Abstract

Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for Therapeutic Applications

Natalia Higuita-Castro, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University

Over the past two decades, nanoscale technologies have emerged as a promising tool to enable groundbreaking biomedical research and translational applications. This seminar will focus on discussing the use of nanotechnology-enabled strategies to develop novel nanocarriers based on engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) to target cell populations in the lung, brain, and intervertebral disc (IVD). EVs are cell-derived carriers that share molecular cues with their donor cell and play a crucial role in cell signaling under healthy and pathological conditions. The implementation of engineered EVs as next-generation non-viral nanocarriers for gene and drug delivery helps to circumvent major practical and translational barriers inherent to other delivery methodologies, such as capsid size and redosing restrictions for viral vectors. Our data highlights the potential of engineered EVs to drive direct reprogramming processes of somatic cells towards induced endothelial or neuronal tissue, as well as their ability to reduce inflammation and facilitate tissue repair/regeneration.