COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR NUCLEIC ACID AND/OR PROTEIN PAYLOAD DELIVERY

Info

Publication number: 20180179553
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 14, 2017
Publication Date: Jun 28, 2018
Inventors: Andre Ronald Watson (San Francisco, CA), Christian Foster (Oakland, CA)
Application Number: 15/842,829

Abstract

Provided are methods and compositions for nanoparticle delivery of payloads (e.g., nucleic acid and/or protein payloads) to cells. In some embodiments, a subject nanoparticle includes a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core, where the core includes (i) an anionic polymer composition; (ii) a cationic polymer composition; (iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and (iv) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload; and where: (a) the anionic polymer composition includes polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, and/or (b) the cationic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid. In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of an anionic and/or cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to the polymers of L-isomers, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.

Description

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/517,346, filed Jun. 9, 2017, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/443,567, filed Jan. 6, 2017, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/443,522, filed Jan. 6, 2017, and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/434,344, filed Dec. 14, 2016, all of which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF SEQUENCE LISTING PROVIDED AS A TEXT FILE

A Sequence Listing is provided herewith as a text file, “LGDL-004_SeqList_ST25.bd” created on Dec. 14, 2017 and having a size of 128 KB. The contents of the text file are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

INTRODUCTION

Effective introduction of nucleic acid and/or protein payloads into cells, e.g., for genome editing and/or altering gene expression, is an important objective for therapeutic strategies and for research methodologies. To achieve effective introduction of a payload, it is important to appropriately package the payload to protect it from degradation prior to cellular entry, to permit entry into cells, to direct the payload away from the lysosomal degradation pathway, and to direct delivery to the appropriate subcellular compartment. In addition, the timing of release of a payload from the packaging following cellular entry can influence the effectiveness of the payload.

Many nanoparticle-based technologies for payload delivery offer low levels of cellular transfection and limited effectiveness upon transfection. There is a need for compositions and methods that enhance effectiveness of payload delivery to cells.

SUMMARY

Provided are compositions and methods for delivery of payloads (e.g., nucleic acid and/or protein payloads) to cells (e.g., nanoparticle, viral, and non-viral delivery of payloads to cells). Nanoparticles designed for serum stability, targeted delivery to specific cell types, biomimicry of endogenous nucleic acid packaging via histones and nucleosome-like branched polymer, compartment-specific unpackaging within the nucleus, variable timed release kinetics, and methods of use thereof, are provided. In some embodiments, a subject nanoparticle includes a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core (e.g., providing for temporary stabilization of the core during cell delivery), where the core includes (i) an anionic polymer composition; (ii) a cationic polymer composition; (iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and (iv) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload; and where: (a) the anionic polymer composition includes polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, and/or (b) the cationic polymer composition includes polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid. In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to the polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10. In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.

In some cases, a nanoparticle of the disclosure includes a surface coat, which surrounds the sheddable layer. The surface coat can include a targeting ligand that provides for targeted binding to a surface molecule of a target cell. In some cases, the targeting ligand is conjugated (with or without a linker) to an anchoring domain, e.g., for anchoring the targeting ligand to the sheddable layer of the nanoparticle.

Also provided are multi-layered nanoparticles that include a first payload (e.g., a DNA donor template) as part of the core, where the core is surrounded by a first sheddable layer, the first sheddable layer is surrounded by an intermediate layer that includes a second payload (e.g., a gene editing tool), and the intermediate layer is surrounded by a second sheddable layer. In some cases the second sheddable layer is coated with a surface coat (e.g., a surface coat that includes a targeting ligand.

Also provided are nanoparticle formulations including two or more nanoparticles in which the payload of a first nanoparticle includes a donor DNA template and the payload of a second nanoparticle includes a gene editing tool (e.g., (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; (ii) a DNA encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; (iii) a DNA and/or RNA encoding a programmable gene editing protein; and/or (iv) a programmable gene editing protein).

Also provided are methods of co-delivery of multiple payloads (e.g., two or more payloads) as part of the same package. For example, provided are method of delivering a nucleic acid and/or protein payload to a target cell, where the method includes contacting a eukaryotic target cell with a viral or non-viral delivery vehicle that includes (a) a gene editing tool; and (b) a nucleic acid or protein agent that induces proliferation of and/or biases differentiation of the target cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures.

FIG. 1 depicts results from a fluorimetric assay testing various parameters (e.g., cation:anion charge ratio) for condensation of nucleic acid payloads. The result showed, e.g., that a charge ratio of 2 works well for the condensation of plasmids encoding Cas9 and guide RNA molecules.

FIG. 2 depicts particle size and zeta potential distributions for nanoparticle cores that were generated. The data were obtained using a Particle Metrix ZetaView NTA instrument.

Nanoparticle Size (peak) was 128.8 nm, and Zeta potential (peak) was +10.5 mV (100%).

FIG. 3 depicts particle size and zeta potential distributions for stabilized nanoparticle cores (cores encapsulated by a sheddable layer). The data were obtained using a Particle Metrix ZetaView NTA instrument. The stabilized cores had a size of 110.6 nm and zeta potential of −42.1 mV (95%).

FIG. 4 depicts data showing that nanoparticles with an outer shell (outer coat) that included RVG9R, which is Rabies Virus Glycoprotein (RVG) fused to a 9-Arg peptide sequence (as a cationic anchoring domain), had a characteristic particle size of 115.8 nm and a zeta potential of −3.1 mV (100%). Optimal outer coating yields a transition of zeta potential from −50 mV (for the silica coated core) to between 0 and −10 mV (after adding the outer shell).

FIG. 5 depicts results from cell culture experiments in which different nanoparticles were used to deliver nucleic acid payloads. The figure compares nanoparticles that include poly(D-glutamic Acid) as part of the core (in addition to poly(L-arginine)) to those that do not. The three rows represent replicates.

FIG. 6 (panels A-D) depicts microscopy images of neural stem cells that were contacted with nanoparticles that included CRISPR/Cas9 expression vectors as the nucleic acid payload. The core of the nanoparticles included poly(L-arginine) (a cationic polymer) tagged with a fluorophore (FITC). The endosome and nucleus were stained using Lysotracker (Red) and Hoescht 3342 (blue) respectively. Nanoparticles (and Lipofectamine 3000 as a control) were introduced to cells 16 hours after seeding. Cells were incubated with Hoescht 3342 and Lysotracker Red prior to imaging. Panels C-D present bar graphs that quantify colocalization of the nanoparticle core with the nucleus and with endosomes.

FIG. 7 (panels A-B) depicts microscopy images of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that were transfected with nanoparticles that included mRNA encoding GFP as a nucleic acid payload. The images demonstrate that mRNA expression can be extended to 16 days with nanoparticles that include a core with, at a defined ratio, a polymer of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and a polymer of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid. In this case, use of a nanoparticle core with a 2:1 ratio of poly(D-Glutamic acid) to poly(L-Glutamic Acid) resulted in maximum expression at 16 days (panel A=4 days; panel B=16 days).

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic representation of an example embodiment of a subject nanoparticle.

FIG. 9 depicts a schematic representation of an example embodiment of a subject nanoparticle. In this case, the nanoparticle is multi-layered, having a core (which includes a first payload) surrounded by a first sheddable layer, which is surrounded by an intermediate layer (which includes an additional payload), which is surrounded by a second sheddable layer, which is surface coated (i.e., includes an outer shell).

FIG. 10 (panels A-B) depicts schematic representations of example configurations of a delivery molecule of a surface coat of a subject nanoparticle. The delivery molecules depicted include a targeting ligand conjugated to an anchoring domain that is interacting electrostatically with a sheddable layer of a nanoparticle. Note that the targeting ligand can be conjugated at the N- or C-terminus (left of each panel), but can also be conjugated at an internal position (right of each panel). The molecules in panel A include a linker while those in panel B do not.

FIG. 11 provides a schematic diagram of a family B GPCR, highlighting separate domains to be considered when evaluating a targeting ligand, e.g., for binding to allosteric/affinity N-terminal domains and orthosteric endosomal-sorting/signaling domains. (Figure is adapted from Siu, Fai Yiu, et al., Nature 499.7459 (2013): 444-449).

FIG. 12 provides an example of identifying an internal amino acid position for insertion and/or substitution (e.g., with a cysteine residue) for a targeting ligand such that affinity is maintained and the targeting ligand engages long endosomal recycling pathways that promote nucleic acid release and limit nucleic acid degradation. In this case, the targeting ligand is exendin-4 and amino acid positions 10, 11, and 12 were identified as sites for possible insertion and/or substitution (e.g., with a cysteine residue, e.g., an S11C mutation). The figure shows an alignment of simulated Exendin-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) to known crystal structures of glucagon-GCGR (4ERS) and GLP1-GLP1R-ECD complex (PDB: 3IOL), and PDB renderings that were rotated in 3-dimensional space.

FIG. 13 shows a tbFGF fragment as part of a ternary FGF2-FGFR1-HEPARIN complex (1fq9 on PDB). CKNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKS (highlighted) (SEQ ID NO: 43) was determined to be important for affinity to FGFR1.

FIG. 14 provides an alignment and PDB 3D rendering used to determine that HFKDPK (SEQ ID NO: 5) is a peptide that can be used for ligand-receptor orthosteric activity and affinity.

FIG. 15 provides an alignment and PDB 3D rendering used to determine that LESNNYNT (SEQ ID NO: 6) is a peptide that can be used for ligand-receptor orthosteric activity and affinity.

FIG. 16 provides non-limiting examples nuclear localization signals (NLSs) that can be used as part of a subject nanoparticle (e.g., as an NLS-containing peptide; as part of/conjugated to an NLS-containing peptide, an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer, and/or a cationic polypeptide; and the like). The figure is adapted from Kosugi et al., J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan. 2; 284(1):478-85. [Class 1, top to bottom (SEQ ID NOs: 201-221); Class 2, top to bottom (SEQ ID NOs: 222-224); Class 4, top to bottom (SEQ ID NOs: 225-230); Class 3, top to bottom (SEQ ID NOs: 231-245); Class 5, top to bottom (SEQ ID NOs: 246-264)].

FIG. 17 (panels A-B) depicts schematic representations of the mouse (panel A) and human (panel B) hematopoietic cell lineage, and markers that have been identified for various cells within the lineage.

FIG. 18 (panels A-B) depicts schematic representations of miRNA (panel A) and protein (panel B) factors that can be used to influence cell differentiation and/or proliferation FIG. 19 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: VWF-EGFP pDNA with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) Binding Site.

FIG. 20 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: NLS-CAS9-NLS RNP complexed to HBB gRNA.

FIG. 21 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: HBB gRNA.

FIG. 22 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: HBB gRNA.

FIG. 23 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: NLS-CAS9-NLS RNP complexed to HBB gRNA.

FIG. 24 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: VWF-EGFP pDNA with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) Binding Site.

FIG. 25 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: VWF-EGFP pDNA with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) Binding Site.

FIG. 26 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: RNP of NLS-CAS9-NLS with HBB gRNA.

FIG. 27 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: VWF-EGFP pDNA with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) Binding Site.

FIG. 28 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: Cy5_EGFP mRNA.

FIG. 29 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: BLOCK-iT Alexa Fluor 555 siRNA.

FIG. 30 provides condensation curves on nanoparticles with payload: NLS-Cas9-EGFP RNP complexed to HBB gRNA.

FIG. 31 provides data collected when using nanoparticles with Alexa 555 Block-IT siRNA as payload.

FIG. 32 provides data collected when using nanoparticles with ribonuclear protein (RNP) formed by NLS-Cas9-GFP and HBB guide RNA as payload.

FIG. 33 provides data collected when using nanoparticles with Cy5 EGFP mRNA as payload.

FIG. 34 provides data collected when using nanoparticles with payload: VWF-EGFP pDNA with Cy5 tagged peptide nucleic acid (PNA) Binding Site.

FIG. 35 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity decrease by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100 and by further addition of the cationic polypeptide to RNP.

FIG. 36 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100 and by further addition of the cationic polypeptide to siRNA and SYBR Gold.

FIG. 37 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide histone peptide H2A followed by CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C and by further addition of PLE100 to RNP of NLS-Cas9-EGFP with HBB gRNA and SYBR Gold.

FIG. 38 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide histone peptide H4 together with CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C and by further addition of PLE100 to RNP of NLS-Cas9-EGFP with HBB gRNA and SYBR Gold.

FIG. 39 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C fand by further addition of PLE100 to mRNA.

FIG. 40 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition histone H4 and by further addition of CD45-mSiglec-(4GS)2_9R_c and PLE100 to mRNA.

FIG. 41 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition histone H2A and by further addition of CD45-mSiglec-(4GS)2_9R_c and PLE100 to mRNA.

FIG. 42 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay from intercalation with VWF_EGFP pDNA showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100.

FIG. 43 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay from intercalation with VWF_EGFP pDNA showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of histone H4, followed by cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100.

FIG. 44 provides data from a SYBR Gold exclusion assay from intercalation with VWF_EGFP pDNA showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of histone H4, followed by cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100.

FIG. 45 (panels A-C) provide data related to polyplex size distribution, silica coated size and zeta potential distribution, and ligand coated/functionalized particle size and zeta potential distribution.

FIG. 46 provides data related to branched histone peptide conjugate pilot particles.

FIG. 47 provides data related to project HSC.001.001 (see Table 5).

FIG. 48 provides data related to project HSC.001.002 (see Table 5).

FIG. 49 provides data related to project HSC.002.01 (Targeting Ligand—ESELLg_mESEL_(4GS)2_9R_N) (see Table 5).

FIG. 50 provides data related to project HSC.002.02 (Targeting Ligand—ESELLg_mESEL_(4GS)2_9R_C) (see Table 5).

FIG. 51 provides data related to project HSC.002.03 (Targeting Ligand—CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C) (see Table 5).

FIG. 52 provides data related to project HSC.002.04 (Targeting Ligand—Cy5mRNA-SiO2-PEG) (see Table 5).

FIG. 53 provides data related to project BLOOD.002.88 (Targeting Ligand—CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C) (see Table 5).

FIG. 54 provides data related to project BLOOD.002.89 (Targeting Ligand—CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C) (see Table 5).

FIG. 55 provides data related to project BLOOD.002.90 (see Table 5).

FIG. 56 provides data related to project BLOOD.002.91 (PLR50) (see Table 5).

FIG. 57 provides data related to project BLOOD.002.92 (Targeting Ligand—CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C) (see Table 5).

FIG. 58 provides data related to project TCELL.001.1 (see Table 5).

FIG. 59 provides data related to project TCELL.001.3 (see Table 5).

FIG. 60 provides data related to project TCELL.001.13 (see Table 5).

FIG. 61 provides data related to project TCELL.001.14 (see Table 5).

FIG. 62 provides data related to project TCELL.001.16 (see Table 5).

FIG. 63 provides data related to project TCELL.001.18 (see Table 5).

FIG. 64 provides data related to project TCELL.001.28 (see Table 5).

FIG. 65 provides data related to project TCELL.001.29 (see Table 5).

FIG. 66 provides data related to project TCELL.001.31 (see Table 5).

FIG. 67 provides data related to project TCELL.001.33 (see Table 5).

FIG. 68 provides data related to project TCELL.001.43 (see Table 5).

FIG. 69 provides data related to project TCELL.001.44 (see Table 5).

FIG. 70 provides data related to project TCELL.001.46 (see Table 5).

FIG. 71 provides data related to project TCELL.001.48 (see Table 5).

FIG. 72 provides data related to project TCELL.001.58 (see Table 5).

FIG. 73 provides data related to project TCELL.001.59 (see Table 5).

FIG. 74 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.82 (see Table 5).

FIG. 75 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.83 (see Table 5).

FIG. 76 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.84 (see Table 5).

FIG. 77 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.85 (see Table 5).

FIG. 78 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.86 (see Table 5).

FIG. 79 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.76 (see Table 5).

FIG. 80 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.77 (see Table 5).

FIG. 81 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.78 (see Table 5).

FIG. 82 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.79 (see Table 5).

FIG. 83 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.80 (see Table 5).

FIG. 84 provides data related to untransfected controls for CynoBM.002 samples.

FIG. 85 provides data related to lipofectamine CRISPRMAX delivery of NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs.

FIG. 86 provides data related to project CynoBM.002 RNP-Only controls (see Table 5).

FIG. 87 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.82 (see Table 5).

FIG. 88 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.83 (see Table 5).

FIG. 89 provides data related to project CYNOBM.002.84 (see Table 5).

FIG. 90 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.85 (see Table 5).

FIG. 91 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.86 (see Table 5).

FIG. 92 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.75 (see Table 5).

FIG. 93 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.76 (see Table 5).

FIG. 94 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.77 (see Table 5).

FIG. 95 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.78 (see Table 5).

FIG. 96 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.79 (see Table 5).

FIG. 97 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.80 (see Table 5).

FIG. 98 provides data related to project CynoBM.002.81 (see Table 5).

FIG. 99 provides qualitative images of CynoBM.002 RNP-Only controls.

FIG. 100 provides data related to project HSC.004 (see Table 5) high-content screening.

FIG. 101 provides data related to project TCELL.001 (see Table 5) high-content screening.

FIG. 102 provides data related to project TCELL.001 (see Table 5) lipofectamine CRISPRMAX controls.

FIG. 103 provides data related to project TCell.001.1 (see Table 5).

FIG. 104 provides data related to project TCell.001.2 (see Table 5).

FIG. 105 provides data related to project TCell.001.3 (see Table 5).

FIG. 106 provides data related to project TCell.001.4 (see Table 5).

FIG. 107 provides data related to project TCell.001.5 (see Table 5).

FIG. 108 provides data related to project TCell.001.6 (see Table 5).

FIG. 109 provides data related to project TCell.001.7 (see Table 5).

FIG. 110 provides data related to project TCell.001.8 (see Table 5).

FIG. 111 provides data related to project TCell.001.9 (see Table 5).

FIG. 112 provides data related to project TCell.001.10 (see Table 5).

FIG. 113 provides data related to project TCell.001.11 (see Table 5).

FIG. 114 provides data related to project TCell.001.12 (see Table 5).

FIG. 115 provides data related to project TCell.001.13 (see Table 5).

FIG. 116 provides data related to project TCell.001.14 (see Table 5).

FIG. 117 provides data related to project TCell.001.15 (see Table 5).

FIG. 118 provides data related to negative controls for project TCell.001 (see Table 5).

FIG. 119 provides data related to project Blood.002 (see Table 5).

FIG. 120 provides data related to project TCell.001.27 (see Table 5).

FIG. 121 depicts charge density plots of CRISPR RNP (a possible payload), which allows for determining whether an anionic or cationic peptide/material should be added to form a stable charged layer on the protein surface.

FIG. 122 depicts charge density plots of Sleeping Beauty Transposons (a possible payload), which allows for determining whether an anionic or cationic peptide/material should be added to form a stable charged layer on the protein surface.

FIG. 123 depicts (1) Exemplary anionic peptides (9-10 amino acids long, approximately to scale to 10 nm diameter CRISPR RNP) anchoring to cationic sites on the CRISPR RNP surface prior to (2) addition of cationic anchors as (2a) anchor-linker-ligands or standalone cationic anchors, with or without addition of (2b) subsequent multilayering chemistries, co-delivery of multiple nucleic acid or charged therapeutic agents, or layer stabilization through cross-linking.

FIG. 124 depicts examples of orders of addition and electrostatic matrix compositions based on core templates, which may include Cas9 RNP or any homogenously or zwitterionically charged surface.

FIG. 125 provides a modeled structure of IL2 bound to IL2R.

FIG. 126 provides a modeled structure of single chain CD3 antibody fragments.

FIG. 127 provides a modeled structure of sialoadhesin N-terminal in complex with N-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac).

FIG. 128 provides a modeled structure of Stem Cell Factor (SCF).

FIG. 129 provides example images generated during rational design of a cKit Receptor Fragment.

FIG. 130 provides example images generated during rational design of a cKit Receptor Fragment.

FIG. 131 provides example images generated during rational design of a cKit Receptor Fragment.

FIG. 132 provides circular dichroism data from analyzing the rationally designed cKit Receptor Fragment.

FIG. 133 depicts modeling of the stabilized conformation of the rationally designed cKit Receptor Fragment.

FIG. 134 depicts an example of a branched histone structure in which HTPs are conjugated to the side chains of a cationic polymer backbone. The polymer on the right represents the precursor backbone molecule and the molecule on the left is an example of a segment of a branched structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As summarized above, provided are compositions and methods for nanoparticle delivery of payloads (e.g., nucleic acid and/or protein payloads) to cells. In some embodiments, a subject nanoparticle includes a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core (e.g., providing for temporary stabilization of the core during cell delivery), where the core includes (i) an anionic polymer composition; (ii) a cationic polymer composition; (iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and (iv) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload; and where: (a) the anionic polymer composition includes polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, and/or (b) the cationic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid. In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to the polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10. In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.

In some cases, a nanoparticle of the disclosure includes a surface coat, which surrounds the sheddable layer. The surface coat can include a targeting ligand that provides for targeted binding to a surface molecule of a target cell. In some cases, the targeting ligand is conjugated (with or without a linker) to an anchoring domain, e.g., for anchoring the targeting ligand to the sheddable layer of the nanoparticle.

Also provided are multi-layered nanoparticles the include a first payload (e.g., a DNA donor template) as part of the core, where the core is surrounded by a first sheddable layer, the first sheddable layer is surrounded by an intermediate layer that includes a second payload (e.g., a gene editing tool), and the intermediate layer is surround by a second sheddable layer. In some cases the second sheddable layer is coated with a surface coat (e.g., a surface coat that includes a targeting ligand.

Also provided are nanoparticle formulations including two or more nanoparticles in which the payload of a first nanoparticle includes a donor DNA template and the payload of a second nanoparticle includes a gene editing tool (e.g., (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; (ii) a DNA encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; (iii) a DNA and/or RNA encoding a programmable gene editing protein; and/or (iv) a programmable gene editing protein).

Before the present methods and compositions are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methods or compositions described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller range between any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in the range, and each range where either, neither or both limits are included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, some potential and preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. It is understood that the present disclosure supersedes any disclosure of an incorporated publication to the extent there is a contradiction.

As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order that is logically possible.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a cell” includes a plurality of such cells and reference to “the endonuclease” includes reference to one or more endonucleases and equivalents thereof, known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any element, e.g., any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

Methods and Compositions

Provided are methods and compositions for delivering a nucleic acid, protein, and/or ribonucleoprotein payload to a cell. In some embodiments a subject nanoparticle includes (i) a core that is encapsulated by (ii) a sheddable layer, and the sheddable layer is in some cases surrounded by (iii) a surface coat, which can include a targeting ligand. In addition to the description below, international patent application publication number WO2015042585 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

i. Nanoparticle Core

The core of a subject nanoparticle includes an anionic polymer composition (e.g., poly(glutamic acid)), a cationic polymer composition (e.g., poly(arginine), a cationic polypeptide composition (e.g., a histone tail peptide), and a payload (e.g., nucleic acid and/or protein payload). In some cases the core is generated by condensation of a cationic amino acid polymer and payload in the presence of an anionic amino acid polymer (and in some cases in the presence of a cationic polypeptide of a cationic polypeptide composition). In some embodiments, condensation of the components that make up the core can mediate increased transfection efficiency compared to conjugates of cationic polymers with a payload. Inclusion of an anionic polymer in a nanoparticle core may prolong the duration of intracellular residence of the nanoparticle and release of payload.

For the cationic and anionic polymer compositions of the core, ratios of D-isomer polymers to L-isomer polymers can be controlled in order to control the timed release of payload, where increased ration of D-isomer polymers to L-isomer polymers leads to increased stability (reduced payload release rate), which for example can enable longer lasting gene expression from a payload delivered by a subject nanoparticle. In some cases modifying the ratio of D-to-L isomer polypeptides within the nanoparticle core can cause gene expression profiles (e.g., expression of a protein encoded by a payload molecule) to be on the order of from 1-90 days (e.g. from 1-80, 1-70, 1-60, 1-50, 1-40, 1-30, 1-25, 1-20, 1-15, 1-10, 3-90, 3-80, 3-70, 3-60, 3-50, 3-40, 3-30, 3-25, 3-20, 3-15, 3-10, 5-90, 5-80, 5-70, 5-60, 5-50, 5-40, 5-30, 5-25, 5-20, 5-15, or 5-10 days). The control of payload release (e.g., when delivering a gene editing tool), can be particularly effective for performing genomic edits e.g., in some cases where homology-directed repair is desired.

In some embodiments, a nanoparticle includes a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core, where the core includes: (a) an anionic polymer composition; (b) a cationic polymer composition; (c) a cationic polypeptide composition; and (d) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload, where one of (a) and (b) includes a D-isomer polymer of an amino acid, and the other of (a) and (b) includes an L-isomer polymer of an amino acid, and where the ratio of the D-isomer polymer to the L-isomer polymer is in a range of from 10:1 to 1.5:1 (e.g., from 8:1 to 1.5:1, 6:1 to 1.5:1, 5:1 to 1.5:1, 4:1 to 1.5:1, 3:1 to 1.5:1, 2:1 to 1.5:1, 10:1 to 2:1; 8:1 to 2:1, 6:1 to 2:1, 5:1 to 2:1, 10:1 to 3:1; 8:1 to 3:1, 6:1 to 3:1, 5:1 to 3:1, 10:1 to 4:1; 4:1 to 2:1, 6:1 to 4:1, or 10:1 to 5:1), or from 1:1.5 to 1:10 (e.g., from 1:1.5 to 1:8, 1:1.5 to 1:6, 1:1.5 to 1:5, 1:1.5 to 1:4, 1:1.5 to 1:3, 1:1.5 to 1:2, 1:2 to 1:10, 1:2 to 1:8, 1:2 to 1:6, 1:2 to 1:5, 1:2 to 1:4, 1:2 to 1:3, 1:3 to 1:10, 1:3 to 1:8, 1:3 to 1:6, 1:3 to 1:5, 1:4 to 1:10, 1:4 to 1:8, 1:4 to 1:6, or 1:5 to 1:10). In some such cases, the ratio of the D-isomer polymer to the L-isomer polymer not 1:1. In some such cases, the anionic polymer composition includes an anionic polymer selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA), where (optionally) the cationic polymer composition can include a cationic polymer selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline). In some cases the cationic polymer composition comprises a cationic polymer selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline), where (optionally) the anionic polymer composition can include an anionic polymer selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA).

In some embodiments, a nanoparticle includes a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core, where the core includes: (i) an anionic polymer composition; (ii) a cationic polymer composition; (iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and (iv) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload, wherein (a) said anionic polymer composition includes polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid; and/or (b) said cationic polymer composition includes polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid. In some such cases, the anionic polymer composition comprises a first anionic polymer selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA); and comprises a second anionic polymer selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA). In some cases, the cationic polymer composition comprises a first cationic polymer selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline); and comprises a second cationic polymer selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline). In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10. In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.

