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Delivery of Functional Small RNAs via Extracellular Vesicles In Vitro and In Vivo

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RNA Interference and CRISPR Technologies

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2115))

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally generated nanovesicles which potentially mediate the intercellular communication and interorgan crosstalk. EVs have recently gained significant interest as a promising material for delivery of therapeutics. Small RNAs, including small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), provide a great therapeutic strategy for treating human diseases. However, it remains a challenge to deliver unconjugated small RNAs to the target tissue or cells. The delivery of small RNAs in an EV-encapsulating manner has a number of advantages, such as enhancing the concentration of small RNAs, improving the uptake of small RNAs by the recipient cells, and potentially achieving a cell-specific delivery. In this chapter, a protocol is provided for EV preparation and loading with small RNAs. Additionally, a detailed experimental protocol for tracking and validating small RNA delivery into the lungs is described. Overall, the described protocols are valuable for delivering functional small RNAs both in vitro and in vivo.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R33 AI121644, R01 GM111313, R01 GM127596, Wing Tat Lee award (all to Y.J.), by NIH grant K99HL141685 (to D.Z.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Duo Zhang, Heedoo Lee & Yang Jin

Authors
  1. Duo Zhang
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  2. Heedoo Lee
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  3. Yang Jin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yang Jin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway

    Mouldy Sioud

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Zhang, D., Lee, H., Jin, Y. (2020). Delivery of Functional Small RNAs via Extracellular Vesicles In Vitro and In Vivo. In: Sioud, M. (eds) RNA Interference and CRISPR Technologies. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2115. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0290-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0290-4_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0289-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0290-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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