21ENGBIO PROJECT ECHO: Modular exosome prototyping & engineering

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Our cells produce and secrete nanosized extracellular vesicles, called exosomes - which are essentially molecular messages that cells send to each other. These exosomes are composed of many different molecular components, including proteins and other molecules, that are encased in a lipid (fat) bilayer. Exosomes have many different roles in the body and can help keep us healthy. Ongoing research has also shown that exosomes could potentially be used as therapies to treat diseases including cancers. Unfortunately, exosomes, are highly complex and it is often challenging to engineer lab grown cells to make new types of therapeutic exosomes. To help address these challenges we will develop new cell-free methods for engineering exosomes outside of the cell - potentially making it quicker and easier to develop new therapeutic exosomes. These cell-free methods will also be combined with liquid handling robotics so that we can more easily engineer lots of different exosomes in parallel. If successful, we envision that our project could enable us to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to accelerate this promising new therapeutic class.