Susceptibility of Nanoparticle Components

In some embodiments, timing of payload release can be controlled by selecting particular types of proteins, e.g., as part of the core (e.g., part of a cationic polypeptide composition, part of a cationic polymer composition, and/or part of an anionic polymer composition). For example, it may be desirable to delay payload release for a particular range of time, or until the payload is present at a particular cellular location (e.g., cytosol, nucleus, lysosome, endosome) or under a particular condition (e.g., low pH, high pH, etc.). As such, in some cases a protein is used (e.g., as part of the core) that is susceptible to a specific protein activity (e.g., enzymatic activity), e.g., is a substrate for a specific protein activity (e.g., enzymatic activity), and this is in contrast to being susceptible to general ubiquitous cellular machinery, e.g., general degradation machinery. A protein that is susceptible to a specific protein activity is referred to herein as an ‘enzymatically susceptible protein’ (ESP). Illustrative examples of ESPs include but are not limited to: (i) proteins that are substrates for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity (an example of an extracellular activity), e.g., a protein that includes a motif recognized by an MMP; (ii) proteins that are substrates for cathepsin activity (an example of an intracellular endosomal activity), e.g., a protein that includes a motif recognized by a cathepsin; and (iii) proteins such as histone tails peptides (HTPs) that are substrates for methyltransferase and/or acetyltransferase activity (an example of an intracellular nuclear activity), e.g., a protein that includes a motif that can be enzymatically methylated/de-methylated and/or a motif that can be enzymatically acetylated/de-acetylated. For example, in some cases a nucleic acid payload is condensed with a protein (such as a histone tails peptide) that is a substrate for acetyltransferase activity, and acetylation of the protein causes the protein to release the payload—as such, one can exercise control over payload release by choosing to use a protein that is more or less susceptible to acetylation.

In some cases, a core of a subject nanoparticle includes an enzymatically neutral polypeptide (ENP), which is a polypeptide homopolymer (i.e., a protein having a repeat sequence) where the polypeptide does not have a particular activity and is neutral. For example, unlike NLS sequences and HTPs, both of which have a particular activity, ENPs do not.

In some cases, a core of a subject nanoparticle includes a enzymatically protected polypeptide (EPP), which is a protein that is resistant to enzymatic activity. Examples of PPs include but are not limited to: (i) polypeptides that include D-isomer amino acids (e.g., D-isomer polymers), which can resist proteolytic degradation; and (ii) self-sheltering domains such as a polyglutamine repeat domains (e.g., QQQQQQQQQQ) (SEQ ID NO: 170).

By controlling the relative amounts of susceptible proteins (ESPs), neutral proteins (ENPs), and protected proteins (EPPs), that are part of a subject nanoparticle (e.g., part of the nanoparticle core), one can control the release of payload. For example, use of more ESPs can in general lead to quicker release of payload than use of more EPPs. In addition, use of more ESPs can in general lead to release of payload that depends upon a particular set of conditions/circumstances, e.g., conditions/circumstances that lead to activity of proteins (e.g., enzymes) to which the ESP is susceptible.

Anionic Polymer Composition

An anionic polymer composition can include one or more anionic amino acid polymers. For example, in some cases a subject anionic polymer composition includes a polymer selected from: poly(glutamic acid)(PEA), poly(aspartic acid)(PDA), and a combination thereof. In some cases a given anionic amino acid polymer can include a mix of aspartic and glutamic acid residues. Each polymer can be present in the composition as a polymer of L-isomers or D-isomers, where D-isomers are more stable in a target cell because they take longer to degrade. Thus, inclusion of D-isomer poly(amino acids) in the nanoparticle core delays degradation of the core and subsequent payload release. The payload release rate can therefore be controlled and is proportional to the ratio of polymers of D-isomers to polymers of L-isomers, where a higher ratio of D-isomer to L-isomer increases duration of payload release (i.e., decreases release rate). In other words, the relative amounts of D- and L- isomers can modulate the nanoparticle core's timed release kinetics and enzymatic susceptibility to degradation and payload release.

In some cases an anionic polymer composition of a subject nanoparticle includes polymers of D-isomers and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(glutamic acid)(PEA) and poly(aspartic acid)(PDA)). In some cases the D- to L- isomer ratio is in a range of from 10:1-1:10 (e.g., from 8:1-1:10, 6:1-1:10, 4:1-1:10, 3:1-1:10, 2:1-1:10, 1:1-1:10, 10:1-1:8, 8:1-1:8, 6:1-1:8, 4:1-1:8, 3:1-1:8, 2:1-1:8, 1:1-1:8, 10:1-1:6, 8:1-1:6, 6:1-1:6, 4:1-1:6, 3:1-1:6, 2:1-1:6, 1:1-1:6, 10:1-1:4, 8:1-1:4, 6:1-1:4, 4:1-1:4, 3:1-1:4, 2:1-1:4, 1:1-1:4, 10:1-1:3, 8:1-1:3, 6:1-1:3, 4:1-1:3, 3:1-1:3, 2:1-1:3, 1:1-1:3, 10:1-1:2, 8:1-1:2, 6:1-1:2, 4:1-1:2, 3:1-1:2, 2:1-1:2, 1:1-1:2, 10:1-1:1, 8:1-1:1, 6:1-1:1, 4:1-1:1, 3:1-1:1, or 2:1-1:1).

Thus, in some cases an anionic polymer composition includes a first anionic polymer (e.g., amino acid polymer) that is a polymer of D-isomers (e.g., selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA)); and includes a second anionic polymer (e.g., amino acid polymer) that is a polymer of L-isomers (e.g., selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA)). In some cases the ratio of the first anionic polymer (D-isomers) to the second anionic polymer (L-isomers) is in a range of from 10:1-1:10 (e.g., from 8:1-1:10, 6:1-1:10, 4:1-1:10, 3:1-1:10, 2:1-1:10, 1:1-1:10, 10:1-1:8, 8:1-1:8, 6:1-1:8, 4:1-1:8, 3:1-1:8, 2:1-1:8, 1:1-1:8, 10:1-1:6, 8:1-1:6, 6:1-1:6, 4:1-1:6, 3:1-1:6, 2:1-1:6, 1:1-1:6, 10:1-1:4, 8:1-1:4, 6:1-1:4, 4:1-1:4, 3:1-1:4, 2:1-1:4, 1:1-1:4, 10:1-1:3, 8:1-1:3, 6:1-1:3, 4:1-1:3, 3:1-1:3, 2:1-1:3, 1:1-1:3, 10:1-1:2, 8:1-1:2, 6:1-1:2, 4:1-1:2, 3:1-1:2, 2:1-1:2, 1:1-1:2, 10:1-1:1, 8:1-1:1, 6:1-1:1, 4:1-1:1, 3:1-1:1, or 2:1-1:1)

In some embodiments, an anionic polymer composition of a core of a subject nanoparticle includes (e.g., in addition to or in place of any of the foregoing examples of anionic polymers) a glycosaminoglycan, a glycoprotein, a polysaccharide, poly(mannuronic acid), poly(guluronic acid), heparin, heparin sulfate, chondroitin, chondroitin sulfate, keratan, keratan sulfate, aggrecan, poly(glucosamine), or an anionic polymer that comprises any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, an anionic polymer within the core can have a molecular weight in a range of from 1-200 kDa (e.g., from 1-150, 1-100, 1-50, 5-200, 5-150, 5-100, 5-50, 10-200, 10-150, 10-100, 10-50, 15-200, 15-150, 15-100, or 15-50 kDa). As an example, in some cases an anionic polymer includes poly(glutamic acid) with a molecular weight of approximately 15 kDa.

In some cases, an anionic amino acid polymer includes a cysteine residue, which can facilitate conjugation, e.g., to a linker, an NLS, and/or a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP). For example, a cysteine residue can be used for crosslinking (conjugation) via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) and/or amine-reactive chemistry. Thus, in some embodiments an anionic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(glutamic acid) (PEA), poly(aspartic acid) (PDA), poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA), poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA), poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA), poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA)) of an anionic polymer composition includes a cysteine residue. In some cases the anionic amino acid polymer includes cysteine residue on the N- and/or C-terminus. In some cases the anionic amino acid polymer includes an internal cysteine residue.

In some cases, an anionic amino acid polymer includes (and/or is conjugated to) a nuclear localization signal (NLS) (described in more detail below). Thus, in some embodiments an anionic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(glutamic acid) (PEA), poly(aspartic acid) (PDA), poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA), poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA), poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA), poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA)) of an anionic polymer composition includes (and/or is conjugated to) one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more, or four or more) NLSs. In some cases the anionic amino acid polymer includes an NLS on the N- and/or C-terminus. In some cases the anionic amino acid polymer includes an internal NLS.

In some cases, an anionic polymer is added prior to a cationic polymer when generating a subject nanoparticle core.

Cationic Polymer Composition

A cationic polymer composition can include one or more cationic amino acid polymers. For example, in some cases a subject cationic polymer composition includes a polymer selected from: poly(arginine)(PR), poly(lysine)(PK), poly(histidine)(PH), poly(ornithine), poly(citrulline), and a combination thereof. In some cases a given cationic amino acid polymer can include a mix of arginine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, and citrulline residues (in any convenient combination). Each polymer can be present in the composition as a polymer of L-isomers or D-isomers, where D-isomers are more stable in a target cell because they take longer to degrade. Thus, inclusion of D-isomer poly(amino acids) in the nanoparticle core delays degradation of the core and subsequent payload release. The payload release rate can therefore be controlled and is proportional to the ratio of polymers of D-isomers to polymers of L-isomers, where a higher ratio of D-isomer to L-isomer increases duration of payload release (i.e., decreases release rate). In other words, the relative amounts of D- and L- isomers can modulate the nanoparticle core's timed release kinetics and enzymatic susceptibility to degradation and payload release.

In some cases a cationic polymer composition of a subject nanoparticle includes polymers of D-isomers and polymers of L-isomers of an cationic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(arginine)(PR), poly(lysine)(PK), poly(histidine)(PH), poly(ornithine), poly(citrulline)). In some cases the D- to L- isomer ratio is in a range of from 10:1-1:10 (e.g., from 8:1-1:10, 6:1-1:10, 4:1-1:10, 3:1-1:10, 2:1-1:10, 1:1-1:10, 10:1-1:8, 8:1-1:8, 6:1-1:8, 4:1-1:8, 3:1-1:8, 2:1-1:8, 1:1-1:8, 10:1-1:6, 8:1-1:6, 6:1-1:6, 4:1-1:6, 3:1-1:6, 2:1-1:6, 1:1-1:6, 10:1-1:4, 8:1-1:4, 6:1-1:4, 4:1-1:4, 3:1-1:4, 2:1-1:4, 1:1-1:4, 10:1-1:3, 8:1-1:3, 6:1-1:3, 4:1-1:3, 3:1-1:3, 2:1-1:3, 1:1-1:3, 10:1-1:2, 8:1-1:2, 6:1-1:2, 4:1-1:2, 3:1-1:2, 2:1-1:2, 1:1-1:2, 10:1-1:1, 8:1-1:1, 6:1-1:1, 4:1-1:1, 3:1-1:1, or 2:1-1:1).

Thus, in some cases a cationic polymer composition includes a first cationic polymer (e.g., amino acid polymer) that is a polymer of D-isomers (e.g., selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline)); and includes a second cationic polymer (e.g., amino acid polymer) that is a polymer of L-isomers (e.g., selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline)). In some cases the ratio of the first cationic polymer (D-isomers) to the second cationic polymer (L-isomers) is in a range of from 10:1-1:10 (e.g., from 8:1-1:10, 6:1-1:10, 4:1-1:10, 3:1-1:10, 2:1-1:10, 1:1-1:10, 10:1-1:8, 8:1-1:8, 6:1-1:8, 4:1-1:8, 3:1-1:8, 2:1-1:8, 1:1-1:8, 10:1-1:6, 8:1-1:6, 6:1-1:6, 4:1-1:6, 3:1-1:6, 2:1-1:6, 1:1-1:6, 10:1-1:4, 8:1-1:4, 6:1-1:4, 4:1-1:4, 3:1-1:4, 2:1-1:4, 1:1-1:4, 10:1-1:3, 8:1-1:3, 6:1-1:3, 4:1-1:3, 3:1-1:3, 2:1-1:3, 1:1-1:3, 10:1-1:2, 8:1-1:2, 6:1-1:2, 4:1-1:2, 3:1-1:2, 2:1-1:2, 1:1-1:2, 10:1-1:1, 8:1-1:1, 6:1-1:1, 4:1-1:1, 3:1-1:1, or 2:1-1:1)

In some embodiments, an cationic polymer composition of a core of a subject nanoparticle includes (e.g., in addition to or in place of any of the foregoing examples of cationic polymers) poly(ethylenimine), poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM), poly(aspartamide), polypeptoids (e.g., for forming “spiderweb”-like branches for core condensation), a charge-functionalized polyester, a cationic polysaccharide, an acetylated amino sugar, chitosan, or a cationic polymer that comprises any combination thereof (e.g., in linear or branched forms).

In some embodiments, an cationic polymer within the core can have a molecular weight in a range of from 1-200 kDa (e.g., from 1-150, 1-100, 1-50, 5-200, 5-150, 5-100, 5-50, 10-200, 10-150, 10-100, 10-50, 15-200, 15-150, 15-100, or 15-50 kDa). As an example, in some cases an cationic polymer includes poly(L-arginine), e.g., with a molecular weight of approximately 29 kDa. As another example, in some cases a cationic polymer includes linear poly(ethylenimine) with a molecular weight of approximately 25 kDa (PEI). As another example, in some cases a cationic polymer includes branched poly(ethylenimine) with a molecular weight of approximately 10 kDa. As another example, in some cases a cationic polymer includes branched poly(ethylenimine) with a molecular weight of approximately 70 kDa. In some cases a cationic polymer includes PAMAM.

In some cases, a cationic amino acid polymer includes a cysteine residue, which can facilitate conjugation, e.g., to a linker, an NLS, and/or a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP). For example, a cysteine residue can be used for crosslinking (conjugation) via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) and/or amine-reactive chemistry. Thus, in some embodiments a cationic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(arginine)(PR), poly(lysine)(PK), poly(histidine)(PH), poly(ornithine), and poly(citrulline), poly(D-arginine)(PDR), poly(D-lysine)(PDK), poly(D-histidine)(PDH), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline), poly(L-arginine)(PLR), poly(L-lysine)(PLK), poly(L-histidine)(PLH), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline)) of a cationic polymer composition includes a cysteine residue. In some cases the cationic amino acid polymer includes cysteine residue on the N- and/or C-terminus. In some cases the cationic amino acid polymer includes an internal cysteine residue.

In some cases, a cationic amino acid polymer includes (and/or is conjugated to) a nuclear localization signal (NLS) (described in more detail below). Thus, in some embodiments a cationic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(arginine)(PR), poly(lysine)(PK), poly(histidine)(PH), poly(ornithine), and poly(citrulline), poly(D-arginine)(PDR), poly(D-lysine)(PDK), poly(D-histidine)(PDH), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline), poly(L-arginine)(PLR), poly(L-lysine)(PLK), poly(L-histidine)(PLH), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline)) of a cationic polymer composition includes (and/or is conjugated to) one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more, or four or more) NLSs. In some cases the cationic amino acid polymer includes an NLS on the N- and/or C-terminus. In some cases the cationic amino acid polymer includes an internal NLS.

Cationic Polypeptide Composition

In some embodiments the cationic polypeptide composition of a nanoparticle can mediate stability, subcellular compartmentalization, and/or payload release. As one example, fragments of the N-terminus of histone proteins, referred to generally as histone tail peptides, within a subject nanoparticle core are in some case not only capable of being deprotonated by various histone modifications, such as in the case of histone acetyltransferase-mediated acetylation, but may also mediate effective nuclear-specific unpackaging of components (e.g., a payload) of a nanoparticle core. In some cases a cationic polypeptide composition includes a histone and/or histone tail peptide (e.g., a cationic polypeptide can be a histone and/or histone tail peptide). In some cases a cationic polypeptide composition includes an NLS-containing peptide (e.g., a cationic polypeptide can be an NLS-containing peptide). In some cases a cationic polypeptide composition includes a peptide that includes a mitochondrial localization signal (e.g., a cationic polypeptide can be a peptide that includes a mitochondrial localization signal).

Histone Tail Peptide (HTPs)

In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide composition of a subject nanoparticle includes a histone peptide or a fragment of a histone peptide, such as an N-terminal histone tail (e.g., a histone tail of an H1, H2 (e.g., H2A, H2AX, H2B), H3, or H4 histone protein). A tail fragment of a histone protein is referred to herein as a histone tail peptide (HTP). Because such a protein (a histone and/or HTP) can condense with a nucleic acid payload as part of the core of a subject nanoparticle, a core that includes one or more histones or HTPs (e.g., as part of the cationic polypeptide composition) is sometimes referred to herein as a nucleosome-mimetic core. Histones and/or HTPs can be included as monomers, and in some cases form dimers, trimers, tetramers and/or octamers when condensing a nucleic acid payload into a nanoparticle core. In some cases HTPs are not only capable of being deprotonated by various histone modifications, such as in the case of histone acetyltransferase-mediated acetylation, but may also mediate effective nuclear-specific unpackaging of components of the core (e.g., release of a payload). Trafficking of a core that includes a histone and/or HTP may be reliant on alternative endocytotic pathways utilizing retrograde transport through the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, some histones include an innate nuclear localization sequence and inclusion of an NLS in the core can direct the core (including the payload) to the nucleus of a target cell.

In some embodiments a subject cationic polypeptide composition includes a protein having an amino acid sequence of an H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4 protein. In some cases a subject cationic polypeptide composition includes a protein having an amino acid sequence that corresponds to the N-terminal region of a histone protein. For example, the fragment (an HTP) can include the first 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 N-terminal amino acids of a histone protein. In some cases, a subject HTP includes from 5-50 amino acids (e.g., from 5-45, 5-40, 5-35, 5-30, 5-25, 5-20, 8-50, 8-45, 8-40, 8-35, 8-30, 10-50, 10-45, 10-40, 10-35, or 10-30 amino acids) from the N-terminal region of a histone protein. In some cases a subject a cationic polypeptide includes from 5-150 amino acids (e.g., from 5-100, 5-50, 5-35, 5-30, 5-25, 5-20, 8-150, 8-100, 8-50, 8-40, 8-35, 8-30, 10-150, 10-100, 10-50, 10-40, 10-35, or 10-30 amino acids).

In some cases a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition includes a post-translational modification (e.g., in some cases on one or more histidine, lysine, arginine, or other complementary residues). For example, in some cases the cationic polypeptide is methylated (and/or susceptible to methylation/demethylation), acetylated (and/or susceptible to acetylation/deacetylation), crotonylated (and/or susceptible to crotonylation/decrotonylation), ubiquitinylated (and/or susceptible to ubiquitinylation/deubiquitinylation), phosphorylated (and/or susceptible to phosphorylation/dephosphorylation), SUMOylated (and/or susceptible to SUMOylation/deSUMOylation), farnesylated (and/or susceptible to farnesylation/defarnesylation), sulfated (and/or susceptible to sulfation/desulfation) or otherwise post-translationally modified. In some cases a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition is p300/CBP substrate (e.g., see example HTPs below, e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 129-130). In some cases a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition includes one or more thiol residues (e.g., can include a cysteine and/or methionine residue) that is sulfated or susceptible to sulfation (e.g., as a thiosulfate sulfurtransferase substrate). In some cases a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide is amidated on the C-terminus. Histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 (and/or HTPs) may be monomethylated, dimethylated, or trimethylated at any of their lysines to promote or suppress transcriptional activity and alter nuclear-specific release kinetics.

A cationic polypeptide can be synthesized with a desired modification or can be modified in an in vitro reaction. Alternatively, a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP) can be expressed in a cell population and the desired modified protein can be isolated/purified. In some cases the cationic polypeptide composition of a subject nanoparticle includes a methylated HTP, e.g., includes the HTP sequence of H3K4(Me3)—includes the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 75 or 88). In some cases a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition includes a C-terminal amide.

Examples of Histones and HTPs

Examples include but are not limited to the following sequences:

H2A (SEQ ID NO: 62) SGRGKQGGKARAKAKTRSSR [1-20] (SEQ ID NO: 63) SGRGKQGGKARAKAKTRSSRAGLQFPVGRVHRLLRKGGG [1-39] (SEQ ID NO: 64) MSGRGKQGGKARAKAKTRSSRAGLQFPVGRVHRLLRKGNYAERVGAGAP VYLAAVLEYLTAEILELAGNAARDNKKTRIIPRHLQLAIRNDEELNKLL GKVTIAQGGVLPNIQAVLLPKKTESHHKAKGK [1-130] H2AX (SEQ ID NO: 65) CKATQASQEY [134-143] (SEQ ID NO: 66) KKTSATVGPKAPSGGKKATQASQEY [KK 120-129] (SEQ ID NO: 67) MSGRGKTGGKARAKAKSRSSRAGLQFPVGRVHRLLRKGHYAERVGAGAP VYLAAVLEYLTAEILELAGNAARDNKKTRIIPRHLQLAIRNDEELNKLL GGVTIAQGGVLPNIQAVLLPKKTSATVGPKAPSGGKKATQASQEY [1-143] H2B (SEQ ID NO: 68) PEPA-K(cr)-SAPAPK [1-11 H2BK5(cr)] [cr: crotonylated (crotonylation)] (SEQ ID NO: 69) PEPAKSAPAPK [1-11] (SEQ ID NO: 70) AQKKDGKKRKRSRKE [21-35] (SEQ ID NO: 71) MPEPAKSAPAPKKGSKKAVTKAQKKDGKKRKRSRKESYSIYVYKVLKQV HPDTGISSKAMGIMNSFVNDIFERIAGEASRLAHYNKRSTITSREIQTA VRLLLPGELAKHAVSEGTKAVTKYTSSK [1-126] H3 (SEQ ID NO: 72) ARTKQTAR [1-8] (SEQ ID NO: 73) ART-K(Me1)-QTARKS [1-8 H3K4(Me1)] (SEQ ID NO: 74) ART-K(Me2)-QTARKS [1-8 H3K4(Me2)] (SEQ ID NO: 75) ART-K(Me3)-QTARKS [1-8 H3K4(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 76) ARTKQTARK-pS-TGGKA [1-15 H3pS10] (SEQ ID NO: 77) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKWC-NH2 [1-18 WC, amide] (SEQ ID NO: 78) ARTKQTARKSTGG-K(Ac)-APRKQ [1-19 H3K14(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 79) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQL [1-20] (SEQ ID NO: 80) ARTKQTAR-K(Ac)-STGGKAPRKQL [1-20 H3K9(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 81) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLA [1-21] (SEQ ID NO: 82) ARTKQTAR-K(Ac)-STGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K9(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 83) ARTKQTAR-K(Me2)-STGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K9(Me1)] (SEQ ID NO: 84) ARTKQTAR-K(Me2)-STGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K9(Me2)] (SEQ ID NO: 85) ARTKQTAR-K(Me2)-STGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K9(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 86) ART-K(Me1)-QTARKSTGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K4(Me1)] (SEQ ID NO: 87) ART-K(Me2)-QTARKSTGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K4(Me2)] (SEQ ID NO: 88) ART-K(Me3)-QTARKSTGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K4(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 89) ARTKQTAR-K(Ac)-pS-TGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K9(Ac), pS10] (SEQ ID NO: 90) ART-K(Me3)-QTAR-K(Ac)-pS-TGGKAPRKQLA [1-21 H3K4(Me3), K9(Ac), pS10] (SEQ ID NO: 91) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLAC [1-21 Cys] (SEQ ID NO: 92) ARTKQTAR-K(Ac)-STGGKAPRKQLATKA [1-24 H3K9(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 93) ARTKQTAR-K(Me3)-STGGKAPRKQLATKA [1-24 H3K9(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 94) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLATKAA [1-25] (SEQ ID NO: 95) ART-K(Me3)-QTARKSTGGKAPRKQLATKAA [1-25 H3K4(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 96) TKQTAR-K(Me1)-STGGKAPR [3-17 H3K9(Me1)] (SEQ ID NO: 97) TKQTAR-K(Me2)-STGGKAPR [3-17 H3K9(Me2)] (SEQ ID NO: 98) TKQTAR-K(Me3)-STGGKAPR [3-17 H3K9(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 99) KSTGG-K(Ac)-APRKQ [9-19 H3K14(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 100) QTARKSTGGKAPRKQLASK [5-23] (SEQ ID NO: 101) APRKQLATKAARKSAPATGGVKKPH [15-39] (SEQ ID NO: 102) ATKAARKSAPATGGVKKPHRYRPG [21-44] (SEQ ID NO: 103) KAARKSAPA [23-31] (SEQ ID NO: 104) KAARKSAPATGG [23-34 (SEQ ID NO: 105) KAARKSAPATGGC [23-34 Cys] (SEQ ID NO: 106) KAAR-K(Ac)-SAPATGG [H3K27(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 107) KAAR-K(Me1)-SAPATGG [H3K27(Me1)] (SEQ ID NO: 108) KAAR-K(Me2)-SAPATGG [H3K27(Me2)] (SEQ ID NO: 109) KAAR-K(Me3)-SAPATGG [H3K27(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 110) AT-K(Ac)-AARKSAPSTGGVKKPHRYRPG [21-44 H3K23(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 111) ATKAARK-pS-APATGGVKKPHRYRPG [21-44 pS28] (SEQ ID NO: 112) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLATKAARKSAPATGGV [1-35] (SEQ ID NO: 113) STGGV-K(Me1)-KPHRY [31-41 H3K36(Me1)] (SEQ ID NO: 114) STGGV-K(Me2)-KPHRY [31-41 H3K36(Me2)] (SEQ ID NO: 115) STGGV-K(Me3)-KPHRY [31-41 H3K36(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 116) GTVALREIRRYQ-K(Ac)-STELLIR [44-63 H3K56(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 117) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLATKAARKSAPATGGVKKPHRYRPGT VALRE [1-50] (SEQ ID NO: 118) TELLIRKLPFQRLVREIAQDF-K(Me1)-TDLRFQSAAI [H3K79(Me1)] (SEQ ID NO: 119) EIAQDFKTDLR [73-83] (SEQ ID NO: 120) EIAQDF-K(Ac)-TDLR [73-83 H3K79(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 121) EIAQDF-K(Me3)-TDLR [73-83 H3K79(Me3)] (SEQ ID NO: 122) RLVREIAQDFKTDLRFQSSAV [69-89] (SEQ ID NO: 123) RLVREIAQDFK-(Me1)-TDLRFQSSAV [69-89 H3K79 (Me1), amide] (SEQ ID NO: 124) RLVREIAQDFK-(Me2)-TDLRFQSSAV [69-89 H3K79 (Me2), amide] (SEQ ID NO: 125) RLVREIAQDFK-(Me3)-TDLRFQSSAV [69-89 H3K79 (Me3), amide] (SEQ ID NO: 126) KRVTIMPKDIQLARRIRGERA [116-136] (SEQ ID NO: 127) MARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLATKVARKSAPATGGVKKPHRYRP GTVALREIRRYQKSTELLIRKLPFQRLMREIAQDFKTDLRFQSS AVMALQEACESYLVGLFEDTNLCVIHAKRVTIMPKDIQLARRIR GERA[1-136] H4 (SEQ ID NO: 128) SGRGKGG [1-7] (SEQ ID NO: 129) RGKGGKGLGKGA [4-12] (SEQ ID NO: 130) SGRGKGGKGLGKGGAKRHRKV [1-21] (SEQ ID NO: 131) KGLGKGGAKRHRKVLRDNWC-NH2 [8-25 WC, amide] (SEQ ID NO: 132) SGRG-K(Ac)-GG-K(Ac)-GLG-K(Ac)-GGA-K(Ac)-RHR KVLRDNGSGSK [1-25 H4K5, 8, 12, 16(Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 133) SGRGKGGKGLGKGGAKRHRK-NH2 [1-20 H4 PRMT7 (protein arginine methyltransferase 7) Substrate, M1] (SEQ ID NO: 134) SGRG-K(Ac)-GGKGLGKGGAKRHRK [1-20 H4K5 (Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 135) SGRGKGG-K(Ac)-GLGKGGAKRHRK [1-20 H4K8 (Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 136) SGRGKGGKGLG-K(Ac)-GGAKRHRK [1-20 H4K12 (Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 137) SGRGKGGKGLGKGGA-K(Ac)-RHRK [1-20 H4K16 (Ac)] (SEQ ID NO: 138) KGLGKGGAKRHRKVLRDNWC-NH2 [1-25 WC, amide] (SEQ ID NO: 139) MSGRGKGGKGLGKGGAKRHRKVLRDNIQGITKPAIRRLARRGGVKRI SGLIYEETRGVLKVFLENVIRDAVTYTEHAKRKTVTAMDVVYALKRQ GRTLYGFGG [1-103]

As such, a cationic polypeptide of a subject cationic polypeptide composition can include an amino acid sequence having the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 62-139. In some cases a cationic polypeptide of subject a cationic polypeptide composition includes an amino acid sequence having 80% or more sequence identity (e.g., 85% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 62-139. In some cases a cationic polypeptide of subject a cationic polypeptide composition includes an amino acid sequence having 90% or more sequence identity (e.g., 95% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 62-139. The cationic polypeptide can include any convenient modification, and a number of such contemplated modifications are discussed above, e.g., methylated, acetylated, crotonylated, ubiquitinylated, phosphorylated, SUMOylated, farnesylated, sulfated, and the like.

In some cases a cationic polypeptide of a cationic polypeptide composition includes an amino acid sequence having 80% or more sequence identity (e.g., 85% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 94. In some cases a cationic polypeptide of a cationic polypeptide composition includes an amino acid sequence having 95% or more sequence identity (e.g., 98% or more, 99% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 94. In some cases a cationic polypeptide of a cationic polypeptide composition includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 94. In some cases a cationic polypeptide of a cationic polypeptide composition includes the sequence represented by H3K4(Me3) (SEQ ID NO: 95), which comprises the first 25 amino acids of the human histone 3 protein, and tri-methylated on the lysine 4 (e.g., in some cases amidated on the C-terminus).

In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition includes a cysteine residue, which can facilitate conjugation to: a cationic (or in some cases anionic) amino acid polymer, a linker, an NLS, and/or other cationic polypeptides (e.g., in some cases to form a branched histone structure). For example, a cysteine residue can be used for crosslinking (conjugation) via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) and/or amine-reactive chemistry. In some cases the cysteine residue is internal. In some cases the cysteine residue is positioned at the N-terminus and/or C-terminus. In some cases, a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition includes a mutation (e.g., insertion or substitution) that adds a cysteine residue. Examples of HTPs that include a cysteine include but are not limited to:

(SEQ ID NO: 140) CKATQASQEY-from H2AX (SEQ ID NO: 141) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLAC-from H3 (SEQ ID NO: 142) ARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKWC (SEQ ID NO: 143) KAARKSAPATGGC-from H3 (SEQ ID NO: 144) KGLGKGGAKRHRKVLRDNWC-from H4 (SEQ ID NO: 145) MARTKQTARKSTGGKAPRKQLATKVARKSAPATGGVKKPHRYRPGTVALR EIRRYQKSTELLIRKLPFQRLMREIAQDFKTDLRFQSSAVMALQEACESY LVGLFEDTNLCVIHAKRVTIMPKDIQLARRIRGERA-from H3

In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition is conjugated to a cationic (and/or anionic) amino acid polymer of the core of a subject nanoparticle. As an example, a histone or HTP can be conjugated to a cationic amino acid polymer (e.g., one that includes poly(lysine)), via a cysteine residue, e.g., where the pyridyl disulfide group(s) of lysine(s) of the polymer are substituted with a disulfide bond to the cysteine of a histone or HTP.

Modified/Branching Structure

In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide of a subject a cationic polypeptide composition has a linear structure. In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide of a subject a cationic polypeptide composition has a branched structure.

For example, in some cases, a cationic polypeptide (e.g., HTPs, e.g., HTPs with a cysteine residue) is conjugated (e.g., at its C-terminus) to the end of a cationic polymer (e.g., poly(L-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(L-lysine), poly(D-lysine)), thus forming an extended linear polypeptide. In some cases, one or more (two or more, three or more, etc.) cationic polypeptides (e.g., HTPs, e.g., HTPs with a cysteine residue) are conjugated (e.g., at their C-termini) to the end(s) of a cationic polymer (e.g., poly(L-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(L-lysine), poly(D-lysine)), thus forming an extended linear polypeptide. In some cases the cationic polymer has a molecular weight in a range of from 4,500-150,000 Da).

As another example, in some cases, one or more (two or more, three or more, etc.) cationic polypeptides (e.g., HTPs, e.g., HTPs with a cysteine residue) are conjugated (e.g., at their C-termini) to the side-chains of a cationic polymer (e.g., poly(L-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(L-lysine), poly(D-lysine)), thus forming a branched structure (branched polypeptide). Formation of a branched structure by components of the nanoparticle core (e.g., components of a subject cationic polypeptide composition) can in some cases increase the amount of core condensation (e.g., of a nucleic acid payload) that can be achieved. Thus, in some cases it is desirable to used components that form a branched structure. Various types of branches structures are of interest, and examples of branches structures that can be generated (e.g., using subject cationic polypeptides such as HTPs, e.g., HTPs with a cysteine residue; peptoids, polyamides, and the like) include but are not limited to: brush polymers, webs (e.g., spider webs), graft polymers, star-shaped polymers, comb polymers, polymer networks, dendrimers, and the like.

As an example, FIG. 134 depicts a brush type of branched structure. In some cases, a branched structure includes from 2-30 cationic polypeptides (e.g., HTPs) (e.g., from 2-25, 2-20, 2-15, 2-10, 2-5, 4-30, 4-25, 4-20, 4-15, or 4-10 cationic polypeptides), where each can be the same or different than the other cationic polypeptides of the branched structure (see, e.g., FIG. 134). In some cases the cationic polymer has a molecular weight in a range of from 4,500-150,000 Da). In some cases, 5% or more (e.g., 10% or more, 20% or more, 25% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, or 50% or more) of the side-chains of a cationic polymer (e.g., poly(L-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(L-lysine), poly(D-lysine)) are conjugated to a subject cationic polypeptide (e.g., HTP, e.g., HTP with a cysteine residue). In some cases, up to 50% (e.g., up to 40%, up to 30%, up to 25%, up to 20%, up to 15%, up to 10%, or up to 5%) of the side-chains of a cationic polymer (e.g., poly(L-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(L-lysine), poly(D-lysine)) are conjugated to a subject cationic polypeptide (e.g., HTP, e.g., HTP with a cysteine residue). Thus, an HTP can be branched off of the backbone of a polymer such as a cationic amino acid polymer.

In some cases formation of branched structures can be facilitated using components such as peptoids (polypeptoids), polyamides, dendrimers, and the like. For example, in some cases peptoids (e.g., polypeptoids) are used as a component of a nanoparticle core, e.g., in order to generate a web (e.g., spider web) structure, which can in some cases facilitate condensation of the nanoparticle core.

One or more of the natural or modified polypeptide sequences herein may be modified with terminal or intermittent arginine, lysine, or histidine sequences. In one embodiment, each polypeptide is included in equal amine molarities within a nanoparticle core. In this embodiment, each polypeptide's C-terminus can be modified with 5R (5 arginines). In some embodiments, each polypeptide's C-terminus can be modified with 9R (9 arginines). In some embodiments, each polypeptide's N-terminus can be modified with 5R (5 arginines). In some embodiments, each polypeptide's N-terminus can be modified with 9R (9 arginines). In some cases, an H2A, H2B, H3 and/or H4 histone fragment (e.g., HTP) are each bridged in series with a FKFL Cathepsin B proteolytic cleavage domain or RGFFP Cathepsin D proteolytic cleavage domain. In some cases, an H2A, H2B, H3 and/or H4 histone fragment (e.g., HTP) can be bridged in series by a 5R (5 arginines), 9R (9 arginines), 5K (5 lysines), 9K (9 lysines), 5H (5 histidines), or 9H (9 histidines) cationic spacer domain. In some cases, one or more H2A, H2B, H3 and/or H4 histone fragments (e.g., HTPs) are disulfide-bonded at their N-terminus to protamine.

To illustrate how to generate a branched histone structure, example methods of preparation are provided. One example of such a method includes the following: covalent modification of equimolar ratios of Histone H2AX [134-143], Histone H3 [1-21 Cys], Histone H3 [23-34 Cys], Histone H4 [8-25 WC] and SV40 T-Ag-derived NLS can be performed in a reaction with 10% pyridyl disulfide modified poly(L-Lysine) [MW=5400, 18000, or 45000 Da; n=30, 100, or 250]. In a typical reaction, a 29 μL aqueous solution of 700 μM Cys-modified histone/NLS (20 nmol) can be added to 57 μL of 0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). Second, 14 μL of 100 μM pyridyl disulfide protected poly(lysine) solution can then be added to the histone solution bringing the final volume to 100 μL with a 1:2 ratio of pyridyl disulfide groups to Cysteine residues. This reaction can be carried out at room temperature for 3 h. The reaction can be repeated four times and degree of conjugation can be determined via absorbance of pyridine-2-thione at 343 nm.

As another example, covalent modification of a 0:1, 1:4, 1:3, 1:2, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, or 1:0 molar ratio of Histone H3 [1-21 Cys] peptide and Histone H3 [23-34 Cys] peptide can be performed in a reaction with 10% pyridyl disulfide modified poly(L-Lysine) or poly(L-Arginine) [MW=5400, 18000, or 45000 Da; n=30, 100, or 250]. In a typical reaction, a 29 μL aqueous solution of 700 μM Cys-modified histone (20 nmol) can be added to 57 μL of 0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). Second, 14 μL of 100 μM pyridyl disulfide protected poly(lysine) solution can then be added to the histone solution bringing the final volume to 100 μL with a 1:2 ratio of pyridyl disulfide groups to Cysteine residues. This reaction can be carried out at room temperature for 3 h. The reaction can be repeated four times and degree of conjugation can be determined via absorbance of pyridine-2-thione at 343 nm.

In some cases, an anionic polymer is conjugated to a targeting ligand.

Nuclear Localization Sequence (NLS)

In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4) of a cationic polypeptide composition includes (and/or is conjugated to) one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more, or four or more) nuclear localization sequences (NLSs). Thus in some cases the cationic polypeptide composition of a subject nanoparticle includes a peptide that includes an NLS. In some cases a histone protein (or an HTP) of a subject nanoparticle includes one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more) natural nuclear localization signals (NLSs). In some cases a histone protein (or an HTP) of a subject nanoparticle includes one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more) NLSs that are heterologous to the histone protein (i.e., NLSs that do not naturally occur as part of the histone/HTP, e.g., an NLS can be added by humans). In some cases the HTP includes an NLS on the N- and/or C-terminus.

In some embodiments a cationic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(arginine)(PR), poly(lysine)(PK), poly(histidine)(PH), poly(ornithine), poly(citrulline), poly(D-arginine)(PDR), poly(D-lysine)(PDK), poly(D-histidine)(PDH), poly(D-ornithine), poly(D-citrulline), poly(L-arginine)(PLR), poly(L-lysine)(PLK), poly(L-histidine)(PLH), poly(L-ornithine), or poly(L-citrulline)) of a cationic polymer composition includes (and/or is conjugated to) one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more, or four or more) NLSs. In some cases the cationic amino acid polymer includes an NLS on the N- and/or C-terminus. In some cases the cationic amino acid polymer includes an internal NLS.

In some embodiments an anionic amino acid polymer (e.g., poly(glutamic acid) (PEA), poly(aspartic acid) (PDA), poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA), poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA), poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA), or poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA)) of an anionic polymer composition includes (and/or is conjugated to) one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more, or four or more) NLSs. In some cases the anionic amino acid polymer includes an NLS on the N- and/or C-terminus. In some cases the anionic amino acid polymer includes an internal NLS.

Any convenient NLS can be used (e.g., conjugated to a histone, an HTP, a cationic amino acid polymer, an anionic amino acid polymer, and the like). Examples include, but are not limited to Class 1 and Class 2 ‘monopartite NLSs’, as well as NLSs of Classes 3-5 (see, e.g., FIG. 16, which is adapted from Kosugi et al., J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan. 2; 284(1):478-85). In some cases, an NLS has the formula: (K/R) (K/R)_X10-12(K/R)_3-5. In some cases, an NLS has the formula: K(K/R)X(K/R).

In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide of a cationic polypeptide composition includes one more (e.g., two or more, three or more, or four or more) NLSs. In some cases the cationic polypeptide is not a histone protein or histone fragment (e.g., is not an HTP). Thus, in some cases the cationic polypeptide of a cationic polypeptide composition is an NLS-containing peptide.

In some cases, the NLS-containing peptide includes a cysteine residue, which can facilitate conjugation to: a cationic (or in some cases anionic) amino acid polymer, a linker, histone protein for HTP, and/or other cationic polypeptides (e.g., in some cases as part of a branched histone structure). For example, a cysteine residue can be used for crosslinking (conjugation) via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) and/or amine-reactive chemistry. In some cases the cysteine residue is internal. In some cases the cysteine residue is positioned at the N-terminus and/or C-terminus. In some cases, an NLS-containing peptide of a cationic polypeptide composition includes a mutation (e.g., insertion or substitution) (e.g., relative to a wild type amino acid sequence) that adds a cysteine residue.

Examples of NLSs that can be used as an NLS-containing peptide (or conjugated to any convenient cationic polypeptide such as an HTP or cationic polymer or cationic amino acid polymer or anionic amino acid polymer) include but are not limited to (some of which include a cysteine residue):

(SEQ ID NO: 151) PKKKRKV (T-ag NLS) (SEQ ID NO: 152) PKKKRKVEDPYC-SV40 T-Ag-derived NLS (SEQ ID NO: 153) PKKKRKVGPKKKRKVGPKKKRKVGPKKKRKVGC (NLS SV40) (SEQ ID NO: 154) CYGRKKRRQRRR-N-terminal cysteine of cysteine-TAT (SEQ ID NO: 155) CSIPPEVKFNKPFVYLI (SEQ ID NO: 156) DRQIKIWFQNRRMKVVKK (SEQ ID NO: 157) PKKKRKVEDPYC-C-term cysteine of an SV40 T-Ag-derived NLS (SEQ ID NO: 158) PAAKRVKLD [cMyc NLS]

For non-limiting examples of NLSs that can be used, see, e.g., Kosugi et al., J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan. 2; 284(1):478-85, e.g., see FIG. 16 of this disclosure.

Mitochondrial Localization Signal

In some embodiments a cationic polypeptide (e.g., a histone or HTP, e.g., H1, H2, H2A, H2AX, H2B, H3, or H4), an anionic polymer, and/or a cationic polymer of a subject nanoparticle includes (and/or is conjugated to) one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more, or four or more) mitochondrial localization sequences. Any convenient mitochondrial localization sequence can be used. Examples of mitochondrial localization sequences include but are not limited to: PEDEIWLPEPESVDVPAKPISTSSMMMP (SEQ ID NO: 149), a mitochondrial localization sequence of SDHB, mono/di/triphenylphosphonium or other phosphoniums, VAMP 1A, VAMP 1B, the 67 N-terminal amino acids of DGAT2, and the 20 N-terminal amino acids of Bax.

Payload

Nanoparticles of the disclosure include a payload, which can be made of nucleic acid and/or protein. For example, in some cases a subject nanoparticle is used to deliver a nucleic acid payload (e.g., a DNA and/or RNA). The nucleic acid payload can be any nucleic acid of interest, e.g., the nucleic acid payload can be linear or circular, and can be a plasmid, a viral genome, an RNA (e.g., a coding RNA such as an mRNA or a non-coding RNA such as a guide RNA, a short interfering RNA (siRNA), a short hairpin RNA (shRNA), a microRNA (miRNA), and the like), a DNA, etc. In some cases, the nucleic payload is an RNAi agent (e.g., an shRNA, an siRNA, a miRNA, etc.) or a DNA template encoding an RNAi agent. In some cases, the nucleic acid payload is an siRNA molecule (e.g., one that targets an mRNA, one that targets a miRNA). In some cases, the nucleic acid payload is an LNA molecule (e.g., one that targets a miRNA). In some cases, the nucleic acid payload is a miRNA. In some cases the nucleic acid payload includes an mRNA that encodes a protein of interest (e.g., one or more reprograming and/or transdifferentiation factors such as Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, and Lin28, e.g., alone or in any desired combination such as (i) Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc; (ii) Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28; and the like; a gene editing endonuclease; a therapeutic protein; and the like). In some cases the nucleic acid payload includes a non-coding RNA (e.g., an RNAi agent, a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, etc.) and/or a DNA molecule encoding the non-coding RNA. In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes a nucleic acid (DNA and/or mRNA) that encodes IL2Rα and IL12Rγ (e.g., to modulate the behavior or survival of a target cell), and in some cases the payload is released intracellularly from a subject nanoparticle over the course of from 7-90 days (e.g., from 7-80, 7-60, 7-50, 7-40, 7-35, or 7-30 days). In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes a nucleic acid (DNA and/or mRNA) that encodes BCL-XL (e.g., to prevent apoptosis of a target cell due to engagement of Fas or TNFα receptors). In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes a nucleic acid (DNA and/or mRNA) that encodes

Foxp3 (e.g., to promote an immune effector phenotype in targeted T-cells). In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes a nucleic acid (DNA and/or mRNA) that encodes SCF. In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes a nucleic acid (DNA and/or mRNA) that encodes HoxB4. In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes a nucleic acid (DNA and/or mRNA) that encodes SIRT6. In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an LNA, etc.) that targets (reduces expression of) a microRNA such as miR-155 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000681 and MI0000177). In some embodiments a nucleic acid payload includes an siRNA that targets ku70 and/or an siRNA that targets ku80.

The term “nucleic acid payload” encompasses modified nucleic acids. Likewise, the terms “RNAi agent” and “siRNA” encompass modified nucleic acids. For example, the nucleic acid molecule can be a mimetic, can include a modified sugar backbone, one or more modified internucleoside linkages (e.g., one or more phosphorothioate and/or heteroatom internucleoside linkages), one or more modified bases, and the like. In some embodiments, a subject payload includes triplex-forming peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) (see, e.g., McNeer et al., Gene Ther. 2013 June; 20(6):658-69). Thus, in some cases a subject core includes PNAs. In some cases a subject core includes PNAs and DNAs.

A subject nucleic acid payload (e.g., an siRNA) can have a morpholino backbone structure. In some case, a subject nucleic acid payload (e.g., an siRNA) can have one or more locked nucleic acids (LNAs). Suitable sugar substituent groups include methoxy (—O—CH₃), aminopropoxy (—OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂), allyl (—CH₂—CH═CH₂), —O-allyl (—O—CH₂—CH═CH₂) and fluoro (F). 2′-sugar substituent groups may be in the arabino (up) position or ribo (down) position. Suitable base modifications include synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (—C═C—CH₃) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-amino-adenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine(1H-pyrimido(5,4-b)(1,4)benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), phenothiazine cytidine (1H-pyrimido(5,4-b)(1,4)benzothiazin-2(3H)-one), G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g. 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-H-pyrimido(5,4-(b) (1,4)benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), carbazole cytidine (2H-pyrimido(4,5-b)indol-2-one), pyridoindole cytidine (H-pyrido(3′,2′:4,5)pyrrolo(2,3-d)pyrimidin-2-one).

In some cases, a nucleic acid payload can include a conjugate moiety (e.g., one that enhances the activity, stability, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the nucleic acid payload). These moieties or conjugates can include conjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups include, but are not limited to, intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of oligomers. Suitable conjugate groups include, but are not limited to, cholesterols, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties include groups that improve uptake, enhance resistance to degradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with the target nucleic acid. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties include groups that improve uptake, distribution, metabolism or excretion of a subject nucleic acid.

Any convenient polynucleotide can be used as a subject nucleic acid payload. Examples include but are not limited to: species of RNA and DNA including mRNA, m1A modified mRNA (monomethylation at position 1 of Adenosine), siRNA, miRNA, aptamers, shRNA, AAV-derived nucleic acids and scaffolds, morpholino RNA, peptoid and peptide nucleic acids, cDNA, DNA origami, DNA and RNA with synthetic nucleotides, DNA and RNA with predefined secondary structures, multimers and oligomers of the aforementioned, and payloads whose sequence may encode other products such as any protein or polypeptide whose expression is desired.

In some cases a payload of a subject nanoparticle includes a protein. Examples of protein payloads include, but are not limited to: programmable gene editing proteins (e.g., transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors (TALEs), TALE nucleases (TALENs), zinc-finger proteins (ZFPs), zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), DNA-guided polypeptides such as Natronobacterium gregoryi Argonaute (NgAgo), CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptides such as Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, and the like); transposons (e.g., a Class I or Class II transposon—e.g., piggybac, sleeping beauty, Tc1/mariner, Tol2, PIF/harbinger, hAT, mutator, merlin, transib, helitron, maverick, frog prince, minos, Himar1 and the like); meganucleases (e.g., I-Scel, I-Ceul, I-Crel, I-Dmol, I-Chul, I-Dirl, I-Flmul, I-Flmull, I-Anil, I-ScelV, I-Csml, I-Panl, I-Panl, I-PanMl, I-ScelI, I-Ppol, I-ScelII, I-Ltrl, I-Gpil, I-GZel, I-Onul, I-HjeMl, I-Msol, I-Tevl, I-TevlI, I-TevlII, PI-MleI, PI-Mtul, PI-Pspl, PI-Tli I, PI-Tli II, PI-SceV, and the like); megaTALs (see, e.g., Boissel et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 2014 February; 42(4): 2591-2601); SCF; BCL-XL; Foxp3; HoxB4; and SiRT6. For any of the above proteins, a payload of a subject nanoparticle can include a nucleic acid (DNA and/or mRNA) encoding the protein, and/or can include the actual protein.

Gene Editing Tools

In some cases, a nucleic acid payload includes or encodes a gene editing tool (i.e., a component of a gene editing system, e.g., a site specific gene editing system such as a programmable gene editing system). For example, a nucleic acid payload can include one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a DNA and/or RNA encoding a programmable gene editing protein such as a zinc finger protein (ZFP) (e.g., a zinc finger nuclease—ZFN), a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein (e.g., fused to a nuclease—TALEN), a DNA-guided polypeptide such as Natronobacterium gregoryi Argonaute (NgAgo), and/or a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, and the like); (iv) a DNA donor template; (v) a nucleic acid molecule (DNA, RNA) encoding a site-specific recombinase (e.g., Cre recombinase, Dre recombinase, Flp recombinase, KD recombinase, B2 recombinase, B3 recombinase, R recombinase, Hin recombinase, Tre recombinase, PhiC31 integrase, Bxb1 integrase, R4 integrase, lambda integrase, HK022 integrase, HP1 integrase, and the like); (vi) a DNA encoding a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta, and the like); and (vii) a transposon and/or a DNA derived from a transposon (e.g., bacterial transposons such as Tn3, Tn5, Tn7, Tn9, Tn10, Tn903, Tn1681, and the like; eukaryotic transposons such as Tc1/mariner super family transposons, PiggyBac superfamily transposons, hAT superfamily transposons, PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, Frog Prince, Minos, Himar1, and the like). In some cases a subject nanoparticle is used to deliver a protein payload, e.g., a gene editing protein such as a ZFP (e.g., ZFN), a TALE (e.g., TALEN), a DNA-guided polypeptide such as Natronobacterium gregoryi Argonaute (NgAgo), a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, and the like), a site-specific recombinase (e.g., Cre recombinase, Dre recombinase, Flp recombinase, KD recombinase, B2 recombinase, B3 recombinase, R recombinase, Hin recombinase, Tre recombinase, PhiC31 integrase, Bxb1 integrase, R4 integrase, lambda integrase, HK022 integrase, HP1 integrase, and the like), a resolvase/invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta, and the like); and/or a transposase (e.g., a transposase related to transposons such as bacterial transposons such as Tn3, Tn5, Tn7, Tn9, Tn10, Tn903, Tn1681, and the like; or eukaryotic transposons such as Tc1/mariner super family transposons, PiggyBac superfamily transposons, hAT superfamily transposons, PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, Frog Prince, Minos, Himar1, and the like). In some cases, the nanoparticle is used to deliver a nucleic acid payload and a protein payload, and in some such cases the payload includes a ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP).

Depending on the nature of the system and the desired outcome, a gene editing system (e.g. a site specific gene editing system such as a programmable gene editing system) can include a single component (e.g., a ZFP, a ZFN, a TALE, a TALEN, a site-specific recombinase, a resolvase/integrase, a transpose, a transposon, and the like) or can include multiple components. In some cases a gene editing system includes at least two components. For example, in some cases a gene editing system (e.g. a programmable gene editing system) includes (i) a donor template nucleic acid; and (ii) a gene editing protein (e.g., a programmable gene editing protein such as a ZFP, a ZFN, a TALE, a TALEN, a DNA-guided polypeptide such as Natronobacterium gregoryi Argonaute (NgAgo), a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide such as Cas9, CasX, CasY, or Cpf1, and the like), or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the gene editing protein (e.g., DNA or RNA such as a plasmid or mRNA). As another example, in some cases a gene editing system (e.g. a programmable gene editing system) includes (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, or a DNA encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; and (ii) a CRISPR/CAS RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, and the like), or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., DNA or RNA such as a plasmid or mRNA). As another example, in some cases a gene editing system (e.g. a programmable gene editing system) includes (i) an NgAgo-like guide DNA; and (ii) a DNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., NgAgo), or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the DNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., DNA or RNA such as a plasmid or mRNA). In some cases a gene editing system (e.g. a programmable gene editing system) includes at least three components: (i) a donor DNA template; (ii) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, or a DNA encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; and (iii) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, or Cpf1), or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., DNA or RNA such as a plasmid or mRNA). In some cases a gene editing system (e.g. a programmable gene editing system) includes at least three components: (i) a donor DNA template; (ii) an NgAgo-like guide DNA, or a DNA encoding the NgAgo-like guide DNA; and (iii) a DNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., NgAgo), or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the DNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., DNA or RNA such as a plasmid or mRNA).

In some embodiments, a subject nanoparticle is used to deliver a gene editing tool. In other words in some cases the payload includes one or more gene editing tools. The term “gene editing tool” is used herein to refer to one or more components of a gene editing system. Thus, in some cases the payload includes a gene editing system and in some cases the payload includes one or more components of a gene editing system (i.e., one or more gene editing tools). For example, a target cell might already include one of the components of a gene editing system and the user need only add the remaining components. In such a case the payload of a subject nanoparticle does not necessarily include all of the components of a given gene editing system. As such, in some cases a payload includes one or more gene editing tools.

As an illustrative example, a target cell might already include a gene editing protein (e.g., a ZFP, a TALE, a DNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., NgAgo), a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide such Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, and the like, a site-specific recombinase such as Cre recombinase, Dre recombinase, Flp recombinase, KD recombinase, B2 recombinase, B3 recombinase, R recombinase, Hin recombinase, Tre recombinase, PhiC31 integrase, Bxb1 integrase, R4 integrase, lambda integrase, HK022 integrase, HP1 integrase, and the like, a resolvase/invertase such as Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta, and the like, a transposase, etc.) and/or a DNA or RNA encoding the protein, and therefore the payload can include one or more of: (i) a donor template; and (ii) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, or a DNA encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; or an NgAgo-like guide DNA. Likewise, the target cell may already include a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA and/or a DNA encoding the guide RNA or an NgAgo-like guide DNA, and the payload can include one or more of: (i) a donor template; and (ii) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1, and the like), or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., DNA or RNA such as a plasmid or mRNA); or a DNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., NgAgo), or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the DNA-guided polypeptide.

