Abstract: A composition includes Purified Exosome Product (PEP) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier that includes a surgical glue or tissue adhesive. In some embodiments, the PEP includes spherical or spheroid exosomes having a diameter no greater than 300 nm. In some embodiments, the PEP includes from 1% to 20% CD63? exosomes and from 80% to 99% CD63+ exosomes. In some embodiments, the PEP includes at least 50% CD63? exosomes. The composition may be applied to injured peripheral nervous tissue to promote growth of peripheral nervous tissue and/or treat the injured peripheral nervous tissue. The peripheral nervous tissue may be autologous or may be allogeneic.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for identifying and/or treating a mammal (e.g., a human) having, or at risk of developing, heart failure (e.g., inherited heart failure). For example, methods and materials for identifying a mammal (e.g., a human) having, or at risk of developing, heart failure (e.g., inherited heart failure) by detecting the presence of a mutation in both copies of a KCNJ11 gene present in the mammal (e.g., a human) are provided. Methods and materials for treating a mammal (e.g., a human) identified as having, or as being at risk of developing, heart failure (e.g., inherited heart failure) also are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk for experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCT) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: Preparations of exosomes and/or Purified Exosome Product (PEP) include antioxidant proteins and antiviral proteins. Compositions that include exosomes and/or PEP can be used to treat subject having, or at risk of having, a condition or tissue damage caused, at least in part, by oxidative stress. Also, compositions that include exosomes and/or PEP can be used to treat subject having, or at risk of having, a viral infection.

Abstract: A composition for delivering a biologic to a subject generally includes a particulate substrate and an mRNA encapsulated by the particulate substrate. In some cases, the mRNA bay be indirectly attached to the particulate substrate. The mRNA encodes at least one therapeutic polypeptide. The composition may be delivered to a tissue of a subject to provide a therapeutic benefit to the tissue.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for making and using cardiopoetic stem cells. For example, methods and materials for delivering one or more nucleic acids (e.g., one or more RNAs) encoding one or more early mesodermal transcription factors to a stem cell to generate a cardiopoetic stem cell are provided.

Abstract: A circular RNA molecule generally includes at least one coding region and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) operably linked to the coding region. The RNA may be more resistant to digestion by an RNA endonuclease that a linear form of the circular RNA. In another aspect, a polynucleotide generally includes a transcription unit and a promoter operably linked to the transcription unit. The transcription unit includes a circularizing element, at least one coding region and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) operably linked to the coding region. When transcribed by a cell, the transcribed RNA forms a circular RNA molecule.

Abstract: An extracellular vesicle includes an exogenous therapeutic component. The exogenous therapeutic component can include a therapeutic polypeptide, a polynucleotide that encodes a therapeutic polypeptide, a therapeutic nucleic acid, or a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the extracellular vesicle includes an exosome or purified exosome product (PEP).

Abstract: A platform for introducing a heterologous polynucleotide into a cell so that the cell can express the transcription product of the heterologous polynucleotide includes compositions and methods. The compositions generally include an encapsulating agent and a polynucleotide encapsulated with the encapsulating agent. The encapsulating agent can include a metallic nanoparticle. The polynucleotide includes at least one modification to inhibit degradation of the polynucleotide in cytosol of a cell. In various embodiments, the polynucleotide encodes at least one therapeutic polypeptide or at least one therapeutic RNA. The method includes contacting a composition with a cell and allowing the cell to take up the composition.

Abstract: A purified exosome product includes spherical or spheroid exosomes with a diameter no greater than 250 nm. In some embodiments, the purified exosome product has a moisture content of no more than 10%. The purified exosome product can be reconstituted to prepare an artificial blood product.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk for experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and materials for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCT) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: A method of delivering exosomes and other micro vesicles to a biological target includes the steps of 1) providing blood, (2) separating plasma from the provided blood, and (3) separating the solution with the exosomes therefrom, (4) encapsulating the exosomes, and (5) delivering the exosomes. The step of encapsulation may be accomplished by water bead process, alginate bead process, spray drying bead formation, or plating. The biological target may be a human or animal heart, bone/joint, wound or skin. A method of encapsulating an exosome, a method of using an encapsulated exosome, compositions including encapsulated exosomes, and an encapsulated exosome per se are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embolic protection devices can be used to enhance the treatment of heart conditions such as, but not limited to, heart failure and aortic valve stenosis. For example, this document describes percutaneously-deployable intravascular embolic protection devices and methods for their use. The embolic protection devices can be used to capture and remove embolic materials that could otherwise cause adverse patient effects.

Abstract: A composition for delivering a biologic to a subject generally includes a particulate substrate and an mRNA encapsulated by the particulate substrate. In some cases, the mRNA bay be indirectly attached to the particulate substrate. The mRNA encodes at least one therapeutic polypeptide. The composition may be delivered to a tissue of a subject to provide a therapeutic benefit to the tissue.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are provided.

Abstract: This document relates to compositions containing cardiogenic factors, to methods to obtain cells by culturing initial cells in the presence of such factors; and methods of administering the obtained cells to heart tissue.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. For example, methods and materials for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event as well as methods and material for treating patients at risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event (e.g., patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)) are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials relating to cardiac cells. For example, this document provides methods and materials that can be used to obtain cells having the ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Such cells can be used to repair damaged heart tissue. For example, cells having the ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes can be used to repair or regenerate heart tissue in patients with a cardiac condition (e.g., ischemic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, or heart failure).