Brain-Targeted Exosome Modification Service

Brain-Targeting Peptides Services FAQs

The incidence of central nervous system (CNS) diseases is increasing year by year. Drug delivery targeting the brain is the best therapy for CNS diseases, but the biggest obstacle to this therapy is the obstruction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Promisingly, exosomes are considered a next-generation drug delivery platform due to their good biocompatibility and BBB permeability. However, natural exosomes have the problem of poor tissue targeting. Therefore, it is necessary to engineer exosomes by adding brain-targeting peptides to improve the brain-targeting properties of exosomes. Creative Biolabs can develop a series of targeted modified engineered exosomes for different tissues, and provide high-quality engineered exosome construction and verification services to help researchers develop efficient and safe exosome drugs.

Engineered Exosomes Modified with Brain-Targeting Peptides

Among the brain-targeting peptides, rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) is widely used and widely recognized. RVG is the only structural protein exposed outside the rabies virus membrane. RVG selectively targets neuronal cells and brain endothelial cells by binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). So far, numerous studies have shown that RVG peptide-modified exosomes (RVG-Exo) can serve as an efficient and safe drug delivery vehicle. RVG-Exo can deliver almost all small and macromolecular drugs, including siRNAs, microRNAs, DNA, proteins, and other nanoparticles. The loading of these drugs is achieved by further applying electroporation to RVG-Exo. Currently, there are mainly two strategies for RVG modification of exosomes.

Brain-Targeted Exosome Modification Service

Donor cells that secrete exosomes are bioengineered. RVG and lysosome-related membrane glycoprotein 2b (Lamp2b), an exosome membrane-localized protein, are constructed in the same plasmid (Lamp2b-RVG plasmid) for fusion expression. By transiently transfecting Lamp2b-RVG plasmids into donor cells or constructing stably transfected cell lines that continuously express Lamp2b-RVG, a large number of engineered exosomes expressing RVG on the surface can be extracted. The above method is the most mainstream strategy for RVG modification of exosomes.

The isolated exosomes are physically modified. Phospholipid molecules and RVG are constructed into complexes. These complexes can be inserted into the exosomal phospholipid bilayer through hydrophobicity. Therefore, engineered exosomes with RVG on the surface can be obtained.

At present, RVG-Exo has been explored in the treatment of stroke, severe depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other CNS diseases. In the future, brain-targeted engineered exosomes, including RVG-Exo, have great prospects and value and are expected to be used to develop drugs. Creative Biolabs can provide customers with innovative drug research services using brain-targeted exosomes as drug delivery systems. Please contact us with your needs and ideas to help you move forward with your project.

References

Yu, X.; Bai Y.; et al. Extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery of circDYM alleviates CUS-induced depressive-like behaviours. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. 2022. 11:e12185.
Liu, L.; Li, Y.; et al. Targeted exosome coating gene-chem nanocomplex as "nanoscavenger" for clearing α-synuclein and immune activation of Parkinson's disease. Science Advances. 2020. 6(50).

FAQs

How are exosomes modified to target the brain?

Exosomes can be modified for brain targeting through various approaches, including surface engineering with brain-specific targeting ligands or antibodies, loading with therapeutic cargo for neurological diseases, or using neural cell-derived exosomes for drug delivery. These modifications enhance brain-specific delivery and therapeutic efficacy.

What types of neurological disorders can be targeted using this service?

Brain-targeted exosome modification can be applied to a wide range of neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumors, stroke, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury. By tailoring exosomes to brain-specific markers or microenvironments, targeted therapies can be developed.

How are the specificity and efficacy of brain-targeted exosome modifications validated?

Specificity and efficacy of brain-targeted exosome modifications are validated through in vitro and in vivo studies. These include cellular uptake assays using brain cell lines, biodistribution studies in animal models, therapeutic efficacy assessments, and safety evaluations in neurological disease models.

Can brain-targeted exosome modification services be customized for different therapeutic approaches?

Yes, our services offer customization options to tailor brain-targeted exosome modifications for various therapeutic approaches, including drug delivery, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and RNA-based therapeutics. We collaborate with clients to design and optimize strategies based on specific neurological disease targets.

How can brain-targeted exosome modification services advance drug development for neurological disorders?

By enabling precise targeting of therapeutic cargo to brain cells or tissues, brain-targeted exosome modification services enhance the efficacy, safety, and specificity of drug candidates for neurological disorders. This approach holds promise for developing targeted therapies with improved clinical outcomes and reduced side effects in patients with brain-related conditions.

Plant Exosome Isolation