As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a gene editing system need not be a system that ‘edits’ a nucleic acid. For example, it is well recognized that a gene editing system can be used to modify target nucleic acids (e.g., DNA and/or RNA) in a variety of ways without creating a double strand break (DSB) in the target DNA. For example, in some cases a double stranded target DNA is nicked (one strand is cleaved), and in some cases (e.g., in some cases where the gene editing protein is devoid of nuclease activity, e.g., a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide may harbor mutations in the catalytic nuclease domains), the target nucleic acid is not cleaved at all. For example, in some cases a CRISPR/Cas protein (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1) with or without nuclease activity, is fused to a heterologous protein domain. The heterologous protein domain can provide an activity to the fusion protein such as (i) a DNA-modifying activity (e.g., nuclease activity, methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, DNA repair activity, DNA damage activity, deamination activity, dismutase activity, alkylation activity, depurination activity, oxidation activity, pyrimidine dimer forming activity, integrase activity, transposase activity, recombinase activity, polymerase activity, ligase activity, helicase activity, photolyase activity or glycosylase activity), (ii) a transcription modulation activity (e.g., fusion to a transcriptional repressor or activator), or (iii) an activity that modifies a protein (e.g., a histone) that is associated with target DNA (e.g., methyltransferase activity, demethylase activity, acetyltransferase activity, deacetylase activity, kinase activity, phosphatase activity, ubiquitin ligase activity, deubiquitinating activity, adenylation activity, deadenylation activity, SUMOylating activity, deSUMOylating activity, ribosylation activity, deribosylation activity, myristoylation activity or demyristoylation activity). As such, a gene editing system can be used in applications that modify a target nucleic acid in way that do not cleave the target nucleic acid, and can also be used in applications that modulate transcription from a target DNA.

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In some embodiments, more than one payload is delivered as part of the same package (e.g., nanoparticle), e.g., in some cases different payloads are part of different cores. One advantage of delivering multiple payloads as part of the same package (e.g., nanoparticle) is that the efficiency of each payload is not diluted. As an illustrative example, if payload A and payload B are delivered in two separate packages (package A and package B, respectively), then the efficiencies are multiplicative, e.g., if package A and package B each have a 1% transfection efficiency, the chance of delivering payload A and payload B to the same cell is 0.01% (1%×1%). However, if payload A and payload B are both delivered as part of the same package (e.g., part of the same nanoparticle—package A), then the chance of delivering payload A and payload B to the same cell is 1%, a 100-fold improvement over 0.01%.

Likewise, in a scenario where package A and package B each have a 0.1% transfection efficiency, the chance of delivering payload A and payload B to the same cell is 0.0001% (0.1%×0.1%). However, if payload A and payload B are both delivered as part of the same package (e.g., part of the same nanoparticle—package A) in this scenario, then the chance of delivering payload A and payload B to the same cell is 0.1%, a 1000-fold improvement over 0.0001%.

As such, in some embodiments, one or more gene editing tools (e.g., as described above) is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same nanoparticle) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that increases genomic editing efficiency. In some cases, one or more gene editing tools (e.g., as described above) is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same nanoparticle) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that controls cell division and/or differentiation. In some cases, one or more gene editing tools (e.g., as described above) is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same nanoparticle) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that biases the cell DNA repair machinery toward non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homology directed repair (HDR).

As non-limiting examples of the above, in some embodiments one or more gene editing tools can be delivered in combination with one or more of: SCF (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding SCF), HoxB4 (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding HoxB4), BCL-XL (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding BCL-XL), SIRT6 (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding SIRT6), a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA and/or an LNA) that suppresses miR-155, a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that reduces ku70 expression, and a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that reduces ku80 expression.

For examples of microRNAs that can be delivered in combination with a gene editing tool, see FIG. 18A. For example, the following microRNAs can be used for the following purposes: for blocking differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell toward ectoderm lineage: miR-430/427/302 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000738, MI0000772, MI0000773, MI0000774, MI0006417, MI0006418, MI0000402, MI0003716, MI0003717, and MI0003718); for blocking differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell toward endoderm lineage: miR-109 and/or miR-24 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000080, MI0000081, MI0000231, and MI0000572); for driving differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell toward endoderm lineage: miR-122 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000442 and MI0000256) and/or miR-192 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000234 and MI0000551); for driving differentiation of an ectoderm progenitor cell toward a keratinocyte fate: miR-203 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000283, MI0017343, and MI0000246); for driving differentiation of a neural crest stem cell toward a smooth muscle fate: miR-145 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000461, MI0000169, and MI0021890); for driving differentiation of a neural stem cell toward a glial cell fate and/or toward a neuron fate: miR-9 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000466, MI0000467, MI0000468, MI0000157, MI0000720, and MI0000721) and/or miR-124a (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000443, MI0000444, MI0000445, MI0000150, MI0000716, and MI0000717); for blocking differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a chondrocyte fate: miR-199a (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000242, MI0000281, MI0000241, and MI0000713); for driving differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward an osteoblast fate: miR-296 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000747 and MI0000394) and/or miR-2861 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0013006 and MI0013007); for driving differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a cardiac muscle fate: miR-1 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000437, MI0000651, MI0000139, MI0000652, MI0006283); for blocking differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a cardiac muscle fate: miR-133 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000450, MI0000451, MI0000822, MI0000159, MI0000820, MI0000821, and MI0021863); for driving differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a skeletal muscle fate: miR-214 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000290 and MI0000698), miR-206 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000490 and MI0000249), miR-1 and/or miR-26a (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000083, MI0000750, MI0000573, and MI0000706); for blocking differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a skeletal muscle fate: miR-133 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000450, MI0000451, MI0000822, MI0000159, MI0000820, MI0000821, and MI0021863), miR-221 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000298 and MI0000709), and/or miR-222 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000299 and MI0000710); for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward differentiation: miR-223 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000300 and MI0000703); for blocking differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward differentiation: miR-128a (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000447 and MI0000155) and/or miR-181a (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000269, MI0000289, MI0000223, and MI0000697); for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward a lymphoid progenitor cell: miR-181 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000269, MI0000270, MI0000271, MI0000289, MI0000683, MI0003139, MI0000223, MI0000723, MI0000697, MI0000724, MI0000823, and MI0005450); for blocking differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward a lymphoid progenitor cell: miR-146 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000477, MI0003129, MI0003782, MI0000170, and MI0004665); for blocking differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward a myeloid progenitor cell: miR-155, miR-24a, and/or miR-17 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000071 and MI0000687); for driving differentiation of a lymphoid progenitor cell toward a T cell fate: miR-150 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000479 and MI0000172); for blocking differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a granulocyte fate: miR-223 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000300 and MI0000703); for blocking differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a monocyte fate: miR-17-5p (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MIMAT0000070 and MIMAT0000649), miR-20a (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000076 and MI0000568), and/or miR-106a (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000113 and MI0000406); for blocking differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a red blood cell fate: miR-150 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000479 and MI0000172), miR-155, miR-221 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000298 and MI0000709), and/or miR-222 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000299 and MI0000710); and for driving differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a red blood cell fate: miR-451 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0001729, MI0017360, MI0001730, and MI0021960) and/or miR-16 (see, e.g., MiR Base accession: MI0000070, MI0000115, MI0000565, and MI0000566).

For examples of signaling proteins (e.g., extracellular signaling proteins) that can be delivered (e.g., as protein or as DNA or RNA encoding the protein) in combination with a gene editing tool, see FIG. 18B. The same proteins can be used as part of the outer shell of a subject nanoparticle in a similar manner as a targeting ligand, e.g., for the purpose of biasing differentiation in target cells that receive the nanoparticle. For example, the following signaling proteins (e.g., extracellular signaling proteins) can be used for the following purposes: for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic stem cell toward a common lymphoid progenitor cell lineage: IL-7 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3574); for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic stem cell toward a common myeloid progenitor cell lineage: IL-3 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3562), GM-CSF (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 1437), and/or M-CSF (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 1435); for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a B-cell fate: IL-3, IL-4 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID: 3565), and/or IL-7; for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a Natural Killer Cell fate: IL-15 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3600); for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a T-cell fate: IL-2 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3558), IL-7, and/or Notch (see, e.g., NCBI Gene IDs 4851, 4853, 4854, 4855); for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a dendritic cell fate: Flt-3 ligand (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 2323); for driving differentiation of a common myeloid progenitor cell toward a dendritic cell fate: Flt-3 ligand, GM-CSF, and/or TNF-alpha (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 7124); for driving differentiation of a common myeloid progenitor cell toward a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell lineage: GM-CSF; for driving differentiation of a common myeloid progenitor cell toward a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell lineage: IL-3, SCF (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 4254), and/or Tpo (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 7173); for driving differentiation of a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell toward a megakaryocyte fate: IL-3, IL-6 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3569), SCF, and/or Tpo; for driving differentiation of a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell toward a erythrocyte fate: erythropoietin (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 2056); for driving differentiation of a megakaryocyte toward a platelet fate: IL-11 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3589) and/or Tpo; for driving differentiation of a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell toward a monocyte lineage: GM-CSF and/or M-CSF; for driving differentiation of a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell toward a myeloblast lineage: GM-CSF; for driving differentiation of a monocyte toward a monocyte-derived dendritic cell fate: Flt-3 ligand, GM-CSF, IFN-alpha (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3439), and/or IL-4; for driving differentiation of a monocyte toward a macrophage fate: IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-10 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3586), and/or M-CSF; for driving differentiation of a myeloblast toward a neutrophil fate: G-CSF (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 1440), GM-CSF, IL-6, and/or SCF; for driving differentiation of a myeloblast toward a eosinophil fate: GM-CSF, IL-3, and/or IL-5 (see, e.g., NCBI Gene ID 3567); and for driving differentiation of a myeloblast toward a basophil fate: G-CSF, GM-CSF, and/or IL-3.

Examples of proteins that can be delivered (e.g., as protein and/or a nucleic acid such as DNA or RNA encoding the protein) in combination with a gene editing tool include but are not limited to: SOX17, HEX, OSKM (Oct4/Sox2/Klf4/c-myc), and/or bFGF (e.g., to drive differentiation toward hepatic stem cell lineage); HNF4a (e.g., to drive differentiation toward hepatocyte fate); Poly (1:0), BMP-4, bFGF, and/or 8-Br-cAMP (e.g., to drive differentiation toward endothelial stem cell/progenitor lineage); VEGF (e.g., to drive differentiation toward arterial endothelium fate); Sox-2, Brn4, Mytl1, Neurod2, Ascl1 (e.g., to drive differentiation toward neural stem cell/progenitor lineage); and BDNF, FCS, Forskolin, and/or SHH (e.g., to drive differentiation neuron, astrocyte, and/or oligodendrocyte fate).

Examples of signaling proteins (e.g., extracellular signaling proteins) that can be delivered (e.g., as protein and/or a nucleic acid such as DNA or RNA encoding the protein) in combination with a gene editing tool include but are not limited to: cytokines (e.g., IL-2 and/or IL-15, e.g., for activating CD8+ T-cells); ligands and or signaling proteins that modulate one or more of the Notch, Wnt, and/or Smad signaling pathways; SCF; stem cell differentiating factors (e.g. Sox2, Oct3/4, Nanog, Klf4, c-Myc, and the like); and temporary surface marker “tags” and/or fluorescent reporters for subsequent isolation/purification/concentration. For example, a fibroblast may be converted into a neural stem cell via delivery of Sox2, while it will turn into a cardiomyocyte in the presence of Oct3/4 and small molecule “epigenetic resetting factors.” In a patient with Huntington's disease or a CXCR4 mutation, these fibroblasts may respectively encode diseased phenotypic traits associated with neurons and cardiac cells. By delivering gene editing corrections and these factors in a single package, the risk of deleterious effects due to one or more, but not all of the factors/payloads being introduced can be significantly reduced.

Because the timing and/or location of payload release can be controlled (described in more detail elsewhere in this disclosure), the packaging of multiple payloads in the same package (e.g., same nanoparticle) does not preclude one from achieving different release times and/or locations for different payloads. For example the release of the above proteins (and/or a DNAs or mRNAs encoding same) and/or non-coding RNAs can be controlled separately from the release of the one or more gene editing tools that are part of the same package. For example, proteins and/or nucleic acids (e.g., DNAs, mRNAs, non-coding RNAs, miRNAs) that control cell proliferation and/or differentiation, or that control bias toward NHEJ or HDR, can be released earlier than the one or more gene editing tools or can be released later than the one or more gene editing tools. This can be achieved, e.g., by using more than one sheddable layer and/or by using more than one core (e.g., where one core has a different release profile than the other, e.g., uses a different D- to L-isomer ratio, uses a different ESP:ENP:EPP profile, and the like).

ii. Sheddable Layer (Sheddable Coat)

In some embodiments, a subject nanoparticle includes a sheddable layer (also referred to herein as a “transient stabilizing layer”) that surrounds (encapsulates) the core. In some cases a subject sheddable layer can protect the payload before and during initial cellular uptake. For example, without a sheddable layer, much of the payload can be lost during cellular internalization. Once in the cellular environment, a sheddable layer ‘sheds’ (e.g., the layer can be pH- and/or or glutathione-sensitive), exposing the components of the core.

In some cases a subject sheddable layer includes silica. In some cases, when a subject nanoparticle includes a sheddable layer (e.g., of silica), greater intracellular delivery efficiency can be observed despite decreased probability of cellular uptake. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, coating a nanoparticle core with a sheddable layer (e.g., silica coating) can seal the core, stabilizing it until shedding of the layer, which leads to release of the payload (e.g., upon processing in the intended subcellular compartment). Following cellular entry through receptor-mediated endocytosis, the nanoparticle sheds its outermost layer, the sheddable layer degrades in the acidifying environment of the endosome or reductive environment of the cytosol, and exposes the core, which in some cases exposes localization signals such as nuclear localization signals (NLSs) and/or mitochondrial localization signals. Moreover, nanoparticle cores encapsulated by a sheddable layer can be stable in serum and can be suitable for administration in vivo.

Any desired sheddable layer can be used, and one of ordinary skill in the art can take into account where in the target cell (e.g., under what conditions, such as low pH) they desire the payload to be released (e.g., endosome, cytosol, nucleus, lysosome, and the like). Different sheddable layers may be more desirable depending on when, where, and/or under what conditions it would be desirable for the sheddable coat to shed (and therefore release the payload). For example, a sheddable layer can be acid labile. In some cases the sheddable layer is an anionic sheddable layer (an anionic coat). In some cases the sheddable layer comprises silica, a peptoid, a polycysteine, and/or a ceramic (e.g., a bioceramic). In some cases the sheddable includes one or more of: calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron (e.g., the sheddable layer can be magnetic, e.g., Fe₃MnO₂), and lithium. Each of these can include phosphate or sulfate. As such, in some cases the sheddable includes one or more of: calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, manganese phosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron phosphate, iron sulfate, lithium phosphate, and lithium sulfate; each of which can have a particular effect on how and/or under which conditions the sheddable layer will ‘shed.’ Thus, in some cases the sheddable layer includes one or more of: silica, a peptoid, a polycysteine, a ceramic (e.g., a bioceramic), calcium, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, manganese, manganese phosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron, iron phosphate, iron sulfate, lithium, lithium phosphate, and lithium sulfate (in any combination thereof) (e.g., the sheddable layer can be a coating of silica, peptoid, polycysteine, a ceramic (e.g., a bioceramic), calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, manganese phosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron phosphate, iron sulfate, lithium phosphate, lithium sulfate, or a combination thereof). In some cases the sheddable layer includes silica (e.g., the sheddable layer can be a silica coat). In some cases the sheddable layer includes an alginate gel.

In some cases different release times for different payloads are desirable. For example, in some cases it is desirable to release a payload early (e.g., within 0.5-7 days of contacting a target cell) and in some cases it is desirable to release a payload late (e.g., within 6 days-30 days of contacting a target cell). For example, in some cases it may be desirable to release a payload (e.g., a gene editing tool such as a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a DNA molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, and/or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide) within 0.5-7 days of contacting a target cell (e.g., within 0.5-5 days, 0.5-3 days, 1-7 days, 1-5 days, or 1-3 days of contacting a target cell). In some cases it may be desirable to release a payload (e.g., a DNA donor template, e.g., for homology directed repair—HDR) within 6-40 days of contacting a target cell (e.g., within 6-30, 6-20, 6-15, 7-40, 7-30, 7-20, 7-15, 9-40, 9-30, 9-20, or 9-15 days of contacting a target cell). In some cases release times can be controlled by delivering nanoparticles having different payloads at different times. In some cases release times can be controlled by delivering nanoparticles at the same time (as part of different formulations or as part of the same formulation), where the components of the nanoparticle are designed to achieve the desired release times. For example, one may use a sheddable layer that degrades faster or slower, core components that are more or less resistant to degradation, core components that are more or less susceptible to de-condensation, etc.—and any or all of the components can be selected in any convenient combination to achieve the desired timing.

In some cases it is desirable to delay the release of a payload (e.g., a DNA donor template) relative to another payload (e.g., one or more gene editing tools). As an example, in some cases a first nanoparticle includes a donor DNA template as a payload is designed such that the payload is released within 6-40 days of contacting a target cell (e.g., within 6-30, 6-20, 6-15, 7-40, 7-30, 7-20, 7-15, 9-40, 9-30, 9-20, or 9-15 days of contacting a target cell), while a second nanoparticle that includes one or more gene editing tools (e.g., a ZFP or nucleic acid encoding the ZFP, a TALE or a nucleic acid encoding the TALE, a ZFN or nucleic acid encoding the ZFN, a TALEN or a nucleic acid encoding the TALEN, a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA or DNA molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, and the like) as a payload is designed such that the payload is released within 0.5-7 days of contacting a target cell (e.g., within 0.5-5 days, 0.5-3 days, 1-7 days, 1-5 days, or 1-3 days of contacting a target cell). The second nanoparticle can be part of the same or part of a different formulation as the first nanoparticle.

In some cases, a nanoparticle includes more than one payload, where it is desirable for the payloads to be released at different times. This can be achieved in a number of different ways. For example, a nanoparticle can have more than one core, where one core is made with components that can release the payload early (e.g., within 0.5-7 days of contacting a target cell, e.g., within 0.5-5 days, 0.5-3 days, 1-7 days, 1-5 days, or 1-3 days of contacting a target cell) (e.g., an siRNA, an mRNA, and/or a genome editing tool such as a ZFP or nucleic acid encoding the ZFP, a TALE or a nucleic acid encoding the TALE, a ZFN or nucleic acid encoding the ZFN, a TALEN or a nucleic acid encoding the TALEN, a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA or DNA molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, and the like) and the other is made with components that can release the payload (e.g., a DNA donor template) later (e.g., within 6-40 days of contacting a target cell, e.g., within 6-30, 6-20, 6-15, 7-40, 7-30, 7-20, 7-15, 9-40, 9-30, 9-20, or 9-15 days of contacting a target cell).

As another example, a nanoparticle can include more than one sheddable layer, where the outer sheddable layer is shed (releasing a payload) prior to an inner sheddable layer being shed (releasing another payload). In some cases, the inner payload is a DNA donor template (e.g., for homology directed repair—HDR) and the outer payload is one or more gene editing tools (e.g., a ZFP or nucleic acid encoding the ZFP, a TALE or a nucleic acid encoding the TALE, a ZFN or nucleic acid encoding the ZFN, a TALEN or a nucleic acid encoding the TALEN, a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA or DNA molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, and the like). The inner and outer payloads can be any desired payload and either or both can include, for example, one or more siRNAs and/or one or more mRNAs. As such, in some cases a nanoparticle can have more than one sheddable layer and can be designed to release one payload early (e.g., within 0.5-7 days of contacting a target cell, e.g., within 0.5-5 days, 0.5-3 days, 1-7 days, 1-5 days, or 1-3 days of contacting a target cell) (e.g., an siRNA, an mRNA, a genome editing tool such as a ZFP or nucleic acid encoding the ZFP, a TALE or a nucleic acid encoding the TALE, a ZFN or nucleic acid encoding the ZFN, a TALEN or a nucleic acid encoding the TALEN, a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA or DNA molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, and the like), and another payload (e.g., an siRNA, an mRNA, a DNA donor template) later (e.g., within 6-40 days of contacting a target cell, e.g., within 6-30, 6-20, 6-15, 7-40, 7-30, 7-20, 7-15, 9-40, 9-30, 9-20, or 9-15 days of contacting a target cell).

In some embodiments (e.g., in embodiments described above), time of altered gene expression can be used as a proxy for the time of payload release. As an illustrative example, if one desires to determine if a payload has been released by day 12, one can assay for the desired result of nanoparticle delivery on day 12. For example, if the desired result was to reduce the expression of a target gene of the target cell, e.g., by delivering an siRNA, then the expression of the target gene can be assayed/monitored to determine if the siRNA has been released. As another example, if the desired result was to express a protein of interest, e.g., by delivering a DNA or mRNA encoding the protein of interest, then the expression of the protein of interest can be assayed/monitored to determine if the payload has been released. As yet another example, if the desired result was to alter the genome of the target cell, e.g., via cleaving genomic DNA and/or inserting a sequence of a donor DNA template, the expression from the targeted locus and/or the presence of genomic alterations can be assayed/monitored to determine if the payload has been released.

As such, in some cases a sheddable layer provides for a staged release of nanoparticle components. For example, in some cases, a nanoparticle has more than one (e.g., two, three, or four) sheddable layers. For example, for a nanoparticle with two sheddable layers, such a nanoparticle can have, from inner-most to outer-most: a core, e.g., with a first payload; a first sheddable layer, an intermediate layer e.g., with a second payload; and a second sheddable layer surrounding the intermediate layer (see, e.g., FIG. 9). Such a configuration (multiple sheddable layers) facilitates staged release of various desired payloads. As a further illustrative example, a nanoparticle with two sheddable layers (as described above) can include one or more desired gene editing tools in the core (e.g., one or more of: a DNA donor template, a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a DNA encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, and the like), and another desired gene editing tool in the intermediate layer (e.g., one or more of: a programmable gene editing protein such as a CRISPR/Cas protein, a ZFP, a ZFN, a TALE, a TALEN, etc.; a DNA or RNA encoding a programmable gene editing protein; a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; a DNA encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; and the like)—in any desired combination.

An example of adding a sheddable layer (e.g., two solutions passed through a microfluidic mixing chip with the appropriate residence time (flowrate)) can be found in the Examples section.

Alternative Packaging (e.g., Lipid Formulations)

In some embodiments, a subject core (e.g., including any combination of components and/or configurations described above) is part of a lipid-based delivery system, e.g., a cationic lipid delivery system (see, e.g., Chesnoy and Huang, Annu Rev Biophys Biomol Struct. 2000, 29:27-47; Hirko et al., Curr Med Chem. 2003 Jul. 10(14):1185-93; and Liu et al., Curr Med Chem. 2003 Jul. 10(14):1307-15). In some cases a subject core (e.g., including any combination of components and/or configurations described above) is not surrounded by a sheddable layer. As noted above a core can include an anionic polymer composition (e.g., poly(glutamic acid)), a cationic polymer composition (e.g., poly(arginine), a cationic polypeptide composition (e.g., a histone tail peptide), and a payload (e.g., nucleic acid and/or protein payload).

In some cases in which the core is part of a lipid-based delivery system, the core was designed with timed and/or positional release in mind. For example, in some cases the core includes ESPs, ENPs, and/or EPPs, and in some such cases these components are present at ratios such that payload release is delayed until a desired condition (e.g., cellular location, cellular condition such as pH, presence of a particular enzyme, and the like) is encountered by the core (e.g., described above). In some such embodiments the core includes polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, and in some cases the polymers of D- and L- isomers are present, relative to one another, within a particular range of ratios (e.g., described above). In some cases the core includes polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, and in some cases the polymers of D- and L- isomers are present, relative to one another, within a particular range of ratios (e.g., described above). In some cases the core includes polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, and in some cases the polymers of D- and L-isomers are present, relative to one another, within a particular range of ratios (e.g., described above). In some cases the core includes polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid, and in some cases the polymers of D- and L-isomers are present, relative to one another, within a particular range of ratios (e.g., described above). In some cases the core includes a protein that includes an NLS (e.g., described above). In some cases the core includes an HTP (e.g., described above).

Cationic lipids are nonviral vectors that can be used for gene delivery and have the ability to condense plasmid DNA. After synthesis of N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride for lipofection, improving molecular structures of cationic lipids has been an active area, including head group, linker, and hydrophobic domain modifications. Modifications have included the use of multivalent polyamines, which can improve DNA binding and delivery via enhanced surface charge density, and the use of sterol-based hydrophobic groups such as 3B—[N—(N′,N′-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol, which can limit toxicity. Helper lipids such as dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) can be used to improve transgene expression via enhanced liposomal hydrophobicity and hexagonal inverted-phase transition to facilitate endosomal escape. In some cases a lipid formulation includes one or more of: DLin-DMA, DLin-K-DMA, DLin-KC2-DMA, DLin-MC3-DMA, 98N12-5, C12-200, a cholesterol a PEG-lipid, a lipiopolyamine, dexamethasone-spermine (DS), and disubstituted spermine (D₂S) (e.g., resulting from the conjugation of dexamethasone to polyamine spermine). DLin-DMA, DLin-K-DMA, DLin-KC2-DMA, 98N12-5, C12-200 and DLin-MC3-DMA can be synthesized by methods outlined in the art (see, e.g., Heyes et. al, J. Control Release, 2005, 107, 276-287; Semple et. al, Nature Biotechnology, 2010, 28, 172-176; Akinc et. al, Nature Biotechnology, 2008, 26, 561-569; Love et. al, PNAS, 2010, 107, 1864-1869; international patent application publication WO2010054401; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Examples of various lipid-based delivery systems include, but are not limited to those described in the following publications: international patent publication No. WO2016081029; U.S. patent application publication Nos. US20160263047 and US20160237455; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,533,047; 9,504,747; 9,504,651; 9,486,538; 9,393,200; 9,326,940; 9,315,828; and 9,308,267; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

As such, in some cases a subject core is surrounded by a lipid (e.g., a cationic lipid such as a LIPOFECTAMINE transfection reagent). In some cases a subject core is present in a lipid formulation (e.g., a lipid nanoparticle formulation). A lipid formulation can include a liposome and/or a lipoplex. A lipid formulation can include a Spontaneous Vesicle Formation by Ethanol Dilution (SNALP) liposome (e.g., one that includes cationic lipids together with neutral helper lipids which can be coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or protamine).

