoral immune response compared to their mannosyl counterparts in genetic immunization in mice. The present invention discloses that immunization with electrostatic complexes (lipoplexes) of DNA vaccines encoding melanoma antigens (gp100 and tyrosinase) and liposome of the presently described novel lysinylated cationic amphiphiles with mannose-mimicking shikimoyl head-groups provides long-lasting (100 days post melanoma tumor challenge) protective immunity in all immunized mice. Cationic amphiphiles with mannose-mimicking shikimoyl head-groups described in the present invention are likely to find future applications in the field of genetic immunization.

The present invention provides a cationic lipid, which allow nucleic acids to be easily introduced into cells, represented by formula (I) (wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, alkenyl, etc, and X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are hydrogen atoms, or are combined together to form a single bond or alkylene, and X.sup.3 is absent or is alkyl, etc, Y is absent or anion, a and b are, the same or different, 0 to 3, and L.sup.3 is a single bond, etc, R.sup.3 is alkyl, etc, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—), a composition comprising the cationic lipid and a nucleic acid, and a method for introducing a nucleic acid into a cell by using the composition comprising the cationic lipid and the nucleic acid, and the like.

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Disclosed herein are circular RNAs and transfer vehicles, along with related compositions and methods of treatment. The circular RNAs can comprise group I intron fragments, spacers, an IRES, duplex forming regions, and/or an expression sequence, thereby having the features of improved expression, functional stability, low immunogenicity, ease of manufacturing, and/or extended half-life compared to linear RNA. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising such circular RNAs and transfer vehicles are particularly suitable for efficient protein expression in immune cells in vivo. Also disclosed are precursor RNAs and materials useful in producing the precursor or circular RNAs, which have improved circularization efficiency and/or are compatible with effective circular RNA purification methods.

The present invention provides a hybrid biocompatible carrier (hybridosome) which comprises structural and bioactive elements originating from at least one biocompatible delivery module (BDM) and at least one engineered drug encapsulation module (EDEM) comprising at least one tunable fusogenic moiety. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising said hybridosomes, processes for their manufacture, as well as pharmaceutical uses and pharmaceutical methods based thereon.

The present invention relates to a method for producing synthetic extracellular vesicles comprising a lipid bilayer including at least two lipids, one or more extracellular vesicle associated proteins, and optionally one or more nucleic acid molecules. The inventive synthetic extracellular vesicles are formed by emulsification using a mechanic emulsifier in the form of polymer shell stabilized synthetic extracellular vesicles. The inventive method allows producing synthetic extracellular vesicles miming the composition and function of natural extracellular vesicles. Therefore, synthetic extracellular vesicles with specific protein and nucleic acids compositions are also disclosed herein, as well as their therapeutic uses.

The present invention provides an improved lipid nanoparticle formulation encapsulating mRNA comprising DEPE as a helper lipid.

Disclosed herein is a method for treating a subject having, or at risk of having, a cancer, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a tumor membrane vesicle (TMV) and a metformin. In some embodiments, the TMV comprises a B7-1 and/or IL-12 molecule anchored to a lipid membrane (e.g., by a GPI anchor). In some embodiments, the methods can further comprise administering an immune checkpoint inhibitor. The methods are useful for reducing tumor size and metastasis, and in improving anti-tumor immune responses.