Exo-Fect Exosome Transfection Kit

Product Description

Create novel "FedExosomes"

Exo-Fect is a nucleic acid transfer agent that enables the transfection of nucleic acids directly into isolated exosomes. The transfected mRNA or even plasmid DNA can then be shuttled into target cells via the transfected exosome vesicles. Simply combine isolated exosomes with Exo-Fect and the nucleic acid of your choice to generate exosome delivery vehicles. The protocol takes less than an hour and is highly efficient at placing nucleic acids into exosomes for transport. All Exo-Fect kits come with a Texas-Red labeled positive control, non-targeting siRNA to confirm exosome transfections. The term "FedExosomes" was coined by Dr. Michelle E. Marcus and Dr. Joshua N. Leonard in their article, "FedExosomes: Engineering Therapeutic Biological Nanoparticles that Truly Deliver" published in Pharmaceuticals (Basel), May 2013; 6(5): 659-680.

Exo-Fect efficiently loads mRNAs and DNA plasmids into exosomes for delivery to recipient cells

Figure 1. Exo-Fect loaded exosomes deliver mRNA and plasmid DNA into recipient cells.

ExoFect Kits also work with larger nucleic acids, like mRNAs and plasmids. (Left panels) We used Exo-Fect to transfect 1 µg of an mRNA encoding RFP into exosomes. These exosomes were then added to HEK293 cells and imaged for RFP protein production after 24 hours. (Right panels) We used Exo-Fect to transfect 5 µg of plasmid DNA encoding a GFP gene into exosomes, and then added the plasmid-loaded exosomes to HEK293 cells. The cells were imaged for GFP protein presence after 48 hours. The appearance of RFP signal (mRNA cargo) and GFP signal (plasmid cargo) in recipient cells indicates successful cargo delivery.

Exo-Fect efficiently loads small molecules into exosomes for delivery to recipient cells

Figure 2. Exo-Fect can even be used to transfect small molecules into exosomes. We loaded cumate into exosomes using Exo-Fect, and then added loaded exosomes to cells containing a cumate-inducible GFP reporter construct. Only cumate-containing exosomes were able to induce GFP expression in recipient cells, indicating successful delivery of cumate.