A lipid formulation can be a lipidoid-based formulation. The synthesis of lipidoids has been extensively described and formulations containing these compounds can be included in a subject lipid formulation (see, e.g., Mahon et al., Bioconjug Chem. 2010 21:1448-1454; Schroeder et al., J Intern Med. 2010 267:9-21; Akinc et al., Nat Biotechnol. 2008 26:561-569; Love et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2010 107:1864-1869; and Siegwart et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011 108:12996-3001; all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). In some cases a subject lipid formulation can include one or more of (in any desired combination): 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC); 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE); N-[1-(2,3-Dioleyloxy)prophyl]N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA); 1,2-Dioleoyloxy-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP); Dioctadecylamidoglycylspermine (DOGS); N-(3-Aminopropyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2,3-bis(dodecyloxy)-1 (GAP-DLRIE); propanaminium bromide; cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB); 6-Lauroxyhexyl ornithinate (LHON); Dioleoyloxypropyl)-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium (20c); 2,3-Dioleyloxy-N-[2(sperminecarboxamido-ethyl]-N,N-dimethyl-1 (DOSPA); propanaminium trifluoroacetate; 1,2-Dioleyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOPA); N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2,3-bis(tetradecyloxy)-1 (MDRIE); propanaminium bromide; dimyristooxypropyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium bromide (DMRI); 3.beta.-[N—(N′,N′-Dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl]cholesterol DC-Chol; bis-guanidium-tren-cholesterol (BGTC); 1,3-Diodeoxy-2-(6-carboxy-spermyl)-propylamide (DOSPER); Dimethyloctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB); Dioctadecylamidoglicylspermidin (DSL); rac-[(2,3-Dioctadecyloxypropyl)(2-hydroxyethyl)]-dimethylammonium (CLIP-1); chloride rac-[2(2,3-Dihexadecyloxypropyl (CLIP-6); oxymethyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium bromide; ethyldimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (EDMPC); 1,2-Distearyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DSDMA); 1,2-Dimyristoyl-trimethylammonium propane (DMTAP); O,O′-Dimyristyl-N-lysyl aspartate (DMKE); 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine (DSEPC); N-Palmitoyl D-erythro-sphingosyl carbamoyl-spermine (CCS); N-t-Butyl-N0-tetradecyl-3-tetradecylaminopropionamidine; diC14-amidine; octadecenolyoxy[ethyl-2-heptadecenyl-3 hydroxyethyl] imidazolinium (DOTIM); chloride N1-Cholesteryloxycarbonyl-3,7-diazanonane-1,9-diamine (CDAN); 2-[3-[bis(3-aminopropyl)amino]propylamino]-N-[2-[di(tetradecyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl]acetamide (RPR209120); ditetradecylcarbamoylme-ethyl-acetamide; 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA); 2,2-dilinoleyl-4-dimethylaminoethyl[1,3]-dioxolane; DLin-KC2-DMA; dilinoleyl-methyl-4-dimethylaminobutyrate; DLin-MC3-DMA; DLin-K-DMA; 98N12-5; C12-200; a cholesterol; a PEG-lipid; a lipiopolyamine; dexamethasone-spermine (DS); and disubstituted spermine (D₂S).

iii. Surface Coat (Outer Shell)

In some cases, the sheddable layer (the coat), is itself coated by an additional layer, referred to herein as an “outer shell,” “outer coat,” or “surface coat.” A surface coat can serve multiple different functions. For example, a surface coat can increase delivery efficiency and/or can target a subject nanoparticle to a particular cell type. The surface coat can include a peptide, a polymer, or a ligand-polymer conjugate. The surface coat can include a targeting ligand. For example, an aqueous solution of one or more targeting ligands (with or without linker domains) can be added to a coated nanoparticle suspension (suspension of nanoparticles coated with a sheddable layer). For example, in some cases the final concentration of protonated anchoring residues (of an anchoring domain) is between 25 and 300 μM. In some cases, the process of adding the surface coat yields a monodispersed suspension of particles with a mean particle size between 50 and 150 nm and a zeta potential between 0 and −10 mV.

In some cases, the surface coat interacts electrostatically with the outermost sheddable layer. For example, in some cases, a nanoparticle has two sheddable layers (e.g., from inner-most to outer-most: a core, e.g., with a first payload; a first sheddable layer, an intermediate layer e.g., with a second payload; and a second sheddable layer surrounding the intermediate layer), and the outer shell (surface coat) can interact with (e.g., electrostatically) the second sheddable layer. In some cases, a nanoparticle has only one sheddable layer (e.g., an anionic silica layer), and the outer shell can in some cases electrostatically interact with the sheddable layer.

Thus, in cases where the sheddable layer (e.g., outermost sheddable layer) is anionic (e.g., in some cases where the sheddable layer is a silica coat), the surface coat can interact electrostatically with the sheddable layer if the surface coat includes a cationic component. For example, in some cases the surface coat includes a delivery molecule in which a targeting ligand is conjugated to a cationic anchoring domain. The cationic anchoring domain interacts electrostatically with the sheddable layer and anchors the delivery molecule to the nanoparticle. Likewise, in cases where the sheddable layer (e.g., outermost sheddable layer) is cationic, the surface coat can interact electrostatically with the sheddable layer if the surface coat includes an anionic component.

In some embodiments, the surface coat includes a cell penetrating peptide (CPP). In some cases, a polymer of a cationic amino acid can function as a CPP (also referred to as a ‘protein transduction domain’—PTD), which is a term used to refer to a polypeptide, polynucleotide, carbohydrate, or organic or inorganic compound that facilitates traversing a lipid bilayer, micelle, cell membrane, organelle membrane, or vesicle membrane. A PTD attached to another molecule (e.g., embedded in and/or interacting with a sheddable layer of a subject nanoparticle), which can range from a small polar molecule to a large macromolecule and/or a nanoparticle, facilitates the molecule traversing a membrane, for example going from extracellular space to intracellular space, or cytosol to within an organelle (e.g., the nucleus).

Examples of CPPs include but are not limited to a minimal undecapeptide protein transduction domain (corresponding to residues 47-57 of HIV-1 TAT comprising YGRKKRRQRRR (SEQ ID NO: 160); a polyarginine sequence comprising a number of arginines sufficient to direct entry into a cell (e.g., 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 10-50 arginines); a VP22 domain (Zender et al. (2002) Cancer Gene Ther. 9(6):489-96); an Drosophila Antennapedia protein transduction domain (Noguchi et al. (2003) Diabetes 52(7):1732-1737); a truncated human calcitonin peptide (Trehin et al. (2004) Pharm. Research 21:1248-1256); polylysine (Wender et al. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:13003-13008); RRQRRTSKLMKR (SEQ ID NO: 161); Transportan GWTLNSAGYLLGKINLKALAALAKKIL (SEQ ID NO: 162); KALAWEAKLAKALAKALAKHLAKALAKALKCEA (SEQ ID NO: 163); and RQIKIWFQNRRMKWKK (SEQ ID NO: 164). Example CPPs include but are not limited to: YGRKKRRQRRR (SEQ ID NO: 160), RKKRRQRRR (SEQ ID NO: 165), an arginine homopolymer of from 3 arginine residues to 50 arginine residues, RKKRRQRR (SEQ ID NO: 166), YARAAARQARA (SEQ ID NO: 167), THRLPRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 168), and GGRRARRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 169). In some embodiments, the CPP is an activatable CPP (ACPP) (Aguilera et al. (2009) lntegr Biol (Camb) June; 1(5-6): 371-381). ACPPs comprise a polycationic CPP (e.g., Arg9 or “R9”) connected via a cleavable linker to a matching polyanion (e.g., Glu9 or “E9”), which reduces the net charge to nearly zero and thereby inhibits adhesion and uptake into cells. Upon cleavage of the linker, the polyanion is released, locally unmasking the polyarginine and its inherent adhesiveness, thus “activating” the ACPP to traverse the membrane

In some cases a CPP can be added to the nanoparticle by contacting a coated core (a core that is surrounded by a sheddable layer) with a composition (e.g., solution) that includes the CPP. The CPP can then interact with the sheddable layer (e.g., electrostatically).

In some cases, the surface coat includes a polymer of a cationic amino acid (e.g., a poly(arginine) such as poly(L-arginine) and/or poly(D-arginine), a poly(lysine) such as poly(L-lysine) and/or poly(D-lysine), a poly(histidine) such as poly(L- histidine) and/or poly(D-histidine), a poly(ornithine) such as poly(L-ornithine) and/or poly(D-ornithine), poly(citrulline) such as poly(L-citrulline) and/or poly(D-citrulline), and the like). As such, in some cases the surface coat includes poly(arginine), e.g., poly(L-arginine).

In some embodiments, the surface coat includes a heptapeptide such as selank (TKPRPGP—SEQ ID NO: 147) (e.g., N-acetyl selank) and/or semax (MEHFPGP—SEQ ID NO: 148) (e.g., N-acetyl semax). As such, in some cases the surface coat includes selank (e.g., N-acetyl selank). In some cases the surface coat includes semax (e.g., N-acetyl semax).

In some embodiments the surface coat includes a delivery molecule. A delivery molecule includes a targeting ligand and in some cases the targeting ligand is conjugated to an anchoring domain (e.g. a cationic anchoring domain). In some case a targeting ligand is conjugated to an anchoring domain (e.g. a cationic anchoring domain) via an intervening linker.

Targeting Ligand

A variety of targeting ligands (e.g., as part of a subject delivery molecule) can be used as part of a surface coat, and numerous different targeting ligands are envisioned. In some embodiments the targeting ligand is a fragment (e.g., a binding domain) of a wild type protein. For example, in some cases the peptide targeting ligand of a subject delivery molecule can have a length of from 4-50 amino acids (e.g., from 4-40, 4-35, 4-30, 4-25, 4-20, 4-15, 5-50, 5-40, 5-35, 5-30, 5-25, 5-20, 5-15, 7-50, 7-40, 7-35, 7-30, 7-25, 7-20, 7-15, 8-50, 8-40, 8-35, 8-30, 8-25, 8-20, or 8-15 amino acids). The targeting ligand can be a fragment of a wild type protein, but in some cases has a mutation (e.g., insertion, deletion, substitution) relative to the wild type amino acid sequence (i.e., a mutation relative to a corresponding wild type protein sequence). For example, a targeting ligand can include a mutation that increases or decreases binding affinity with a target cell surface protein.

In some cases the targeting ligand is an antigen-binding region of an antibody (e.g., an ScFv). “Fv” is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a complete antigen-recognition and -binding site. In a two-chain Fv species, this region consists of a dimer of one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. In a single-chain Fv species (scFv), one heavy- and one light-chain variable domain can be covalently linked by a flexible peptide linker such that the light and heavy chains can associate in a “dimeric” structure analogous to that in a two-chain Fv species. For a review of scFv see Pluckthun, in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315 (1994).

In some cases a targeting ligand includes a viral glycoprotein, which in some cases binds to ubiqituous surface markers such as heparin sulfate proteoglycans, and may induce micropinocytosis in some cell populations through membrane ruffling associated processes. Poly(L-arginine) is another example targeting ligand that can also be used for binding to surface markers such as heparin sulfate proteoglycans.

In some cases, a targeting ligand can include a mutation that adds a cysteine residue, which can facilitate conjugation to a linker and/or an anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain). For example, cysteine can be used for crosslinking (conjugation) via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) and/or amine-reactive chemistry.

In some cases, a targeting ligand includes an internal cysteine residue. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes a cysteine residue at the N- and/or C-terminus. In some cases, in order to include a cysteine residue, a targeting ligand is mutated (e.g., insertion or substitution), e.g., relative to a corresponding wild type sequence. As such, any of the targeting ligands described herein can be modified by inserting and/or substituting in a cysteine residue (e.g., internal, N-terminal, C-terminal insertion of or substitution with a cysteine residue).

By “corresponding” wild type sequence is meant a wild type sequence from which the subject sequence was or could have been derived (e.g., a wild type protein sequence having high sequence identity to the sequence of interest). For example, for a targeting ligand that has one or more mutations (e.g., substitution, insertion) but is otherwise highly similar to a wild type sequence, the amino acid sequence to which it is most similar may be considered to be a corresponding wild type amino acid sequence.

A corresponding wild type protein/sequence does not have to be 100% identical (e.g., can be 85% or more identical, 90% or more identical, 95% or more identical, 98% or more identical, 99% or more identical, etc.) (outside of the position(s) that is modified), but the targeting ligand and corresponding wild type protein (e.g., fragment of a wild protein) can bind to the intended cell surface protein, and retain enough sequence identity (outside of the region that is modified) that they can be considered homologous. The amino acid sequence of a “corresponding” wild type protein sequence can be identified/evaluated using any convenient method (e.g., using any convenient sequence comparison/alignment software such as BLAST, MUSCLE, T-COFFEE, etc.).

Examples of targeting ligands that can be used as part of a surface coat (e.g., as part of a delivery molecule of a surface coat) include, but are not limited to, those listed in Table 1. Examples of targeting ligands that can be used as part of a subject delivery molecule include, but are not limited to, those listed in Table 3 (many of the sequences listed in Table 3 include the targeting ligand (e.g., SNRWLDVK for row 2) conjugated to a cationic polypeptide domain, e.g., 9R, 6R, etc., via a linker (e.g., GGGGSGGGGS). Examples of amino acid sequences that can be included in a targeting ligand include, but are not limited to: NPKLTRMLTFKFY (SEQ ID NO: xx) (IL2), TSVGKYPNTGYYGD (SEQ ID NO: xx) (CD3), SNRWLDVK (Siglec), EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (SCF); EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (SCF), EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (SCF), SNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECVKENS (SEQ ID NO: xx) (cKit), and Ac-SNYSAibADKAibANAibADDAibAEAibAKENS (SEQ ID NO: xx) (cKit). Thus in some cases a targeting ligand includes an amino acid sequence that has 85% or more (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, or 100%) sequence identity with NPKLTRMLTFKFY (SEQ ID NO: xx) (IL2), TSVGKYPNTGYYGD (SEQ ID NO: xx) (CD3), SNRWLDVK (Siglec), EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (SCF); EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (SCF), EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (SCF), or SNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECVKENS (SEQ ID NO: xx) (cKit).

TABLE 1 Examples of Targeting ligands Cell Surface SEQ Protein Targeting Ligand Sequence ID NO: Family B GPCR Exendin HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS 1 Exendin (S11C) HGEGTFTSDLCKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS 2 FGF receptor FGF fragment KRLYCKNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKSDPHIKLQLQAEE 3 RGVVSIKGVCANRYLAMKEDGRLLASKCVTDECFFFERL ESNNYNTY FGF fragment KNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKS 4 FGF fragment HFKDPK 5 FGF fragment LESNNYNT 6 E-selectin MIASQFLSALTLVLLIKESGA 7 L-selectin MVFPWRCEGTYWGSRNILKLWVWTLLCCDFLIHHGTHC 8 MIFPWKCQSTQRDLWNIFKLWGWTMLCCDFLAHHGTDC 9 MIFPWKCQSTQRDLWNIFKLWGWTMLCC 10 P-selectin PSGL-1 MAVGASGLEGDKMAGAMPLQLLLLLILLGPGNSLQLWDT 271 (SELPLG) WADEAEKALGPLLARDRRQATEYEYLDYDFLPETEPPEM LRNSTDTTPLTGPGTPESTTVEPAARRSTGLDAGGAVTE LTTELANMGNLSTDSAAMEIQTTQPAATEAQTTQPVPTE AQTTPLAATEAQTTRLTATEAQTTPLAATEAQTTPPAAT EAQTTQPTGLEAQTTAPAAMEAQTTAPAAMEAQTTPPAA MEAQTTQTTAMEAQTTAPEATEAQTTQPTATEAQTTPLA AMEALSTEPSATEALSMEPTTKRGLFIPFSVSSVTHMGI PMAASNLSVNYPVGAPDHISVKQCLLAILILALVATIFF VCTVVLAVRLSRKGHMYPVRNYSPTEMVCISSLLPDGGE GPSATANGGLSKAKSPGLTPEPREDREGDDLTLHSFLP E-selectin ESL-1 MAACGRVRRMFRLSAALHLLLLFAAGAEKLPGQGVHSQG 272 (GLG1) QGPGANFVSFVGQAGGGGPAGQQLPQLPQSSQLQQQQQQ QQQQQQPQPPQPPFPAGGPPARRGGAGAGGGWKLAEEES CREDVTRVCPKHTWSNNLAVLECLQDVREPENEISSDCN HLLWNYKLNLTTDPKFESVAREVCKSTITEIKECADEPV GKGYMVSCLVDHRGNITEYQCHQYITKMTAIIFSDYRLI CGFMDDCKNDINILKCGSIRLGEKDAHSQGEVVSCLEKG LVKEAEEREPKIQVSELCKKAILRVAELSSDDFHLDRHL YFACRDDRERFCENTQAGEGRVYKCLFNHKFEESMSEKC REALTTRQKLIAQDYKVSYSLAKSCKSDLKKYRCNVENL PRSREARLSYLLMCLESAVHRGRQVSSECQGEMLDYRRM LMEDFSLSPEIILSCRGEIEHHCSGLHRKGRTLHCLMKV VRGEKGNLGMNCQQALQTLIQETDPGADYRIDRALNEAC ESVIQTACKHIRSGDPMILSCLMEHLYTEKMVEDCEHRL LELQYFISRDWKLDPVLYRKCQGDASRLCHTHGWNETSE FMPQGAVFSCLYRHAYRTEEQGRRLSRECRAEVQRILHQ RAMDVKLDPALQDKCLIDLGKWCSEKTETGQELECLQDH LDDLVVECRDIVGNLTELESEDIQIEALLMRACEPIIQN FCHDVADNQIDSGDLMECLIQNKHQKDMNEKCAIGVTHF QLVQMKDFRFSYKFKMACKEDVLKLCPNIKKKVDVVICL STTVRNDTLQEAKEHRVSLKCRRQLRVEELEMTEDIRLE PDLYEACKSDIKNFCSAVQYGNAQIIECLKENKKQLSTR CHQKVFKLQETEMMDPELDYTLMRVCKQMIKRFCPEADS KTMLQCLKQNKNSELMDPKCKQMITKRQITQNTDYRLNP MLRKACKADIPKFCHGILTKAKDDSELEGQVISCLKLRY ADQRLSSDCEDQIRIIIQESALDYRLDPQLQLHCSDEIS SLCAEEAAAQEQTGQVEECLKVNLLKIKTELCKKEVLNM LKESKADIFVDPVLHTACALDIKHHCAAITPGRGRQMSC LMEALEDKRVRLQPECKKRLNDRIEMWSYAAKVAPADGF SDLAMQVMTSPSKNYILSVISGSICILFLIGLMCGRITK RVTRELKDRLQYRSETMAYKGLVWSQDVTGSPA PSGL-1 See above 271 (SELPLG) CD44 MDKFWWHAAWGLCLVPLSLAQIDLNITCRFAGVFHVEKN 273 GRYSISRTEAADLCKAFNSTLPTMAQMEKALSIGFETCR YGFIEGHVVIPRIHPNSICAANNTGVYILTSNTSQYDTY CFNASAPPEEDCTSVTDLPNAFDGPITITIVNRDGTRYV QKGEYRTNPEDIYPSNPTDDDVSSGSSSERSSTSGGYIF YTFSTVHPIPDEDSPWITDSTDRIPATTLMSTSATATET ATKRQETWDWFSWLFLPSESKNHLHTTTQMAGTSSNTIS AGWEPNEENEDERDRHLSFSGSGIDDDEDFISSTISTTP RAFDHTKQNQDWTQWNPSHSNPEVLLQTTTRMTDVDRNG TTAYEGNWNPEAHPPLIHHEHHEEEETPHSTSTIQATPS STTEETATQKEQWFGNRWHEGYRQTPKEDSHSTTGTAAA SHATSHPMQGRTTPSPSDSSWNTDFFNPISHPMGRGHQA GRRMDMDSSHSITLQPTANPNTGLVEDLDRTGPLSMTTQ QSNSQSFSTSHEGLEEDKDHPTTSTLTSSNRNDVTGGRR DPNHSEGSTTLLEGYTSHYPHTKESRTFIPVTSAKGTGS FGVTAVTVGDSNSNVNRSLSGDQDTFHPSGGSHTTHGSE SDGHSHGSQEGGANTTSGPIRTPQIPEWLIILASLLALA LILAVCIAVNSRRRCGQKKKLVINSGNGAVEDRKPSGLN GEASKSQEMVHLVNKESSETPDQFMTADETRNLQNVDMK IGV DR3 MEQRPRGCAAVAAALLLVLLGARAQGGTRSPRCDCAGDF 274 (TNFRSF25) HKKIGLFCCRGCPAGHYLKAPCTEPCGNSTCLVCPQDTF LAWENHHNSECARCQACDEQASQVALENCSAVADTRCGC KPGWFVECQVSQCVSSSPFYCQPCLDCGALHRHTRLLCS RRDTDCGTCLPGFYEHGDGCVSCPTPPPSLAGAPWGAVQ SAVPLSVAGGRVGVFWVQVLLAGLVVPLLLGATLTYTYR HCWPHKPLVTADEAGMEALTPPPATHLSPLDSAHTLLAP PDSSEKICTVQLVGNSWTPGYPETQEALCPQVTWSWDQL PSRALGPAAAPTLSPESPAGSPAMMLQPGPQLYDVMDAV PARRWKEFVRTLGLREAEIEAVEVEIGRFRDQQYEMLKR WRQQQPAGLGAVYAALERMGLDGCVEDLRSRLQRGP LAMP1 MAAPGSARRPLLLLLLLLLLGLMHCASAAMFMVKNGNGT 275 ACIMANFSAAFSVNYDTKSGPKNMTFDLPSDATVVLNRS SCGKENTSDPSLVIAFGRGHTLTLNFTRNATRYSVQLMS FVYNLSDTHLFPNASSKEIKTVESITDIRADIDKKYRCV SGTQVHMNNVTVTLHDATIQAYLSNSSFSRGETRCEQDR PSPTTAPPAPPSPSPSPVPKSPSVDKYNVSGTNGTCLLA SMGLQLNLTYERKDNTTVTRLLNINPNKTSASGSCGAHL VTLELHSEGTTVLLFQFGMNASSSRFFLQGIQLNTILPD ARDPAFKAANGSLRALQATVGNSYKCNAEEHVRVTKAFS VNIFKVWVQAFKVEGGQFGSVEECLLDENSMLIPIAVGG ALAGLVLIVLIAYLVGRKRSHAGYQTI LAMP2 MVCFRLFPVPGSGLVLVCLVLGAVRSYALELNLTDSENA 276 TCLYAKWQMNFTVRYETTNKTYKTVTISDHGTVTYNGSI CGDDQNGPKIAVQFGPGFSWIANFTKAASTYSIDSVSFS YNTGDNTTFPDAEDKGILTVDELLAIRIPLNDLFRCNSL STLEKNDVVQHYWDVLVQAFVQNGTVSTNEFLCDKDKTS TVAPTIHTTVPSPTTTPTPKEKPEAGTYSVNNGNDTCLL ATMGLQLNITQDKVASVININPNTTHSTGSCRSHTALLR LNSSTIKYLDFVFAVKNENRFYLKEVNISMYLVNGSVFS IANNNLSYWDAPLGSSYMCNKEQTVSVSGAFQINTFDLR VQPFNVTQGKYSTAQDCSADDDNFLVPIAVGAALAGVLI LVLLAYFIGLKHHHAGYEQF Mac2-BP MTPPRLFWVWLLVAGTQGVNDGDMRLADGGATMQGRVEI 277 (galectin 3 binding FYRGQWGTVCDLNWDLTDASVVCRALGFENATQALGRAA protein) FGQGSGPIMLDEVQCTGTEASLADCKSLGWLKSNCRHER (LGALS3BP) DAGVVCTNETRSTHTLDLSRELSEALGQIFDSQRGCDLS ISVNVQGEDALGFCGHTVILTANLEAQALWKEPGSNVTM SVDAECVPMVRDLLRYFYSRRIDITLSSVKCFHKLASAY GARQLQGYCASLFAILLPQDPSFQMPLDLYAYAVATGDA LLEKLCLQFLAWNFEALTQAEAWPSVPTDLLQLLLPRSD LAVPSELALLKAVDTWSWGERASHEEVEGLVEKIRFPMM LPEELFELQFNLSLYWSHEALFQKKTLQALEFHTVPFQL LARYKGLNLTEDTYKPRIYTSPTWSAFVTDSSWSARKSQ LVYQSRRGPLVKYSSDYFQAPSDYRYYPYQSFQTPQHPS FLFQDKRVSWSLVYLPTIQSCWNYGFSCSSDELPVLGLT KSGGSDRTIAYENKALMLCEGLFVADVTDFEGWKAAIPS ALDTNSSKSTSSFPCPAGHFNGFRTVIRPFYLTNSSGVD Transferrin Transferrin ligand THRPPMWSPVWP 11 receptor α5β1 integrin α5β1 ligand RRETAWA 12 RGD RGDGW 181 integrin Integrin binding (Ac)-GCGYGRGDSPG(NH2) 188 peptide GCGYGRGDSPG 182 α5β3 integrin α5β3 ligand DGARYCRGDCFDG 187 rabies virus YTIWMPENPRPGTPCDIFTNSRGKRASNGGGG 183 glycoprotein (RVG) c-Kit stem cell factor EGICRNRVTNNVKDVTKLVANLPKDYMITLKYVPGMDVL 184 receptor (SCF) PSHCWISEMVVQLSDSLTDLLDKFSNISEGLSNYSIIDK (CD117) LVNIVDDLVECVKENSSKDLKKSFKSPEPRLFTPEEFFR IFNRSIDAFKDFVVASETSDCVVSSTLSPEKDSRVSVTK PFMLPPVA CD27 CD70 PEEGSGCSVRRRPYGCVLRAALVPLVAGLVICLVVCIQR 185 FAQAQQQLPLESLGWDVAELQLNHTGPQQDPRLYWQGGP ALGRSFLHGPELDKGQLRIHRDGIYMVHIQVTLAICSST TASRHHPTTLAVGICSPASRSISLLRLSFHQGCTIASQR LTPLARGDTLCTNLTGTLLPSRNTDETFFGVQWVRP CD150 SH2 domain- SSGLVPRGSHMDAVAVYHGKISRETGEKLLLATGLDGSY 186 containing protein LLRDSESVPGVYCLCVLYHGYIYTYRVSQTETSWWSAET 1A (SH2D1A) APGVHKRYFRKIKNLISAFQKPDQGIVIPLQYPVEKKSS ARSTQGTTGIREDPDVCLKAP

A targeting ligand (e.g., of a delivery molecule) can include the amino acid sequence RGD and/or an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes the amino acid sequence RGD and/or the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12. In some embodiments, a targeting ligand can include a cysteine (internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal), and can also include the amino acid sequence RGD and/or an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12.

A targeting ligand (e.g., of a delivery molecule) can include the amino acid sequence RGD and/or an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12 and 181-187. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes the amino acid sequence RGD and/or the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12 and 181-187. In some embodiments, a targeting ligand can include a cysteine (internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal), and can also include the amino acid sequence RGD and/or an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12 and 181-187.

A targeting ligand (e.g., of a delivery molecule) can include the amino acid sequence RGD and/or an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12, 181-187, and 271-277. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes the amino acid sequence RGD and/or the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12, 181-187, and 271-277. In some embodiments, a targeting ligand can include a cysteine (internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal), and can also include the amino acid sequence RGD and/or an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-12, 181-187, and 271-277.

In some cases, a targeting ligand (e.g., of a delivery molecule) can include an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 181-187, and 271-277. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 181-187, and 271-277. In some embodiments, a targeting ligand can include a cysteine (internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal), and can also include an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 181-187, and 271-277.

In some cases, a targeting ligand (e.g., of a delivery molecule) can include an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 181-187. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 181-187. In some embodiments, a targeting ligand can include a cysteine (internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal), and can also include an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 181-187.

In some cases, a targeting ligand (e.g., of a delivery molecule) can include an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 271-277. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 271-277. In some embodiments, a targeting ligand can include a cysteine (internal, C-terminal, or N-terminal), and can also include an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 271-277.

The terms “targets” and “targeted binding” are used herein to refer to specific binding. The terms “specific binding,” “specifically binds,” and the like, refer to non-covalent or covalent preferential binding to a molecule relative to other molecules or moieties in a solution or reaction mixture (e.g., an antibody specifically binds to a particular polypeptide or epitope relative to other available polypeptides, a ligand specifically binds to a particular receptor relative to other available receptors). In some embodiments, the affinity of one molecule for another molecule to which it specifically binds is characterized by a K_d(dissociation constant) of 10⁻⁵M or less (e.g., 10⁻⁶M or less, 10⁻⁷M or less, 10⁻⁸M or less, 10⁻⁹M or less, 10⁻¹⁰M or less, 10¹¹M or less, 10⁻¹²M or less, 10⁻¹³M or less, 10⁻¹⁴M or less, 10⁻¹⁵M or less, or 10⁻¹⁶M or less). “Affinity” refers to the strength of binding, increased binding affinity correlates with a lower K_d.

