The present invention relates to methods of preparing a therapeutic exosome using a protein newly-identified to be enriched on the surface of exosomes. Specifically, the present invention provides methods of using the proteins for affinity purification of exosomes. It also provides methods of localizing a therapeutic peptide on exosomes, and targeting exosomes to a specific organ, tissue or cell by using the proteins. The methods involve generation of surface-engineered exosomes that include one or more of the exosome proteins at higher density, or a variant or a fragment of the exosome protein.

Described herein are compositions and techniques related to generation and therapeutic application of artificial synapses. Artificial synapses are engineered extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which incorporate sticky binders on their surface to anchor signaling domains against biological targets, such as receptors. These engineered additives can be organized in genetic vector constructs, expressed in mammalian cells, wherein the sticky binders attach to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, thereby presenting their joined signaling domains which are rapidly taken up by recipient cells. Artificial synapses adopt the hallmark biophysical and biochemical features of extracellular vesicles, allowing for rapid deployment and scale-up. Importantly, this strategy can allow for kinetically favorable signal generation and signal propagation. This includes, for example, increasing density of agonist presentation to support receptor clusteringan onerous barrier for traditional receptor targeting strategies.

The disclosure is generally related to spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) comprising a protein corona, wherein the SNA comprises (i) a nanoparticle core and (ii) one or more oligonucleotides attached to the surface of the nanoparticle core, wherein the protein corona comprises a plurality of proteins. The disclosure also provides methods of using the same. The disclosure further provides methods of improving stability and/or extending blood circulation half-life of a spherical nucleic acid (SNA), the SNA comprising a nanoparticle core and one or more oligonucleotides attached to the surface of the nanoparticle core, the method comprising adsorbing a plurality of proteins on the surface of the SNA.

The disclosure provides compositions comprising bioorthogonally-conjugated induced cellular vesicles (ICVs) derived from mammalian cells that comprise one or more functional moieties that have been conjugated to the surface of the ICVs by using bioorthogonal chemistry, and applications thereof, including methods of treatment and methods of making the bioorthogonally-conjugated ICVs.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles complexed with biomacromolecule agents configured for treating, preventing or ameliorating various types of disorders, and methods of synthesizing the same. In particular, the present invention is directed to compositions comprising nanoparticles (e.g., synthetic high density lipoprotein (sHDL)) carrying biomacromolecule agents (e.g., nucleic acid, peptides, glycolipids, etc.), methods for synthesizing such nanoparticles, as well as systems and methods utilizing such nanoparticles (e.g., in diagnostic and/or therapeutic settings).

The present invention is related to the field of targeted drug delivery. In particular, the particles and compositions described herein are used to deliver drugs to treat the diseases and conditions of interest. These particles and compositions include, but are not limited to, the lipopeptide complexes that mimic human high-density lipoproteins but contain apolipoprotein fragments or combination thereof.

A bench pin kit is provided for holding a metal to be sawed. The bench pin kit includes a bench pin, a retainer for removably fastening to the bench pin and a base for positioning within the retainer. The bench pin kit further includes an interchangeable sub plate for positioning within the base to hold the metal to be sawed and a top plate fastened to the base for overlying and securing the interchangeable sub plate.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles associated with (e.g., complexed, conjugated, encapsulated, absorbed, adsorbed, admixed) biomacromolecule agents configured for treating, preventing or ameliorating various types of disorders, and methods of synthesizing the same. In particular, the present invention is directed to compositions comprising nanoparticles (e.g., synthetic high density lipoprotein (sHDL)) associated with (e.g., complexed, conjugated, encapsulated, absorbed, adsorbed, admixed) biomacromolecule agents (e.g., nucleic acid, peptides, glycolipids, etc.), methods for synthesizing such nanoparticles, as well as systems and methods utilizing such nanoparticles (e.g., in diagnostic and/or therapeutic settings).

Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of bioactive agents (e.g., therapeutic or diagnostic agents). The compositions provided herein include cationic lipids, helper lipids and a biostability enhancing agent, which together form a lipid aggregate with the bioactive agent and allow for the systemic delivery of the bioactive agent to, for example, lung tissue without the requirement for biomolecular targeting.

A drug delivery system, a treatment kit, and a method for inhibiting a proliferation or a metastasis of a cancer cell are provided. The drug delivery system includes a very low density lipoprotein carrier, a target ligand and a pharmaceutically active ingredient. The target ligand is conjugated to the very low density lipoprotein carrier, and the target ligand has a binding specificity to a very low density lipoprotein receptor. The pharmaceutically active ingredient is encapsulated in the very low density lipoprotein carrier.