NU 2022-178

INVENTORS

• Neha Kamat*
• Joshua Leonard*
• Justin Alexander Peruzzi
• Taylor Gunnels

SHORT DESCRIPTION

This technology enhances the loading of protein cargo into extracellular vesicles (EVs) by directing protein association with membrane lipid rafts, utilizing engineered lipid tags for targeted delivery.

BACKGROUND

Extracellular vesicles are lipid-bound nanoparticles used for intercellular communication and cargo transport. They are being explored for therapeutic delivery due to their natural ability to carry complex biomolecules. Efficiently loading therapeutic proteins into EVs without affecting biomolecular activity is a current challenge in the field.

ABSTRACT

The invention employs engineered lipid tags to facilitate the loading of protein cargo into EVs by enhancing protein association with lipid rafts. These lipid rafts are critical in EV biogenesis and protein organization. By genetically fusing lipid tags to proteins, the system optimizes protein partitioning into lipid rafts, enhancing subsequent loading into EVs. This approach has been validated through bioinformatics and experimental models, showing significant promise for therapeutic applications such as gene therapy and EV-based vaccines.

APPLICATIONS

• Gene therapy
• EV-based vaccines
• Chemotherapy
• Loading and delivery of any macromolecule found in cells

• Increased loading efficiency
• Utilizes native cellular machinery, applicable across cell types
• Eliminates need for cleavable tags
• Tunable loading

PUBLICATIONS

Enhancing extracellular vesicle cargo loading and functional delivery by engineering protein-lipid interactions, Neha P. Kamat, Joshua N. Leonard et al, Nature Communications, 04 July 2024

IP STATUS

PCT Patent Application Filed