In some cases, the targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to a cell surface protein selected from a family B G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), a cell surface glycoprotein, and a cell-cell adhesion molecule. Consideration of a ligand's spatial arrangement upon receptor docking can be used to accomplish a desired functional selectivity and endosomal sorting biases, e.g., so that the structure function relationship between the ligand and the target is not disrupted due to the conjugation of the targeting ligand to the payload or anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain). For example, conjugation to a nucleic acid, protein, ribonucleoprotein, or anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) could potentially interfere with the binding cleft(s).

Thus, in some cases, where a crystal structure of a desired target (cell surface protein) bound to its ligand is available (or where such a structure is available for a related protein), one can use 3D structure modeling and sequence threading to visualize sites of interaction between the ligand and the target. This can facilitate, e.g., selection of internal sites for placement of substitutions and/or insertions (e.g., of a cysteine residue).

As an example, in some cases, the targeting ligand provides for binding to a family B G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) (also known as the ‘secretin-family’). In some cases, the targeting ligand provides for binding to both an allosteric-affinity domain and an orthosteric domain of the family B GPCR to provide for the targeted binding and the engagement of long endosomal recycling pathways, respectively (see e.g., the examples section below as well as FIG. 11 and FIG. 12).

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) share a common molecular architecture (with seven putative transmembrane segments) and a common signaling mechanism, in that they interact with G proteins (heterotrimeric GTPases) to regulate the synthesis of intracellular second messengers such as cyclic AMP, inositol phosphates, diacylglycerol and calcium ions. Family B (the secretin-receptor family or ‘family 2’) of the GPCRs is a small but structurally and functionally diverse group of proteins that includes receptors for polypeptide hormones and molecules thought to mediate intercellular interactions at the plasma membrane (see e.g., Harmar et al., Genome Biol. 2001; 2(12):REVIEWS3013). There have been important advances in structural biology as relates to members of the secretin-receptor family, including the publication of several crystal structures of their N-termini, with or without bound ligands, which work has expanded the understanding of ligand binding and provides a useful platform for structure-based ligand design (see e.g., Poyner et al., Br J Pharmacol. 2012 May; 166(1):1-3).

For example, one may desire to use a subject delivery molecule to target the pancreatic cell surface protein GLP1R (e.g., to target β-islets) using the Exendin-4 ligand, or a derivative thereof (e.g., a cysteine substituted Exendin-4 targeting ligand such as that presented as SEQ ID NO: 2). Because GLP1R is abundant within the brain and pancreas, a targeting ligand that provides for targeting binding to GLP1R can be used to target the brain and pancreas. Thus, targeting GLP1R facilitates methods (e.g., treatment methods) focused on treating diseases (e.g., via delivery of one or more gene editing tools) such as Huntington's disease (CAG repeat expansion mutations), Parkinson's disease (LRRK2 mutations), ALS (SOD1 mutations), and other CNS diseases. Targeting GLP1R also facilitates methods (e.g., treatment methods) focused on delivering a payload to pancreatic β-islets for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus type I, diabetes mellitus type II, and pancreatic cancer (e.g., via delivery of one or more gene editing tools).

When targeting GLP1R using a modified version of exendin-4, an amino acid for cysteine substitution and/or insertion (e.g., for conjugation to a nucleic acid payload) can be identified by aligning the Exendin-4 amino acid sequence, which is HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS (SEQ ID NO. 1), to crystal structures of glucagon-GCGR (4ERS) and GLP1-GLP1R-ECD complex (PDB: 3IOL), using PDB 3 dimensional renderings, which may be rotated in 3D space in order to anticipate the direction that a cross-linked complex must face in order not to disrupt the two binding clefts (see e.g., the examples section below as well as FIG. 11 and FIG. 12). When a desirable cross-linking site (e.g., site for substitution/insertion of a cysteine residue) of a targeting ligand (that targets a family B GPCR) is sufficiently orthogonal to the two binding clefts of the corresponding receptor, high-affinity binding may occur as well as concomitant long endosomal recycling pathway sequestration (e.g., for optimal payload release). The cysteine substitution at amino acid positions 10, 11, and/or 12 of SEQ ID NO: 1 confers bimodal binding and specific initiation of a Gs-biased signaling cascade, engagement of beta arrestin, and receptor dissociation from the actin cytoskeleton. In some cases, this targeting ligand triggers internalization of the nanoparticle via receptor-mediated endocytosis, a mechanism that is not engaged via mere binding to the GPCR's N-terminal domain without concomitant orthosteric site engagement (as is the case with mere binding of the affinity strand, Exendin-4 [31-39]).

In some cases, a subject targeting ligand includes an amino acid sequence having 85% or more (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, or 100%) identity to the exendin-4 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1). In some such cases, the targeting ligand includes a cysteine substitution or insertion at one or more of positions corresponding to L10, S11, and K12 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. In some cases, the targeting ligand includes a cysteine substitution or insertion at a position corresponding to S11 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. In some cases, a subject targeting ligand includes an amino acid sequence having the exendin-4 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1). In some cases, the targeting ligand is conjugated (with or without a linker) to an anchoring domain (e.g., a cationic anchoring domain).

As another example, in some cases a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for binding to a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR). Thus in some cases the targeting ligand is a fragment of an FGF (i.e., comprises an amino acid sequence of an FGF). In some cases, the targeting ligand binds to a segment of the RTK that is occupied during orthosteric binding (e.g., see the examples section below). In some cases, the targeting ligand binds to a heparin-affinity domain of the RTK. In some cases, the targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to an FGF receptor and comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence KNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKS (SEQ ID NO: 4). In some cases, the targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to an FGF receptor and comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 4.

In some cases, small domains (e.g., 5-40 amino acids in length) that occupy the orthosteric site of the RTK may be used to engage endocytotic pathways relating to nuclear sorting of the RTK (e.g., FGFR) without engagement of cell-proliferative and proto-oncogenic signaling cascades, which can be endemic to the natural growth factor ligands. For example, the truncated bFGF (tbFGF) peptide (a.a.30-115), contains a bFGF receptor binding site and a part of a heparin-binding site, and this peptide can effectively bind to FGFRs on a cell surface, without stimulating cell proliferation. The sequences of tbFGF are KRLYCKNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKSDPHIKLQLQAEERGVVSIKGVCANRYLAMKEDGRLLAS KCVTDECFFFERLESNNYNTY (SEQ ID NO: 13) (see, e.g., Cai et al., Int J Pharm. 2011 Apr. 15; 408(1-2):173-82).

In some cases, the targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to an FGF receptor and comprises the amino acid sequence HFKDPK (SEQ ID NO: 5) (see, e.g., the examples section below). In some cases, the targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to an FGF receptor, and comprises the amino acid sequence LESNNYNT (SEQ ID NO: 6) (see, e.g., the examples section below).

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to a cell surface glycoprotein. In some cases, the targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to a cell-cell adhesion molecule. For example, in some cases, the targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to CD34, which is a cell surface glycoprotein that functions as a cell-cell adhesion factor, and which is protein found on hematopoietic stem cells (e.g., of the bone marrow). In some cases, the targeting ligand is a fragment of a selectin such as E-selectin, L-selectin, or P-selectin (e.g., a signal peptide found in the first 40 amino acids of a selectin). In some cases a subject targeting ligand includes sushi domains of a selectin (e.g., E-selectin, L-selectin, P-selectin).

In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence MIASQFLSALTLVLLIKESGA (SEQ ID NO: 7). In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 7. In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence MVFPWRCEGTYWGSRNILKLWVWTLLCCDFLIHHGTHC (SEQ ID NO: 8). In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 8. In some cases, targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence MIFPWKCQSTQRDLWNIFKLWGWTMLCCDFLAHHGTDC (SEQ ID NO: 9). In some cases, targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 9. In some cases, targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence MIFPWKCQSTQRDLWNIFKLWGWTMLCC (SEQ ID NO: 10). In some cases, targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10.

Fragments of selectins that can be used as a subject targeting ligand (e.g., a signal peptide found in the first 40 amino acids of a selectin) can in some cases attain strong binding to specifically-modified sialomucins, e.g., various Sialyl Lewis^xmodifications/O-sialylation of extracellular CD34 can lead to differential affinity for P-selectin, L-selectin and E-selectin to bone marrow, lymph, spleen and tonsillar compartments. Conversely, in some cases a targeting ligand can be an extracellular portion of CD34. In some such cases, modifications of sialylation of the ligand can be utilized to differentially target the targeting ligand to various selectins.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to E-selectin. E-selectin can mediate the adhesion of tumor cells to endothelial cells and ligands for E-selectin can play a role in cancer metastasis. As an example, P-selectin glycoprotein-1 (PSGL-1) (e.g., derived from human neutrophils) can function as a high-efficiency ligand for E-selectin (e.g., expressed by the endothelium), and a subject targeting ligand can therefore in some cases include the PSGL-1 amino acid sequence (or a fragment thereof the binds to E-selectin). As another example, E-selectin ligand-1 (ESL-1) can bind E-selectin and a subject targeting ligand can therefore in some cases include the ESL-1 amino acid sequence (or a fragment thereof the binds to E-selectin). In some cases, a targeting ligand with the PSGL-1 and/or ESL-1 amino acid sequence (or a fragment thereof the binds to E-selectin) bears one or more sialyl Lewis modifications in order to bind E-selectin. As another example, in some cases CD44, death receptor-3 (DR3), LAMP1, LAMP2, and Mac2-BP can bind E-selectin and a subject targeting ligand can therefore in some cases include the amino acid sequence (or a fragment thereof the binds to E-selectin) of any one of: CD44, death receptor-3 (DR3), LAMP1, LAMP2, and Mac2-BP.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to P-selectin. In some cases PSGL-1 can provide for such targeted binding. In some cases a subject targeting ligand can therefore in some cases include the PSGL-1 amino acid sequence (or a fragment thereof the binds to P-selectin). In some cases, a targeting ligand with the PSGL-1 amino acid sequence (or a fragment thereof the binds to P-selectin) bears one or more sialyl Lewis modifications in order to bind P-selectin.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to a transferrin receptor. In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence THRPPMWSPVWP (SEQ ID NO: 11). In some cases, targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 11.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to an integrin (e.g., α5β1 integrin). In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence RRETAWA (SEQ ID NO: 12). In some cases, targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 12. In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence RGDGW (SEQ ID NO: 181). In some cases, targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 181. In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence RGD.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to an integrin. In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence GCGYGRGDSPG (SEQ ID NO: 182). In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 182. In some cases such a targeting ligand is acetylated on the N-terminus and/or amidated (NH2) on the C-terminus.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to an integrin (e.g., α5β3 integrin). In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence DGARYCRGDCFDG (SEQ ID NO: 187). In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 187.

In some embodiments, a targeting ligand used to target the brain includes an amino acid sequence from rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) (e.g., YTIWMPENPRPGTPCDIFTNSRGKRASNGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 183)). In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 183. As for any of targeting ligand (as described elsewhere herein), RVG can be conjugated and/or fused to an anchoring domain (e.g., 9R peptide sequence). For example, a subject delivery molecule used as part of a surface coat of a subject nanoparticle can include the sequence YTIWMPENPRPGTPCDIFTNSRGKRASNGGGGRRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 180).

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to c-Kit receptor. In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 184. In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 184.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to CD27. In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 185. In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 185.

In some cases, a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure provides for targeted binding to CD150. In some such cases, the targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more sequence identity (e.g., 90% or more, 95% or more, 97% or more, 98% or more, 99% or more, 99.5% or more, or 100% sequence identity) with the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 186. In some cases, the targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 186.

In some embodiments, a targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to KLS CD27+/IL-7Ra−/CD150+/CD34− hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). For example, a gene editing tool(s) (described elsewhere herein) can be introduced in order to disrupt expression of a BCL11a transcription factor and consequently generate fetal hemoglobin. As another example, the beta-globin (HBB) gene may be targeted directly to correct the altered E7V substitution with a corresponding homology-directed repair donor template. As one illustrative example, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1) can be delivered with an appropriate guide RNA such that it will bind to loci in the HBB gene and create double-stranded or single-stranded breaks in the genome, initiating genomic repair. In some cases, a DNA donor template (single stranded or double stranded) is introduced (as part of a payload) and is release for 14-30 days while a guide RNA/CRISPR/Cas protein complex (a ribonucleoprotein complex) can be released over the course of from 1-7 days. In some cases, a payload can include an siRNA for ku70 or ku80, e.g., which can be used to promote homologous directed repair (HDR) and limit indel formation. In some cases, an mRNA for SIRT6 is released over 14-30 d to promote HDR-driven insertion of a donor strand following nuclease-mediated site-specific cleavage.

In some embodiments, a targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), in order to modify the T-cell receptor. For example, a gene editing tool(s) (described elsewhere herein) can be introduced in order to modify the T-cell receptor. The T-cell receptor may be targeted directly and substituted with a corresponding homology-directed repair donor template for a novel T-cell receptor. As one example, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1) can be delivered with an appropriate guide RNA such that it will bind to loci in the TCR gene and create double-stranded or single-stranded breaks in the genome, initiating genomic repair. In some cases, a DNA donor template (single stranded or double stranded) is introduced (as part of a payload) for HDR. It would be evident to skilled artisans that other CRISPR guide RNA and HDR donor sequences, targeting beta-globin, CCR5, the T-cell receptor, or any other gene of interest, and/or other expression vectors may be employed in accordance with the present disclosure.

Also provided are delivery molecules with two different peptide sequences that together constitute a targeting ligand. For example, in some cases a targeting ligand is bivalent (e.g., heterobivalent). In some cases, cell-penetrating peptides and/or heparin sulfate proteoglycan binding ligands are used as heterobivalent endocytotic triggers along with any of the targeting ligands of this disclosure. A heterobivalent targeting ligand can include an affinity sequence from one of targeting ligand and an orthosteric binding sequence (e.g., one known to engage a desired endocytic trafficking pathway) from a different targeting ligand.

Anchoring Domain

In some embodiments, the surface coat includes a delivery molecule that includes a targeting ligand conjugated to an anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) (see e.g., FIG. 10, panels A-B). In some cases a targeting ligand is conjugate to an anchoring domain (or to a linker) distal to the active region of the targeting ligand, e.g., in order to preserve activity. Anchoring domains (e.g., cationic anchoring domains) can include repeating cationic residues (e.g., arginine, lysine, histidine). In some cases, a cationic anchoring domain has a length in a range of from 3 to 30 amino acids (e.g., from 3-28, 3-25, 3-24, 3-20, 4-30, 4-28, 4-25, 4-24, or 4-20 amino acids). In some cases, a cationic anchoring domain has a length in a range of from 4 to 24 amino acids. Suitable examples of an anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) include, but are not limited to: RRRRRRRRR (9R)(SEQ ID NO: 15) and HHHHHH (6H)(SEQ ID NO: 16).

In some cases, an anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) of a subject delivery molecule is used as an anchor to coat the surface of a nanoparticle with the delivery molecule, e.g., so that the targeting ligand is used to target the nanoparticle to a desired cell/cell surface protein (see e.g., FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10). Thus, in some cases, the anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) interacts electrostatically with a charged sheddable layer of a nanoparticle. In some cases, the stabilization layer has a negative charge and a positively anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) can therefore interact with the stabilization layer, effectively anchoring the delivery molecule to the nanoparticle and coating the nanoparticle surface with a subject targeting ligand (e.g., see FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10).

Conjugation of a targeting ligand to an anchoring domain can be accomplished by any convenient technique and many different conjugation chemistries will be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In some cases the conjugation is via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond). In some cases the conjugation is accomplished using amine-reactive chemistry (e.g., an amine present on a side chain from an amino acid residue in the anchoring domain). As noted above, the targeting ligand can include a cysteine residue, which can facilitate conjugation. Likewise, an anchoring domain (e.g., a cationic anchoring domain) can include a cysteine residue, which can facilitate conjugation. In some cases, the targeting ligand and the anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) are conjugated by virtue of being part of the same polypeptide.

Linker

In some embodiments a targeting ligand according to the present disclosure is conjugated to an anchoring domain (e.g., a cationic anchoring domain) via an intervening linker (e.g., see FIG. 10). The linker can be a protein linker or non-protein linker. A linker can in some cases aid in stability, prevent complement activation, and/or provide flexibility to the ligand relative to the anchoring domain.

Conjugation of a targeting ligand to a linker or a linker to an anchoring domain can be accomplished in a number of different ways. In some cases the conjugation is via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond, e.g., between two cysteine residues, e.g., see FIG. 10). In some cases the conjugation is accomplished using amine-reactive chemistry. In some cases, a targeting ligand includes a cysteine residue and is conjugated to the linker via the cysteine residue; and/or an anchoring domain includes a cysteine residue and is conjugated to the linker via the cysteine residue. In some cases, the linker is a peptide linker and includes a cysteine residue. In some cases, the targeting ligand and a peptide linker are conjugated by virtue of being part of the same polypeptide; and/or the anchoring domain and a peptide linker are conjugated by virtue of being part of the same polypeptide.

In some cases, a subject linker is a polypeptide and can be referred to as a polypeptide linker. It is to be understood that while polypeptide linkers are contemplated, non-polypeptide linkers (chemical linkers) are used in some cases. For example, in some embodiments the linker is a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker. Suitable protein linkers include polypeptides of between 4 amino acids and 60 amino acids in length (e.g., 4-50, 4-40, 4-30, 4-25, 4-20, 4-15, 4-10, 6-60, 6-50, 6-40, 6-30, 6-25, 6-20, 6-15, 6-10, 8-60, 8-50, 8-40, 8-30, 8-25, 8-20, or 8-15 amino acids in length).

In some embodiments, a subject linker is rigid (e.g., a linker that include one or more proline residues). One non-limiting example of a rigid linker is GAPGAPGAP (SEQ ID NO: 17). In some cases, a polypeptide linker includes a C residue at the N- or C-terminal end. Thus, in some case a rigid linker is selected from: GAPGAPGAPC (SEQ ID NO: 18) and CGAPGAPGAP (SEQ ID NO: 19).

Peptide linkers with a degree of flexibility can be used. Thus, in some cases, a subject linker is flexible. The linking peptides may have virtually any amino acid sequence, bearing in mind that flexible linkers will have a sequence that results in a generally flexible peptide. The use of small amino acids, such as glycine and alanine, are of use in creating a flexible peptide. The creation of such sequences is routine to those of skill in the art. A variety of different linkers are commercially available and are considered suitable for use. Example linker polypeptides include glycine polymers (G)_n, glycine-serine polymers (including, for example, (GS)_n, GSGGS_n(SEQ ID NO: 20), GGSGGS_n(SEQ ID NO: 21), and GGGS_n(SEQ ID NO: 22), where n is an integer of at least one), glycine-alanine polymers, alanine-serine polymers. Example linkers can comprise amino acid sequences including, but not limited to, GGSG (SEQ ID NO: 23), GGSGG (SEQ ID NO: 24), GSGSG (SEQ ID NO: 25), GSGGG (SEQ ID NO: 26), GGGSG (SEQ ID NO: 27), GSSSG (SEQ ID NO: 28), and the like. The ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize that design of a peptide conjugated to any elements described above can include linkers that are all or partially flexible, such that the linker can include a flexible linker as well as one or more portions that confer less flexible structure. Additional examples of flexible linkers include, but are not limited to: GGGGGSGGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 29) and GGGGGSGGGGS (SEQ ID NO: 30). As noted above, in some cases, a polypeptide linker includes a C residue at the N- or C-terminal end. Thus, in some cases a flexible linker includes an amino acid sequence selected from: GGGGGSGGGGGC (SEQ ID NO: 31), CGGGGGSGGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 32), GGGGGSGGGGSC (SEQ ID NO: 33), and CGGGGGSGGGGS (SEQ ID NO: 34).

In some cases, a subject polypeptide linker is endosomolytic. Endosomolytic polypeptide linkers include but are not limited to: KALA (SEQ ID NO: 35) and GALA (SEQ ID NO: 36). As noted above, in some cases, a polypeptide linker includes a C residue at the N- or C-terminal end. Thus, in some cases a subject linker includes an amino acid sequence selected from: CKALA (SEQ ID NO: 37), KALAC (SEQ ID NO: 38), CGALA (SEQ ID NO: 39), and GALAC (SEQ ID NO: 40).

Illustrative Examples of Sulfhydryl Coupling Reactions

(e.g., for Conjugation Via Sulfhydryl Chemistry, e.g., Using a Cysteine Residue)

(e.g., for Conjugating a Targeting Ligand to a Linker, Conjugating a Targeting Ligand to an Anchoring Domain (e.g., Cationic Anchoring Domain), Conjugating a Linker to an Anchoring Domain (e.g., Cationic Anchoring Domain), and the Like)

Disulfide Bond

Cysteine residues in the reduced state, containing free sulfhydryl groups, readily form disulfide bonds with protected thiols in a typical disulfide exchange reaction.

Thioether/Thioester Bond

Sulfhydryl groups of cysteine react with maleimide and acyl halide groups, forming stable thioether and thioester bonds respectively.

Azide—Alkyne Cycloaddition

This conjugation is facilitated by chemical modification of the cysteine residue to contain an alkyne bond, or by the use of L-propargyl cysteine (pictured below) in synthetic peptide preparation. Coupling is then achieved by means of Cu promoted click chemistry.

Examples of Targeting Ligands

Examples of targeting ligands include, but are not limited, to those that include to the following amino acid sequences:

SCF (targets/binds to c-Kit receptor) (SEQ ID NO: 184) EGICRNRVTNNVKDVTKLVANLPKDYMITLKYVPGMDVLPSHCWISEMVV QLSDSLTDLLDKFSNISEGLSNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECVKENSSKDLKK SFKSPEPRLFTPEEFFRIFNRSIDAFKDFVVASETSDCVVSSTLSPEKDS RVSVTKPFMLPPVA; CD70 (targets/binds to CD27) (SEQ ID NO: 185) PEEGSGCSVRRRPYGCVLRAALVPLVAGLVICLVVCIQRFAQAQQQLPLE SLGWDVAELQLNHTGPQQDPRLYWQGGPALGRSFLHGPELDKGQLRIHRD GIYMVHIQVTLAICSSTTASRHHPTTLAVGICSPASRSISLLRLSFHQGC TIASQRLTPLARGDTLCTNLTGTLLPSRNTDETFFGVQVVVRP; and (SEQ ID NO: 186) SH2 domain-containing protein 1A (SH2D1A) (targets/binds to CD150) SSGLVPRGSHMDAVAVYHGKISRETGEKLLLATGLDGSYLLRDSESVPGV YCLCVLYHGYIYTYRVSQTETGSWSAETAPGVHKRYFRKIKNLISAFQKP DQGIVIPLQYPVEKKSSARSTQGTTGIREDPDVCLKAP

Thus, non-limiting examples of targeting ligands (which can be used alone or in combination with other targeting ligands) include:

9R-SCF (SEQ ID NO: 189) RRRRRRRRRMEGICRNRVTNNVKDVTKLVANLPKDYMITLKYVPGMDVLP SHCWISEMVVQLSDSLTDLLDKFSNISEGLSNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECV KENSSKDLKKSFKSPEPRLFTPEEFFRIFNRSIDAFKDFVVASETSDCVV SSTLSPEKDSRVSVTKPFMLPPVA 9R-CD70 (SEQ ID NO: 190) RRRRRRRRRPEEGSGCSVRRRPYGCVLRAALVPLVAGLVICLVVCIQRFA QAQQQLPLESLGWDVAELQLNHTGPQQDPRLYWQGGPALGRSFLHGPELD KGQLRIHRDGIYMVHIQVTLAICSSTTASRHHPTTLAVGICSPASRSISL LRLSFHQGCTIASQRLTPLARGDTLCTNLTGTLLPSRNTDETFFGVQWVR P CD70-9R (SEQ ID NO: 191) PEEGSGCSVRRRPYGCVLRAALVPLVAGLVICLVVCIQRFAQAQQQLPLE SLGWDVAELQLNHTGPQQDPRLYWQGGPALGRSFLHGPELDKGQLRIHRD GIYMVHIQVTLAICSSTTASRHHPTTLAVGICSPASRSISLLRLSFHQGC TIASQRLTPLARGDTLCTNLTGTLLPSRNTDETFFGVQWVRPRRRRRRRR R 6H-SH2D1A (SEQ ID NO: 192) MGSSHHHHHHSSGLVPRGSHMDAVAVYHGKISRETGEKLLLATGLDGSYL LRDSESVPGVYCLCVLYHGYIYTYRVSQTETGSWSAETAPGVHKRYFRKI KNLISAFQKPDQGIVIPLQYPVEKKSSARSTQGTTGIREDPDVCLKAP 6H-SH2D1A (SEQ ID NO: 193) RRRRRRRRRSSGLVPRGSHMDAVAVYHGKISRETGEKLLLATGLDGSYLL RDSESVPGVYCLCVLYHGYIYTYRVSQTETGSWSAETAPGVHKRYFRKIK NLISAFQKPDQGIVIPLQYPVEKKSSARSTQGTTGIREDPDVCLKAP Illustrative examples of delivery molecules and components (0a) Cysteine conjugation anchor 1 (CCA1) [anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)-linker (GAPGAPGAP)-cysteine] (SEQ ID NO: 41) RRRRRRRRR GAPGAPGAP C

(0b) Cysteine Conjugation Anchor 2 (CCA2)

[cysteine—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)] C GAPGAPGAP RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 42)

(1a) α5β1 Ligand

[anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—Targeting ligand] RRRRRRRRR GAPGAPGAP RRETAWA (SEQ ID NO: 45)

(1b) α5β1 Ligand

[Targeting ligand—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)] RRETAWA GAPGAPGAP RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 46)

(1c) α5β1 Ligand—Cys Left

CGAPGAPGAP (SEQ ID NO: 19)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(1d) α5β1 Ligand—Cys Right

GAPGAPGAPC (SEQ ID NO: 18)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA2 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(2a) RGD α5β1 Ligand

[anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—Targeting ligand] RRRRRRRRR GAPGAPGAP RGD (SEQ ID NO: 47)

(2b) RGD α5b1 Ligand

[Targeting ligand—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)] RGD GAPGAPGAP RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 48)
(2c) RGD Ligand—Cys Left

CRGD (SEQ ID NO: 49)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(2d) RGD Ligand—Cys Right

RGDC (SEQ ID NO: 50)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA2 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(3a) Transferrin Ligand

[anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—Targeting ligand] RRRRRRRRR GAPGAPGAP THRPPMWSPVWP (SEQ ID NO: 51)

(3b) Transferrin Ligand

[Targeting ligand—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)] THRPPMWSPVWP GAPGAPGAP RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 52)

(3c) Transferrin Ligand—Cys Left

CTHRPPMWSPVWP (SEQ ID NO: 53)

CPTHRPPMWSPVWP (SEQ ID NO: 54)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(3d) Transferrin Ligand—Cys Right

THRPPMWSPVWPC (SEQ ID NO: 55)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA2 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(4a) E-Selectin Ligand [1-21]

[anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—Targeting ligand] RRRRRRRRR GAPGAPGAP MIASQFLSALTLVLLIKESGA (SEQ ID NO: 56)
(4b) E-selectin ligand [1-21]
[Targeting ligand—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)] MIASQFLSALTLVLLIKESGA GAPGAPGAP RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 57)

(4c) E-Selectin Ligand [1-21]—Cys Left

CMIASQFLSALTLVLLIKESGA (SEQ ID NO: 58)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(4d) E-Selectin Ligand [1-21]—Cys Right

MIASQFLSALTLVLLIKESGAC (SEQ ID NO: 59)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA2 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(5a) FGF Fragment [26-47]

[anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—Targeting ligand] RRRRRRRRR GAPGAPGAP KNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKS (SEQ ID NO: 60)
Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(5b) FGF Fragment [26-47]

[Targeting ligand—linker (GAPGAPGAP)—anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain)]

KNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKS GAPGAPGAP RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 61)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(5c) FGF Fragment [25-47]—Cys on Left is Native

CKNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKS (SEQ ID NO: 43)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(5d) FGF Fragment [26-47]—Cys Right

KNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKSC (SEQ ID NO: 44)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA2 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

(6a) Exendin (S11C) [1-39]

HGEGTFTSDLCKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS (SEQ ID NO: 2)

Note: This can be conjugated to CCA1 (see above) either via sulfhydryl chemistry (e.g., a disulfide bond) or amine-reactive chemistry.

