Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted membrane-enclosed nano-sized particles (40–1,000 nm) that deliver biological information between cells. Moreover, EVs possess natural biocompatibility and stability that allow them to cross biological membranes and that protect them from degradation. Recent studies have shown that EVs-mediated crosstalk between different cell types in the heart could play important roles in the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis and the pathogenesis of heart diseases. In particular, EVs secreted by different types of stem cells exhibit cardioprotective effects. However, numerous studies have shown that intravenously injected EVs are quickly cleared by macrophages of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) and preferentially accumulate in MPS organs such as the liver, spleen, and lung.
This project will investigate how to specifically load and deliver a biological payload in nano-carriers for the targeted and selective delivery to the heart, to better understand the mechanisms of proteome reprogramming target cardiac cells in cardiac dysfunction, and engineering strategies to modify EV targeting capacity. Various antibody and peptide conjugate strategies will be used for targeting. These understandings will aid in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease.