Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed vesicles released by cells into the extracellular space (“EV” is a collective term encompassing various subtypes of cell-released membranous structures called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names in the literature). The present invention relates to the utilization of EVs for delivery of cargo molecules into cells. The present invention uses unique methods for the loading and delivery of cargo molecules into cells in vitro or in vivo, e.g., for medical, diagnostic, and biological applications.
The invention allows for the easy and efficient loading of diverse cargo molecules such as drugs, small molecules, nucleic acids, macromolecules, lipids, enzymes, proteins, and peptides into EVs. The cargo is then delivered into eukaryotic cells via the loaded EVs without being degraded or modified by extracellular enzymes or neutralized by host immune responses. Moreover, this protection conferred by EV-mediated delivery can be achieved without the need for chemical modification of the cargo molecule as a countermeasure, though chemical modification remains an option. Upon contacting a cell, the EV is internalized by the cell and the cargo is delivered into the cell.
