The present invention provides a method for producing an exosome that transfers an active substance specifically to a target and the exosome produced by the same; a method for delivering the active substance to the target tissue using the exosome; a pharmaceutical composition for delivery of the active substance comprising the exosome as an active ingredient; and a composition for preparing the exosome comprising an expression vector wherein the target peptide is inserted into an extracellular portion of a transmembrane protein.

Nanolipoprotein particles comprising at least a scaffold protein component and a membrane lipid component and related complexes, compositions, methods and systems are described, in which the membrane lipid component comprises at least one or more membrane forming lipids and one or more cationic lipids.

Provided herein are compounds of Formula (I), as well as compositions comprising a compound of Formula (I) and uses thereof.

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Novel artificial exosomes and methods for producing novel artificial exosomes are provided. Methods of delivering cargo molecules to a cell using artificial exosomes are also provided.

Increase of energy expenditure as an effective treatment of obesity and related disorders is a target for drug research and development. A 15% increase of energy expenditure is believed to be sufficient to achieve significant weight and fat mass reduction while providing meaningful improvement of metabolic parameters. Disclosed herein is a method for pharmacological inhibition of miR-22-3p, which represents a new therapeutic approach for treating human obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia.

Disclosed are methods for designing and manufacturing biomimetic proteolipid nanovesicles using a microfluidic approach, and in particular, a NanoAssemblr-based platform, which allows for the high-throughput, reproducible, and scalable production of nanoparticles, without affecting their pharmaceutical and biological properties. These nanovesicles, which are composed of synthetic phospholipids and cholesterol, enriched of leukocyte membranes, and surrounding an aqueous core, possess remarkable properties for targeting compounds of interest to particular mammalian cell and tissue types.

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.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for diagnosis and treatment of early-stage atherosclerotic plaques and reduction of plaques in arteries. In particular, provided herein are high-density-lipoprotein-functionalized magnetic nanostructures (HDL-MNS) capable of (i) precise anatomic detection of atherosclerotic lesions, (ii) removal of excess cholesterol from macrophage cells in atherosclerotic plaque, and/or (iii) delivery of therapeutic agents to plaque locations, and methods of diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.

A new approach to targeting imaging agents to macrophage-rich sites of interest is disclosed. Compositions of the invention are rHDL and HDL-like liposomal compositions, protein constituents of which, apolipoproteins A-I and/or A-II or fragments thereof are used not only as structural but also as targeting agents. This is achieved by certain controlled chemical or enzymatic modification of apolipoproteins A-I or A-II or fragments thereof. Such modification converts these apolipoproteins to substrates for macrophage scavenger receptors and results in the improvement of contrast agent-(HDL/modified apolipoprotein)-particle association with macrophages and/or absorption (uptake) by macrophages when compared to that of the contrast agent-(HDL/apolipoprotein)-particle constructed with non-modified naturally occurring apo A-I. The compositions can be used for noninvasive specific in vivo molecular detection and localization of macrophage-rich sites of interest using imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), gamma-scintigraphy, positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

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.