Multivalent Surface Coat

In some cases the surface coat includes any one or more of (in any desired combination): (i) one or more of the above described polymers, (ii) one or more targeting ligands, one or more CPPs, and one or more heptapeptides. For example, in some cases a surface coat can include one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more) targeting ligands, but can also include one or more of the above described cationic polymers. In some cases a surface coat can include one or more (e.g., two or more, three or more) targeting ligands, but can also include one or more CPPs.

In some cases, a surface coat includes a combination of targeting ligands that provides for targeted binding to CD34 and heparin sulfate proteoglycans. For example, poly(L-arginine) can be used as part of a surface coat to provide for targeted binding to heparin sulfate proteoglycans. As such, in some cases, after surface coating a nanoparticle with a cationic polymer (e.g., poly(L-arginine)), the coated nanoparticle is incubated with hyaluronic acid, thereby forming a zwitterionic and multivalent surface.

In some embodiments, the surface coat is multivalent. A multivalent surface coat is one that includes two or more targeting ligands (e.g., two or more delivery molecules that include different ligands). An example of a multimeric (in this case trimeric) surface coat (outer shell) is one that includes the targeting ligands stem cell factor (SCF) (which targets c-Kit receptor, also known as CD117), CD70 (which targets CD27), and SH2 domain-containing protein 1A (SH2D1A) (which targets CD150). For example, in some cases, to target hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) [KLS (c-Kit⁺Lin⁻Sca-1⁺) and CD27⁺/IL-7Ra⁻/CD150⁺/CD34⁻], a subject nanoparticle includes a surface coat that includes a combination of the targeting ligands SCF, CD70, and SH2 domain-containing protein 1A (SH2D1A), which target c-Kit, CD27, and CD150, respectively (see, e.g., Table 1). In some cases, such a surface coat can selectively target HSPCs and long-term HSCs (c-Kit+/Lin−/Sca-1+/CD27+/IL-7Ra−/CD150+/CD34−) over other lymphoid and myeloid progenitors.

In some example embodiments, all three targeting ligands (SCF, CD70, and SH2D1A) are anchored to the nanoparticle via fusion to a cationic anchoring domain (e.g., a poly-histidine such as 6H, a poly-arginine such as 9R, and the like). For example, (1) the targeting polypeptide SCF (which targets c-Kit receptor) can include XMEGICRNRVTNNVKDVTKLVANLPKDYMITLKYVPGMDVLPSHCWISEMVVQLSDSLTDLLDKFS NISEGLSNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECVKENSSKDLKKSFKSPEPRLFTPEEFFRIFNRSIDAFKDFVVAS ETSDCVVSSTLSPEKDSRVSVTKPFMLPPVAX (SEQ ID NO: 194), where the X is a cationic anchoring domain (e.g., a poly-histidine such as 6H, a poly-arginine such as 9R, and the like), e.g., which can in some cases be present at the N- and/or C-terminal end, or can be embedded within the polypeptide sequence; (2) the targeting polypeptide CD70 (which targets CD27) can include XPEEGSGCSVRRRPYGCVLRAALVPLVAGLVICLVVCIQRFAQAQQQLPLESLGWDVAELQLNHT GPQQDPRLYWQGGPALGRSFLHGPELDKGQLRIHRDGIYMVHIQVTLAICSSTTASRHHPTTLAV GICSPASRSISLLRLSFHQGCTIASQRLTPLARGDTLCTNLTGTLLPSRNTDETFFGVQWVRPX (SEQ ID NO: 195), where the X is a cationic anchoring domain (e.g., a poly-histidine such as 6H, a poly-arginine such as 9R, and the like), e.g., which can in some cases be present at the N- and/or C-terminal end, or can be embedded within the polypeptide sequence; and (3) the targeting polypeptide SH2D1A (which targets CD150) can include XSSGLVPRGSHMDAVAVYHGKISRETGEKLLLATGLDGSYLLRDSESVPGVYCLCVLYHGYIYTYR VSQTETGSWSAETAPGVHKRYFRKIKNLISAFQKPDQGIVIPLQYPVEKKSSARSTQGTTGIREDP DVCLKAP (SEQ ID NO: 196), where the X is a cationic anchoring domain (e.g., a poly-histidine such as 6H, a poly-arginine such as 9R, and the like), e.g., which can in some cases be present at the N- and/or C-terminal end, or can be embedded within the polypeptide sequence (e.g., such as MGSSXSSGLVPRGSHMDAVAVYHGKISRETGEKLLLATGLDGSYLLRDSESVPGVYCLCVLYHGY IYTYRVSQTETGSWSAETAPGVHKRYFRKIKNLISAFQKPDQGIVIPLQYPVEKKSSARSTQGTTGI REDPDVCLKAP (SEQ ID NO: 197)).

As noted above, nanoparticles of the disclosure can include multiple targeting ligands (as part of a surface coat) in order to target a desired cell type, or in order to target a desired combination of cell types. Examples of cells of interest within the mouse and human hematopoietic cell lineages are depicted in FIG. 17 (panels A-B), along with markers that have been identified for those cells. For example, various combinations of cell surface markers of interest include, but are not limited to: [Mouse] (i) CD150; (ii) Sca1, cKit, CD150; (iii) CD150 and CD49b; (iv) Sca1, cKit, CD150, and CD49b; (v) CD150 and Flt3; (vi) Sca1, cKit, CD150, and Flt3; (vii) Flt3 and CD34; (viii) Flt3, CD34, Sca1, and cKit; (ix) Flt3 and CD127; (x) Sca1, cKit, Flt3, and CD127; (xi) CD34; (xii) cKit and CD34; (xiii) CD16/32 and CD34; (xiv) cKit, CD16/32, and CD34; and (xv) cKit; and [Human] (i) CD90 and CD49f; (ii) CD34, CD90, and CD49f; (iii) CD34; (iv) CD45RA and CD10; (v) CD34, CD45RA, and CD10; (vi) CD45RA and CD135; (vii) CD34, CD38, CD45RA, and CD135; (viii) CD135; (ix) CD34, CD38, and CD135; and (x) CD34 and CD38. Thus, in some cases a surface coat includes one or more targeting ligands that provide targeted binding to a surface protein or combination of surface proteins selected from: [Mouse] (i) CD150; (ii) Sca1, cKit, CD150; (iii) CD150 and CD49b; (iv) Sca1, cKit, CD150, and CD49b; (v) CD150 and Flt3; (vi) Sca1, cKit, CD150, and Flt3; (vii) Flt3 and CD34; (viii) Flt3, CD34, Sca1, and cKit; (ix) Flt3 and CD127; (x) Sca1, cKit, Flt3, and CD127; (xi) CD34; (xii) cKit and CD34; (xiii) CD16/32 and CD34; (xiv) cKit, CD16/32, and CD34; and (xv) cKit; and [Human] (i) CD90 and CD49f; (ii) CD34, CD90, and CD49f; (iii) CD34; (iv) CD45RA and CD10; (v) CD34, CD45RA, and CD10; (vi) CD45RA and CD135; (vii) CD34, CD38, CD45RA, and CD135; (viii) CD135; (ix) CD34, CD38, and CD135; and (x) CD34 and CD38. Because a subject nanoparticle can include more than one targeting ligand, and because some cells include overlapping markers, multiple different cell types can be targeted using combinations of surface coats, e.g., in some cases a surface coat may target one specific cell type while in other cases a surface coat may target more than one specific cell type (e.g., 2 or more, 3 or more, 4 or more cell types). For example, any combination of cells within the hematopoietic lineage can be targeted. As an illustrative example, targeting CD34 (using a targeting ligand that provides for targeted binding to CD34) can lead to nanoparticle delivery of a payload to several different cells within the hematopoietic lineage (see, e.g., FIG. 17, panels A and B).

iv. Delivery

Provided are methods of delivering a nucleic acid, protein, or ribonucleoprotein payload to a cell. As noted above, in some cases the payload includes a gene editing tool. Thus, in some cases a subject method is used to perform site-specific genome editing, which in some cases, e.g., when performed in the presence of a donor DNA template, leads to and homology-directed repair.

Such methods include a step of contacting a cell with a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle). A subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) can be used to deliver a payload to any desired eukaryotic target cell. In some cases, the target cell is a mammalian cell (e.g., a cell of a rodent, a mouse, a rat, an ungulate, a cow, a sheep, a pig, a horse, a camel, a rabbit, a canine (dog), a feline (cat), a primate, a non-human primate, or a human). Any cell type can be targeted, and in some cases specific targeting of particular cells depends on the presence of targeting ligands, e.g., as part of the surface coat, where the targeting ligands provide for targeting binding to a particular cell type. For example, cells that can be targeted include but are not limited to bone marrow cells, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), long-term HSCs, short-term HSCs, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), myeloid progenitor cells, lymphoid progenitor cells, T-cells, B-cells, NKT cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, erythroid progenitor cells (e.g., HUDEP cells), megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cells (MEPs), common myeloid progenitor cells (CMPs), multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), short term HSCs (ST-HSCs), IT-HSCs, long term HSCs (LT-HSCs), endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, pancreatic cells, pancreatic β-islet cells, muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, hepatic cells, fat cells, intestinal cells, cells of the colon, and cells of the stomach.

Examples of various applications (e.g., for targeting neurons, cells of the pancreas, hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitors, etc.) are discussed above, e.g., in the context of targeting ligands. For example, Hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitors can be targeted for gene editing (e.g., insertion) in vivo. Even editing 1% of bone marrow cells in vivo (approximately 15 billion cells) would target more cells than an ex vivo therapy (approximately 10 billion cells). As another example, pancreatic cells (e.g., β islet cells) can be targeted, e.g., to treat pancreatic cancer, to treat diabetes, etc. As another example, somatic cells in the brain such as neurons can be targeted (e.g., to treat indications such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson's (e.g., LRRK2 mutations), and ALS (e.g., SOD1 mutations)). In some cases this can be achieved through direct intracranial injections.

As another example, endothelial cells and cells of the hematopoietic system (e.g., megakaryocytes and/or any progenitor cell upstream of a megakaryocyte such as a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell (MEP), a common myeloid progenitor cell (CMP), a multipotent progenitor cell (MPP), a hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), a short term HSC (ST-HSC), an IT-HSC, a long term HSC (LT-HSC)—see, e.g., FIG. 17) can be targeted with a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) to treat Von Willebrand's disease. For example, a cell (e.g., an endothelial cell, a megakaryocyte and/or any progenitor cell upstream of a megakaryocyte such as an MEP, a CMP, an MPP, an HSC such as an ST-HSC, an IT-HSC, and/or an LT-HSC) harboring a mutation in the gene encoding von Willebrand factor (VWF) can be targeted (in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo) in order to introduce an active protein (e.g., via delivery of a functional VWF protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding a functional VWF protein) and/or in order to edit the mutated gene, e.g., by introducing a replacement sequence (e.g., via delivery of a gene editing tool and delivery of a DNA donor template). In some of the above cases (e.g., in cases related to treating Von Willebrand's disease, in cases related to targeting a cell harboring a mutation in the gene encoding VWF), a subject targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to E-selectin.

As another example, a cell of a stem cell lineage (e.g., a stem and/or progenitor cell of the hematopoietic lineage, e.g., a GMP, MEP, CMP, MLP, MPP, and/or an HSC) can be targeted with a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) in order to increase expression of stem cell factor (SCF) in the cell, which can therefore drive proliferation of the targeted cell. For example, a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) can be used to deliver SCF and/or a nucleic acid (DNA or mRNA) encoding SCF to the targeted cell.

Methods and compositions of this disclosure can be used to treat any number of diseases, including any disease that is linked to a known causative mutation, e.g., a mutation in the genome. For example, methods and compositions of this disclosure can be used to treat sickle cell disease, ß thalassemia, HIV, myelodysplastic syndromes, JAK2-mediated polycythemia vera, JAK2-mediated primary myelofibrosis, JAK2-mediated leukemia, and various hematological disorders. As additional non-limiting examples, the methods and compositions of this disclosure can also be used for B-cell antibody generation, immunotherapies (e.g., delivery of a checkpoint blocking reagent), and stem cell differentiation applications.

As noted above, in some embodiments, a targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to KLS CD27+/IL-7Ra−/CD150+/CD34− hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). For example, a gene editing tool(s) (described elsewhere herein) can be introduced in order to disrupt expression of a BCL11a transcription factor and consequently generate fetal hemoglobin. As another example, the beta-globin (HBB) gene may be targeted directly to correct the altered E7V substitution with a corresponding homology-directed repair donor template. As one illustrative example, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1) can be delivered with an appropriate guide RNA such that it will bind to loci in the HBB gene and create double-stranded or single-stranded breaks in the genome, initiating genomic repair. In some cases, a DNA donor template (single stranded or double stranded) is introduced (as part of a payload) and is release for 14-30 days while a guide RNA/CRISPR/Cas protein complex (a ribonucleoprotein complex) can be released over the course of from 1-7 days. In some cases, a payload can include an siRNA for ku70 or ku80, e.g., which can be used to promote homologous directed repair (HDR) and limit indel formation. In some cases, an mRNA for SIRT6 is released over 14-30 d to promote HDR-driven insertion of a donor strand following nuclease-mediated site-specific cleavage.

In some embodiments, a targeting ligand provides for targeted binding to CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), in order to modify the T-cell receptor. For example, a gene editing tool(s) (described elsewhere herein) can be introduced in order to modify the T-cell receptor. The T-cell receptor may be targeted directly and substituted with a corresponding homology-directed repair donor template for a novel T-cell receptor. As one example, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide (e.g., Cas9, CasX, CasY, Cpf1) can be delivered with an appropriate guide RNA such that it will bind to loci in the TCR gene and create double-stranded or single-stranded breaks in the genome, initiating genomic repair. In some cases, a DNA donor template (single stranded or double stranded) is introduced (as part of a payload) for HDR. It would be evident to skilled artisans that other CRISPR guide RNA and HDR donor sequences, targeting beta-globin, CCR5, the T-cell receptor, or any other gene of interest, and/or other expression vectors may be employed in accordance with the present disclosure.

In some cases, when contacting a cell with a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle), the contacting is in vitro (e.g., the cell is in culture), e.g., the cell can be a cell of an established tissue culture cell line. In some cases, the contacting is ex vivo (e.g., the cell is a primary cell (or a recent descendant) isolated from an individual, e.g. a patient). In some cases, the cell is in vivo and is therefore inside of (part of) an organism. As an example of in vivo contact, in some cases the contacting step includes administration of a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) to an individual.

A subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) may be introduced to the subject (i.e., administered to an individual) via any of the following routes: systemic, local, parenteral, subcutaneous (s.c.), intravenous (i.v.), intracranial (i.c.), intraspinal, intraocular, intradermal (i.d.), intramuscular (i.m.), intralymphatic (LI.), or into spinal fluid. A subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) may be introduced by injection (e.g., systemic injection, direct local injection, local injection into or near a tumor and/or a site of tumor resection, etc.), catheter, or the like. Examples of methods for local delivery (e.g., delivery to a tumor and/or cancer site) include, e.g., by bolus injection, e.g. by a syringe, e.g. into a joint, tumor, or organ, or near a joint, tumor, or organ; e.g., by continuous infusion, e.g. by cannulation, e.g. with convection (see e.g. US Application No. 20070254842, incorporated here by reference).

The number of administrations of treatment to a subject may vary. Introducing a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) into an individual may be a one-time event; but in certain situations, such treatment may elicit improvement for a limited period of time and require an on-going series of repeated treatments. In other situations, multiple administrations of a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) may be required before an effect is observed. As will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the exact protocols depend upon the disease or condition, the stage of the disease and parameters of the individual being treated.

A “therapeutically effective dose” or “therapeutic dose” is an amount sufficient to effect desired clinical results (i.e., achieve therapeutic efficacy). A therapeutically effective dose can be administered in one or more administrations. For purposes of this disclosure, a therapeutically effective dose of a subject nanoparticle (or subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle) is an amount that is sufficient, when administered to the individual, to palliate, ameliorate, stabilize, reverse, prevent, slow or delay the progression of a disease state/ailment.

An example therapeutic intervention is one that creates resistance to HIV infection in addition to ablating any retroviral DNA that has been integrated into the host genome. T-cells are directly affected by HIV and thus a hybrid blood targeting strategy for CD34+ and CD45+ cells may be explored for delivering dual guided nucleases. By simultaneously targeting HSCs and T-cells and delivering an ablation to the CCR5-Δ32 and gag/rev/pol genes through multiple guided nucleases (e.g., within a single particle), a universal HIV cure can be created with persistence through the patient's life.

v. Co-Delivery (not Necessarily a Nanoparticle of the Disclosure)

As noted above, one advantage of delivering multiple payloads as part of the same package is that the efficiency of each payload is not diluted. As such, in some embodiments, one or more gene editing tools (e.g., as described above) is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same package/delivery vehicle, where the delivery vehicle does not need to be a nanoparticle of the disclosure) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that increases genomic editing efficiency. In some embodiments, one or more gene editing tools is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same package/delivery vehicle, where the delivery vehicle does not need to be a nanoparticle of the disclosure) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that controls cell division and/or differentiation. For example, in some cases one or more gene editing tools is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same package/delivery vehicle, where the delivery vehicle does not need to be a nanoparticle of the disclosure) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that controls cell division. In some cases one or more gene editing tools is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same package/delivery vehicle, where the delivery vehicle does not need to be a nanoparticle of the disclosure) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that controls differentiation. In some cases, one or more gene editing tools is delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same package/delivery vehicle, where the delivery vehicle does not need to be a nanoparticle of the disclosure) a protein (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding same) and/or a non-coding RNA that biases the cell DNA repair machinery toward non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homology directed repair (HDR).

As noted above, in some cases the delivery vehicle does not need to be a nanoparticle of the disclosure. For example, in some cases the delivery vehicle is viral and in some cases the delivery vehicle is non-viral. Examples of non-viral delivery systems include materials that can be used to co-condense multiple nucleic acid payloads, or combinations of protein and nucleic acid payloads. Examples include, but are not limited to: (1) lipid based particles such as zwitterionic or cationic lipids, and exosome or exosome-derived vesicles; (2) inorganic/hybrid composite particles such as those that include ionic complexes co-condensed with nucleic acids and/or protein payloads, and complexes that can be condensed from cationic ionic states of Ca, Mg, Si, Fe and physiological anions such as O²⁻, OH, PO₄³⁻, SO₄²⁻; (3) carbohydrate Delivery vehicles such as cyclodextrin and/or alginate; (4) polymeric and/or co-polymeric complexes such as poly(amino-acid) based electrostatic complexes, poly(Amido-Amine), and cationic poly(B-Amino Ester); and (5) virus like particles (e.g., protein and nucleic acid based) such as Li2016 artificial viruses. Examples of viral delivery systems include but are not limited to: AAV, adenoviral, retroviral, and lentiviral.

Examples of Payloads for Co-Delivery

In some embodiments one or more gene editing tools can be delivered in combination with (e.g., as part of the same package/delivery vehicle, where the delivery vehicle does not need to be a nanoparticle of the disclosure) one or more of: SCF (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding SCF), HoxB4 (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding HoxB4), BCL-XL (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding BCL-XL), SIRT6 (and/or a DNA or mRNA encoding SIRT6), a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA and/or an LNA) that suppresses miR-155, a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that reduces ku70 expression, and a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that reduces ku80 expression.

For examples of microRNAs (delivered as RNAs or as DNA encoding the RNAs) that can be delivered together, see FIG. 18A. For example, the following microRNAs can be used for the following purposes: for blocking differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell toward ectoderm lineage: miR-430/427/302; for blocking differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell toward endoderm lineage: miR-109 and/or miR-24; for driving differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell toward endoderm lineage: miR-122 and/or miR-192; for driving differentiation of an ectoderm progenitor cell toward a keratinocyte fate: miR-203; for driving differentiation of a neural crest stem cell toward a smooth muscle fate: miR-145; for driving differentiation of a neural stem cell toward a glial cell fate and/or toward a neuron fate: miR-9 and/or miR-124a; for blocking differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a chondrocyte fate: miR-199a; for driving differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward an osteoblast fate: miR-296 and/or miR-2861; for driving differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a cardiac muscle fate: miR-1; for blocking differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a cardiac muscle fate: miR-133; for driving differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a skeletal muscle fate: miR-214, miR-206, miR-1 and/or miR-26a; for blocking differentiation of a mesoderm progenitor cell toward a skeletal muscle fate: miR-133, miR-221, and/or miR-222; for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward differentiation: miR-223; for blocking differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward differentiation: miR-128a and/or miR-181a; for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward a lymphoid progenitor cell: miR-181; for blocking differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward a lymphoid progenitor cell: miR-146; for blocking differentiation of a hematopoietic progenitor cell toward a myeloid progenitor cell: miR-155, miR-24a, and/or miR-17; for driving differentiation of a lymphoid progenitor cell toward a T cell fate: miR-150; for blocking differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a granulocyte fate: miR-223; for blocking differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a monocyte fate: miR-17-5p, miR-20a, and/or miR-106a; for blocking differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a red blood cell fate: miR-150, miR-155, miR-221, and/or miR-222; and for driving differentiation of a myeloid progenitor cell toward a red blood cell fate: miR-451 and/or miR-16.

For examples of signaling proteins (e.g., extracellular signaling proteins) that can be delivered together with one or more gene editing tools (e.g., as described elsewhere herein), see FIG. 18B. For example, the following signaling proteins (e.g., extracellular signaling proteins) (e.g., delivered as protein or as a nucleic acid such as DNA or RNA encoding the protein) can be used for the following purposes: for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic stem cell toward a common lymphoid progenitor cell lineage: IL-7; for driving differentiation of a hematopoietic stem cell toward a common myeloid progenitor cell lineage: IL-3, GM-CSF, and/or M-CSF; for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a B-cell fate: IL-3, IL-4, and/or IL-7; for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a Natural Killer Cell fate: IL-15; for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a T-cell fate: IL-2, IL-7, and/or Notch; for driving differentiation of a common lymphoid progenitor cell toward a dendritic cell fate: Flt-3 ligand; for driving differentiation of a common myeloid progenitor cell toward a dendritic cell fate: Flt-3 ligand, GM-CSF, and/or TNF-alpha; for driving differentiation of a common myeloid progenitor cell toward a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell lineage: GM-CSF; for driving differentiation of a common myeloid progenitor cell toward a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell lineage: IL-3, SCF, and/or Tpo; for driving differentiation of a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell toward a megakaryocyte fate: IL-3, IL-6, SCF, and/or Tpo; for driving differentiation of a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell toward a erythrocyte fate: erythropoietin; for driving differentiation of a megakaryocyte toward a platelet fate: IL-11 and/or Tpo; for driving differentiation of a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell toward a monocyte lineage: GM-CSF and/or M-CSF; for driving differentiation of a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell toward a myeloblast lineage: GM-CSF; for driving differentiation of a monocyte toward a monocyte-derived dendritic cell fate: Flt-3 ligand, GM-CSF, IFN-alpha, and/or IL-4; for driving differentiation of a monocyte toward a macrophage fate: IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-10, and/or M-CSF; for driving differentiation of a myeloblast toward a neutrophil fate: G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-6, and/or SCF; for driving differentiation of a myeloblast toward a eosinophil fate: GM-CSF, IL-3, and/or IL-5; and for driving differentiation of a myeloblast toward a basophil fate: G-CSF, GM-CSF, and/or IL-3.

Examples of proteins that can be delivered (e.g., as protein and/or a nucleic acid such as DNA or RNA encoding the protein) together with one or more gene editing tools (e.g., as described elsewhere herein) include but are not limited to: SOX17, HEX, OSKM (Oct4/Sox2/Klf4/c-myc), and/or bFGF (e.g., to drive differentiation toward hepatic stem cell lineage); HNF4a (e.g., to drive differentiation toward hepatocyte fate); Poly (I:C), BMP-4, bFGF, and/or 8-Br-cAMP (e.g., to drive differentiation toward endothelial stem cell/progenitor lineage); VEGF (e.g., to drive differentiation toward arterial endothelium fate); Sox-2, Brn4, Myt11, Neurod2, Ascl1 (e.g., to drive differentiation toward neural stem cell/progenitor lineage); and BDNF, FCS, Forskolin, and/or SHH (e.g., to drive differentiation neuron, astrocyte, and/or oligodendrocyte fate).

Examples of signaling proteins (e.g., extracellular signaling proteins) that can be delivered (e.g., as protein and/or a nucleic acid such as DNA or RNA encoding the protein) together with one or more gene editing tools (e.g., as described elsewhere herein) include but are not limited to: cytokines (e.g., IL-2 and/or IL-15, e.g., for activating CD8+ T-cells); ligands and or signaling proteins that modulate one or more of the Notch, Wnt, and/or Smad signaling pathways; SCF; stem cell differentiating factors (e.g. Sox2, Oct3/4, Nanog, Klf4, c-Myc, and the like); and temporary surface marker “tags” and/or fluorescent reporters for subsequent isolation/purification/concentration. For example, a fibroblast may be converted into a neural stem cell via delivery of Sox2, while it will turn into a cardiomyocyte in the presence of Oct3/4 and small molecule “epigenetic resetting factors.” In a patient with Huntington's disease or a CXCR4 mutation, these fibroblasts may respectively encode diseased phenotypic traits associated with neurons and cardiac cells. By delivering gene editing corrections and these factors in a single package, the risk of deleterious effects due to one or more, but not all of the factors/payloads being introduced can be significantly reduced.

Applications include in vivo approaches wherein a cell death cue may be conditional upon a gene edit not being successful, and cell differentiation/proliferation/activation is tied to a tissue/organ-specific promoter and/or exogenous factor. A diseased cell receiving a gene edit may activate and proliferate, but due to the presence of another promoter-driven expression cassette (e.g. one tied to the absence of tumor suppressor such as p21 or p53), those cells will subsequently be eliminated. The cells expressing desired characteristics, on the other hand, may be triggered to further differentiate into the desired downstream lineages.

vi. Kits

Also within the scope of the disclosure are kits. For example, in some cases a subject kit can include one or more of (in any combination): (i) a targeting ligand, (ii) a linker, (iii) a targeting ligand conjugated to a linker, (iv) a targeting ligand conjugated to an anchoring domain (e.g., with or without a linker), (v) an agent for use as a sheddable layer (e.g., silica), (vi) a payload, e.g., an siRNA or a transcription template for an siRNA or shRNA; a gene editing tool, and the like, (vii) a polymer that can be used as a cationic polymer, (viii) a polymer that can be used as an anionic polymer, (ix) a polypeptide that can be used as a cationic polypeptide, e.g., one or more HTPs, and (x) a subject viral or non-viral delivery vehicle. In some cases, a subject kit can include instructions for use. Kits typically include a label indicating the intended use of the contents of the kit. The term label includes any writing, or recorded material supplied on or with the kit, or which otherwise accompanies the kit.

