Abstract

Genetic Engineering of Nanoscale Exosomes for Targeted Drug Delivery and Therapy

Bill Lu, Associate Professor, Santa Clara University

Human cell-derived nanoscale exosomes are the fast-growing class of biologics with potential treatments of many difficult-to-manage human diseases such as cancer, hereditary and genetic defect, viral infection and inflammation, as well as cardiovascular and neurological disease.  Owning to their intrinsic biocompatibility, high tissue-penetrating ability, and large capacity in delivery of various biological cargos, exosomes have overtaken the traditional small-molecular therapeutic paradigm and opened new horizons in advanced therapeutic applications.  This seminal talk focuses on novel techniques for exosome surface engineering on functional moiety installation, drug loading and intracellular delivery. Furthermore, specific examples of how exosomes are engineered to display targeting moieties on their outer surface or to load therapeutic agents in living human cells are also discussed.