Exemplary Non-Limiting Aspects of the Disclosure

Aspects, including embodiments, of the present subject matter described above may be beneficial alone or in combination, with one or more other aspects or embodiments. Without limiting the foregoing description, certain non-limiting aspects of the disclosure are provided below in Set A (numbered 1-74), Set B (numbered 1-33), and Set C (numbered 1-11). As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individually numbered aspects may be used or combined with any of the preceding or following individually numbered aspects. This is intended to provide support for all such combinations of aspects and is not limited to combinations of aspects explicitly provided below:

Aspects (Set A)

1. A nanoparticle, comprising a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core, wherein the core comprises:

(i) an anionic polymer composition;

(ii) a cationic polymer composition;

(iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and

(iv) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload,

wherein (a) said anionic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid; and/or (b) said cationic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid.

2. The nanoparticle of 1, wherein said anionic polymer composition comprises a first anionic polymer selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA); and comprises a second anionic polymer selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA).
3. The nanoparticle of 1 or 2, wherein said cationic polymer composition comprises a first cationic polymer selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline); and comprises a second cationic polymer selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline).
4. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-3, wherein said polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.
5. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-4, wherein said polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.
6. A nanoparticle, comprising a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core, wherein the core comprises:

(a) an anionic polymer composition;

(b) a cationic polymer composition;

(c) a cationic polypeptide composition; and

(d) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload,

wherein one of (a) and (b) comprises a D-isomer polymer of an amino acid, and the other of (a) and (b) comprises an L-isomer polymer of an amino acid, and wherein the ratio of the D-isomer polymer to the L-isomer polymer is in a range of from 10:1 to 1.5:1, or from 1:1.5 to 1:10.

7. The nanoparticle of 6, wherein said anionic polymer composition comprises an anionic polymer selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA).
8. The nanoparticle of 7, wherein said cationic polymer composition comprises a cationic polymer selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline).
9. The nanoparticle of 6, wherein said cationic polymer composition comprises a cationic polymer selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline).
10. The nanoparticle of 9, wherein said anionic polymer composition comprises an anionic polymer selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA).
11. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-10, wherein the sheddable layer is an anionic coat.
12. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-11, wherein the sheddable layer is pH and/or glutathione sensitive.
13. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-12, wherein the sheddable layer comprises one or more of: silica, a peptoid, a polycysteine, calcium, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, manganese, manganese phosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron, iron phosphate, iron sulfate, lithium, lithium phosphate, and lithium sulfate.
14. The nanoparticle of 8, wherein the sheddable layer is a silica coat.
15. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-14, further comprising a surface coat surrounding the sheddable layer.
16. The nanoparticle of 15, wherein the surface coat comprises a cationic component that interacts electrostatically with the sheddable layer.
17. The nanoparticle of 15 or 16, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more of: a polymer of a cationic amino acid, a poly(arginine), an anchoring domain, a cationic anchoring domain, a cell penetrating peptide, a viral glycoprotein, a heparin sulfate proteoglycan, and a targeting ligand.
18. The nanoparticle of any one of 15-17, wherein the surface coat is zwitterionic and multivalent.
19. The nanoparticle of any one of 15-18, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands.
20. The nanoparticle of 19, wherein at least one of the one or more targeting ligands is conjugated to an anchoring domain that interacts with the sheddable layer.
21. The nanoparticle of 21, wherein the anchoring domain is a cationic anchoring domain selected from RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 15) and HHHHHH (SEQ ID NO: 16).
22. The nanoparticle of 21 or 21, wherein the anchoring domain is conjugated to the at least one of the one or more targeting ligands via a linker.
23. The nanoparticle of 22, wherein the linker is not a polypeptide.
24. The nanoparticle of 22, wherein the linker is a polypeptide.
25. The nanoparticle of any one of 22-24, wherein the linker is conjugated to the targeting ligand via sulfhydryl or amine-reactive chemistry, and/or the linker is conjugated to the anchoring domain via sulfhydryl or amine-reactive chemistry.
26. The nanoparticle of any one of 22-25, wherein said at least one of the one or more targeting ligands comprises a cysteine residue and is conjugated to the linker via the cysteine residue.
27. The nanoparticle of any one of 19-26, wherein said one or more targeting ligands provides for targeted binding to a family B G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR).
28. The nanoparticle of 27, wherein said targeting ligand comprises a cysteine substitution, at one or more internal amino acid positions, relative to a corresponding wild type amino acid sequence.
29. The nanoparticle of 27 or 28, wherein said targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more identity to the amino acid sequence HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS (SEQ ID NO: 1).
30. The nanoparticle of 29, wherein said targeting ligand comprises a cysteine substitution at one or more of positions L10, S11, and K12 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1).
31. The nanoparticle of 30, wherein said targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence HGEGTFTSDLCKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS (SEQ ID NO: 2).
32. The nanoparticle of any one of 19-31, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands that provides for targeted binding to a cell surface protein selected from c-Kit, CD27, and CD150.
33. The nanoparticle of any one of 19-32, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands selected from the group consisting of: rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) fragment, ApoE-transferrin, lactoferrin, melanoferritin, ovotransferritin, L-selectin, E-selectin, P-selectin, PSGL-1, ESL-1, CD44, death receptor-3 (DR3), LAMP1, LAMP2, Mac2-BP, stem cell factor (SCF), CD70, SH2 domain-containing protein 1A (SH2D1A), a exendin-4, GLP1, a targeting ligand that targets α5β1, RGD, a Transferrin ligand, an FGF fragment, succinic acid, a bisphosphonate, CD90, CD45f, CD34, a hematopoietic stem cell chemotactic lipid, sphingosine, ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramide-1-phosphate, and an active targeting fragment of any of the above.
34. The nanoparticle of any one of 19-33, wherein the surface coat comprises stem cell factor (SCF) or a targeting fragment thereof, CD70 or a targeting fragment thereof, and SH2 domain-containing protein 1A (SH2D1A) or a targeting fragment thereof.
35. The nanoparticle of any one of 19-34, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands that provides for targeted binding to target cells selected from: bone marrow cells, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), myeloid progenitor cells, lymphoid progenitor cells, T-cells, B-cells, NKT cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, erythroid progenitor cells, megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cells (MEPs), common myeloid progenitor cells (CMPs), multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), short term HSCs (ST-HSCs), IT-HSCs, long term HSCs (LT-HSCs), endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, pancreatic cells, pancreatic β-islet cells, liver cells, muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, hepatic cells, fat cells, intestinal cells, cells of the colon, and cells of the stomach.
36. The nanoparticle of any one of 19-34, wherein the surface coat comprises two or more targeting ligands, the combination of which provides for targeted binding to cells selected from: bone marrow cells, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), myeloid progenitor cells, lymphoid progenitor cells, T-cells, B-cells, NKT cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, erythroid progenitor cells (e.g., HUDEP cells), megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cells (MEPs), common myeloid progenitor cells (CMPs), multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), short term HSCs (ST-HSCs), IT-HSCs, long term HSCs (LT-HSCs), endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, pancreatic cells, pancreatic β-islet cells, liver cells, muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, hepatic cells, fat cells, intestinal cells, cells of the colon, and cells of the stomach.
37. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-36, wherein the cationic polypeptide composition comprises a polypeptide that comprises a nuclear localization signal (NLS).
38. The nanoparticle of 37, wherein the NLS comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 151-157 and 201-264.
39. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-38, wherein the cationic polypeptide composition comprises a histone tail peptide (HTP).
40. The nanoparticle of 39, wherein the HTP is conjugated to a cationic amino acid polymer.
41. The nanoparticle of 40, wherein the HTP is conjugated to a cationic amino acid polymer via a cysteine residue.
42. The nanoparticle of 40 or 41, wherein the cationic amino acid polymer comprises poly(lysine).
43. The nanoparticle of any one of 38-42, wherein said cationic polypeptide composition comprises histone peptides having a branched structure.
44. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-43, wherein the payload comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a ZFP, (viii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, (ix) a TALE protein, and (x) a DNA donor template.
45. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-44, wherein the payload comprises (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA and/or a DNA molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; and (ii) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide and/or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide.
46. The nanoparticle of 45, wherein the payload further comprises a DNA donor template.
47. The nanoparticle of any one of 1-46, further comprising one or more of: SCF, a nucleic acid encoding SCF, HoxB4, a nucleic acid encoding HoxB4, BCL-XL, a nucleic acid encoding BCL-XL, SIRT6, a nucleic acid encoding SIRT6, a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an LNA) that suppresses miR-155, a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that in reduces ku70 expression, and a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that in reduces ku80 expression.
48. A nanoparticle formulation, comprising:

(a) a first nanoparticle according to any one of 1-47, wherein the payload comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a ZFP, (viii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, and (ix) a TALE protein; and

(b) a second nanoparticle comprising a nucleic acid payload that comprises a DNA donor template.

49. A multi-layered nanoparticle, comprising:

(a) an inner core comprising a payload comprising a DNA donor template;

(b) a first sheddable layer surrounding the inner core;

(c) an intermediate core surrounding the first sheddable layer, wherein the intermediate core comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a DNA molecule encoding a ZFP, (viii) a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, and (ix) a DNA molecule encoding a TALE protein; and

(d) a second sheddable layer surrounding the intermediate core.

50. The multi-layered nanoparticle of 49, wherein the first and/or second sheddable layer comprises one or more of: silica, a peptoid, a polycysteine, calcium, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, manganese, manganese phosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron, iron phosphate, iron sulfate, lithium, lithium phosphate, and lithium sulfate.
51. The multi-layered nanoparticle of 49 or 50, comprising a surface coat surrounding the second sheddable layer.
52. The multi-layered nanoparticle of 51, wherein the surface coat comprises a cationic component that interacts electrostatically with the second sheddable layer.
53. The multi-layered nanoparticle of 51 or 52, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more of: a polymer of a cationic amino acid, a poly(arginine), a cell penetrating peptide, a viral glycoprotein, a heparin sulfate proteoglycan, and a targeting ligand.
54. The multi-layered nanoparticle of any one of 49-53, wherein the surface coat is zwitterionic and multivalent.
55. The multi-layered nanoparticle of any one of 49-54, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands.
56. A method of delivering a nucleic acid and/or protein payload to a target cell, the method comprising: contacting a eukaryotic target cell with the nanoparticle of any one of 1-47, the nanoparticle formulation of 48, and/or the multi-layered nanoparticle of any one of 49-55.
57. The method of 56, wherein the payload includes a gene editing tool.
58. The method of 56 or 57, wherein the payload includes one or more of: a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, a zinc finger nuclease, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger nuclease, a TALE or TALEN, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a TALE or TALEN, DNA donor template, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a site-specific recombinase (e.g., Cre recombinase, Dre recombinase, Flp recombinase, KD recombinase, B2 recombinase, B3 recombinase, R recombinase, Hin recombinase, Tre recombinase, PhiC31 integrase, Bxb1 integrase, R4 integrase, lambda integrase, HK022 integrase, HP1 integrase), a site-specific recombinase, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), a transposon and/or a DNA derived from a transposon (e.g., a bacterial transposon such as Tn3, Tn5, Tn7, Tn9, Tn10, Tn903, Tn1681; a eukaryotic transposon such as a Tc1/mariner super family transposon, a PiggyBac superfamily transposon, an hAT superfamily transposon, PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, Frog Prince, Minos, Himar1, mariner), and a transposase.
59. The method of any one of 56-58, wherein the target cell is a mammalian cell
60. The method of any one of 56-59, wherein the target cell is a human cell
61. The method of any one of 56-60, wherein the target cell is in culture in vitro.
62. The method of any one of 56-60, wherein the target cell is in vivo.
63. The method of 62, wherein said contacting includes a step of administering the nanoparticle to an individual
64. The method of 63, wherein the individual has Huntington's disease, ALS, Parkinson's disease, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, or von Willebrand's disease.
65. The method of any one of 56-64, wherein the nanoparticle includes a surface coat comprising a targeting ligand.
66. The method of 65, wherein the targeting ligand provides for target binding to cells selected from: bone marrow cells, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), myeloid progenitor cells, lymphoid progenitor cells, T-cells, B-cells, NKT cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, erythroid progenitor cells (e.g., HUDEP cells), megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cells (MEPs), common myeloid progenitor cells (CMPs), multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), short term HSCs (ST-HSCs), IT-HSCs, long term HSCs (LT-HSCs), endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, pancreatic cells, pancreatic β-islet cells, liver cells, muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, hepatic cells, fat cells, intestinal cells, cells of the colon, and cells of the stomach.
67. The method of any one of 56-66, wherein the target cell is selected from: a bone marrow cell, a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), a hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC), a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), a myeloid progenitor cell, a lymphoid progenitor cell, a T-cell, a B-cell, a NKT cell, a NK cell, a dendritic cell, a monocyte, a granulocyte, an erythrocyte, a megakaryocyte, a mast cell, a basophil, an eosinophil, a neutrophil, a macrophage, an erythroid progenitor cell, a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell (MEP), a common myeloid progenitor cell (CMP), a multipotent progenitor cell (MPP), a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), a short term HSC (ST-HSC), an IT-HSC, a long term HSC (LT-HSC), an endothelial cell, a neuron, an astrocyte, a pancreatic cell, a pancreatic β-islet cell, a liver cell, a muscle cell, a skeletal muscle cell, a cardiac muscle cell, a hepatic cell, a fat cell, an intestinal cell, a cell of the colon, and a cell of the stomach.
68. The method of any one of 56-67, wherein the target cell is a stem and/or progenitor cell and the payload comprises stem cell factor (SCF) and/or a nucleic acid encoding SCF.
69. The method of any one of 56-67, wherein (i) the target cell is from an individual with von Willebrand's disease and/or the target cell includes a genomic mutation in the gene encoding VWF such that the cell produces sub-normal levels of functional VWF; (ii) the target cell is any one of: a megakaryocyte, an endothelial cell, an MEP, a CMP, an MPP, an HSC, a ST-HSC, and a LT-HSC; and (iii) the payload includes a functional VWF protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding a functional VWF.
70. A branched histone molecule, comprising: one or more histone tail peptides (HTPs) conjugated to side chains of a cationic polymer.
71. The branched histone molecule of 70, wherein the cationic polymer comprises poly(arginine) or poly(lysine).
72. The branched histone molecule of 70 or 71, wherein up to 40% of the side chains of the cationic polymer are conjugated to said one or more HTPs.
73. A branched histone molecule, comprising: one or more histone tail peptides (HTPs) conjugated to one another such that the branched histone molecule forms a structure selected from: a brush polymer, a web (e.g., spider web structure), a graft polymer, a star-shaped polymer, a comb polymer, a polymer network, and a dendrimer.
74. The branched histone molecule of 73, wherein the branched histone molecule forms a web structure.

Aspects (Set B)

1. A lipid formulation for delivering a protein and/or nucleic acid payload, the lipid formulation comprising: a lipid and a core, wherein the core comprises:

(i) an anionic polymer composition;

(ii) a cationic polymer composition;

(iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and

(iv) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload,

wherein (a) said anionic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid; and/or (b) said cationic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid.

2. The lipid formulation of 1, wherein said anionic polymer composition comprises a first anionic polymer selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA); and comprises a second anionic polymer selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA).
3. The lipid formulation of 1 or 2, wherein said cationic polymer composition comprises a first cationic polymer selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline); and comprises a second cationic polymer selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline).
4. The lipid formulation of any one of 1-3, wherein said polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.
5. The lipid formulation of any one of 1-4, wherein said polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.
6. A lipid formulation for delivering a protein and/or nucleic acid payload, the lipid formulation comprising: a lipid and a core, wherein the core comprises:

(a) an anionic polymer composition;

(b) a cationic polymer composition;

(c) a cationic polypeptide composition; and

(d) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload,

wherein one of (a) and (b) comprises a D-isomer polymer of an amino acid, and the other of (a) and (b) comprises an L-isomer polymer of an amino acid.

7. The lipid formulation of 6, wherein the ratio of the D-isomer polymer to the L-isomer polymer is in a range of from 10:1 to 1.5:1, or from 1:1.5 to 1:10.
8. The lipid formulation of 7, wherein said anionic polymer composition comprises an anionic polymer selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDEA) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDDA).
9. The lipid formulation of 8, wherein said cationic polymer composition comprises a cationic polymer selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline).
10. The lipid formulation of 7, wherein said cationic polymer composition comprises a cationic polymer selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline).
11. The lipid formulation of 10, wherein said anionic polymer composition comprises an anionic polymer selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLEA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLDA).
12. The lipid formulation of any one of 1-11, wherein the cationic polypeptide composition comprises a polypeptide that comprises a nuclear localization signal (NLS).
13. The lipid formulation of 12, wherein the NLS comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 151-157 and 201-264.
14. The lipid formulation of any one of 1-13, wherein the cationic polypeptide composition comprises a histone tail peptide (HTP).
15. The lipid formulation of 14, wherein the HTP is conjugated to a cationic amino acid polymer.
16. The lipid formulation of 15, wherein the HTP is conjugated to a cationic amino acid polymer via a cysteine residue.
17. The lipid formulation of 14 or 15, wherein the cationic amino acid polymer comprises poly(lysine).
18. The lipid formulation of any one of 1-17, wherein said cationic polypeptide composition comprises histone peptides having a branched structure.
19. The lipid formulation of any one of 1-18, wherein the payload comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a ZFP, (viii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, (ix) a TALE protein, (x) a DNA donor template, (xi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a site-specific recombinase (e.g., Cre recombinase, Dre recombinase, Flp recombinase, KD recombinase, B2 recombinase, B3 recombinase, R recombinase, Hin recombinase, Tre recombinase, PhiC31 integrase, Bxb1 integrase, R4 integrase, lambda integrase, HK022 integrase, HP1 integrase), (xii) a site-specific recombinase, (xiii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), (xiv) a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), (xv) a transposon and/or a DNA derived from a transposon (e.g., a bacterial transposon such as Tn3, Tn5, Tn7, Tn9, Tn10, Tn903, Tn1681; a eukaryotic transposon such as a Tc1/mariner super family transposon, a PiggyBac superfamily transposon, an hAT superfamily transposon, PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, Frog Prince, Minos, Himar1, mariner), and (xvi) a transposase.
20. The lipid formulation of any one of 1-19, wherein the payload comprises (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA and/or a DNA molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; and (ii) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide and/or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide.
21. The lipid formulation of 20, wherein the payload further comprises a DNA donor template.
22. A method of delivering a nucleic acid and/or protein payload to a target cell, the method comprising: contacting a eukaryotic target cell with the lipid formulation of any one of 1-21.
23. The method of 22, wherein the payload includes a gene editing tool.
24. The method of 22 or 23, wherein the payload includes one or more of: a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, a zinc finger nuclease, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger nuclease, a TALE or TALEN, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a TALE or TALEN, DNA donor template, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a site-specific recombinase (e.g., Cre recombinase, Dre recombinase, Flp recombinase, KD recombinase, B2 recombinase, B3 recombinase, R recombinase, Hin recombinase, Tre recombinase, PhiC31 integrase, Bxb1 integrase, R4 integrase, lambda integrase, HK022 integrase, HP1 integrase), a site-specific recombinase, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), a transposon and/or a DNA derived from a transposon (e.g., a bacterial transposon such as Tn3, Tn5, Tn7, Tn9, Tn10, Tn903, Tn1681; a eukaryotic transposon such as a Tc1/mariner super family transposon, a PiggyBac superfamily transposon, an hAT superfamily transposon, PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, Frog Prince, Minos, Himar1, mariner), and a transposase.
25. The method of any one of 22-24, wherein the target cell is a mammalian cell
26. The method of any one of 22-25, wherein the target cell is a human cell
27. The method of any one of 22-26, wherein the target cell is in culture in vitro.
28. The method of any one of 22-26, wherein the target cell is in vivo.
29. The method of 28, wherein said contacting includes a step of administering the lipid formulation to an individual
30. The method of 29, wherein the individual has Huntington's disease, ALS, Parkinson's disease, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, or von Willebrand's disease.
31. The method of any one of 22-30, wherein the target cell is selected from: a bone marrow cell, a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), a hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC), a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), a myeloid progenitor cell, a lymphoid progenitor cell, a T-cell, a B-cell, a NKT cell, a NK cell, a dendritic cell, a monocyte, a granulocyte, an erythrocyte, a megakaryocyte, a mast cell, a basophil, an eosinophil, a neutrophil, a macrophage, an erythroid progenitor cell, a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell (MEP), a common myeloid progenitor cell (CMP), a multipotent progenitor cell (MPP), a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), a short term HSC (ST-HSC), an IT-HSC, a long term HSC (LT-HSC), an endothelial cell, a neuron, an astrocyte, a pancreatic cell, a pancreatic β-islet cell, a liver cell, a muscle cell, a skeletal muscle cell, a cardiac muscle cell, a hepatic cell, a fat cell, an intestinal cell, a cell of the colon, and a cell of the stomach.
32. The method of any one of 22-31, wherein the target cell is a stem and/or progenitor cell and the payload comprises stem cell factor (SCF) and/or a nucleic acid encoding SCF.
33. The method of any one of 22-31, wherein (i) the target cell is a cell of an individual with von Willebrand's disease and/or the target cell includes a genomic mutation in the gene encoding VWF such that the cell produces sub-normal levels of functional VWF; (ii) the target cell is any one of: a megakaryocyte, an endothelial cell, an MEP, a CMP, an MPP, an HSC, a ST-HSC, and a LT-HSC; and (iii) the payload includes a functional VWF protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding a functional VWF.

Aspects (Set C)

1. A method of delivering a nucleic acid and/or protein payload to a target cell, the method comprising: contacting a eukaryotic target cell with a viral or non-viral delivery vehicle comprising:

(a) a gene editing tool; and

(b) a nucleic acid or protein agent that induces proliferation of and/or biases differentiation of the target cell.

2. The method of 1, wherein (a) comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a ZFP, (viii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, (ix) a TALE protein, (x) a DNA donor template, (xi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a site-specific recombinase (e.g., Cre recombinase, Dre recombinase, Flp recombinase, KD recombinase, B2 recombinase, B3 recombinase, R recombinase, Hin recombinase, Tre recombinase, PhiC31 integrase, Bxb1 integrase, R4 integrase, lambda integrase, HK022 integrase, HP1 integrase), (xii) a site-specific recombinase, (xiii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), (xiv) a resolvase and/or invertase (e.g., Gin, Hin, γδ3, Tn3, Sin, Beta), (xv) a transposon and/or a DNA derived from a transposon (e.g., a bacterial transposon such as Tn3, Tn5, Tn7, Tn9, Tn10, Tn903, Tn1681; a eukaryotic transposon such as a Tc1/mariner super family transposon, a PiggyBac superfamily transposon, an hAT superfamily transposon, PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, Frog Prince, Minos, Himar1, mariner), and (xvi) a transposase.
3. The method of 1 or 2, wherein (b) comprises a nucleic acid or protein agent that induces proliferation of the target cell.
4. The method of any one of 1-3, wherein (b) comprises a nucleic acid or protein agent that biases differentiation of the target cell.
5. The method of any one of 1-4, wherein (b) comprises one or more of: SCF, a nucleic acid encoding SCF, HoxB4, a nucleic acid encoding HoxB4, BCL-XL, a nucleic acid encoding BCL-XL, SIRT6, a nucleic acid encoding SIRT6, a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an LNA) that suppresses miR-155, a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that reduces ku70 expression, and a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an siRNA, an shRNA, a microRNA) that reduces ku80 expression.
6. The method of any one of 1-5, wherein (b) comprises a microRNA for blocking or driving differentiation of the target cell.
7. The method of any one of 1-6, wherein (b) comprises a signaling protein for differentiation of the target cell.
8. The method of any one of 1-7, wherein the delivery vehicle is non-viral.
9. The method of any one of 1-7, wherein the delivery vehicle is viral.
10. The method of any one of 1-9, wherein the delivery vehicle is not a nanoparticle.
11. The method of any one of 1-9, wherein the delivery vehicle is a nanoparticle, e.g., a nanoparticle as described herein.
It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

EXPERIMENTAL

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention nor are they intended to represent that the experiments below are all or the only experiments performed. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc.) but some experimental errors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts by weight, molecular weight is weight average molecular weight, temperature is in degrees Centigrade, and pressure is at or near atmospheric.

All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

The present invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments found or proposed to comprise preferred modes for the practice of the invention. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that, in light of the present disclosure, numerous modifications and changes can be made in the particular embodiments exemplified without departing from the intended scope of the invention. For example, due to codon redundancy, changes can be made in the underlying DNA sequence without affecting the protein sequence. Moreover, due to biological functional equivalency considerations, changes can be made in protein structure without affecting the biological action in kind or amount. All such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1

To determine core formulation parameters, fluorescence spectroscopy was used to monitor nucleic acid condensation (for double stranded DNA payloads). The emission spectra of intercalating Ethidium bromide (EtBr) was measured after the addition of condensing agents at increasing charge ratios. De-intercalation of ethidium bromide caused by polymer induced nucleic acid condensation results in a drop in fluorescent signal. This is because ethidium bromide exhibits a much higher quantum fluorescent yield in the DNA-bound state, than unbound state. The results are depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 depicts results from a fluorimetric assay testing various parameters (e.g., cation: anion charge ratio) for condensation of nucleic acid payloads. The result showed, e.g., that a charge ratio of 2 works well for the condensation of plasmids encoding Cas9 and guide RNA molecules. 100 μl of Anionic solution was added to each well: 100 ng/μl DNA, 80 ng/μl poly(D-Glutamic Acid) (PDE), 0.5 ng/μl Ethidium Bromide. Condensing species were titrated at 12.5 μl for each data point. The total concentration (m/v) of condensing agent in the solution was 0.4 ug/μl, with different compositions of histone tail peptide (HTP)[H3K4(me3)] and poly(L-arginine) (PLR) denoted by their mass fraction in parenthesis. After each titration, the plate was read at 605 nm with a 250 nm excitation. For each tested charge ratio, the controls included: (i) “DNA only”, which was DNA with no EtBr; (ii) “DNA” which was DNA plus EtBr with no PDE, PLR, or HTP present; and (iii) “DNA+PDE” which was DNA plus EtBr plus PDE with no PLR or HTP present.

Example 2: An Example Synthesis Method

Procedures were performed within a sterile, dust free environment (BSL-II hood). Gastight syringes were sterilized with 70% ethanol before rinsing 3 times with filtered nuclease free water, and were stored at 4° C. before use. Surfaces were treated with RNAse inhibitor prior to use.

Nanoparticle Core

A first solution (an anionic solution) was prepared by combining the appropriate amount of payload (in this case plasmid DNA (EGFP-N1 plasmid) with an aqueous mixture (an ‘anionic polymer composition’) of poly(D-glutamic Acid) and poly(L-glutamic acid). This solution was diluted to the proper volume with 10 mM Tris-HCl at pH 8.5. A second solution (a cationic solution), which was a combination of a ‘cationic polymer composition’ and a ‘cationic polypeptide composition’, was prepared by diluting a concentrated solution containing the appropriate amount of condensing agents to the proper volume with 60 mM HEPES at pH 5.5. In this case, the ‘cationic polymer composition’ was poly(L-arginine) and the ‘cationic polypeptide composition’ was 16 μg of H3K4(me3) (tail of histone H3, tri methylated on K4).

Precipitation of nanoparticle cores in batches less than 200 μl can be carried out by dropwise addition of the condensing solution to the payload solution in glass vials or low protein binding centrifuge tubes followed by incubation for 30 minutes at 4° C. For batches greater than 200 μl, the two solutions can be combined in a microfluidic format using a standard mixing chip (e.g. Dolomite Micromixer) or a hydrodynamic flow focusing chip. In each case, optimal input flowrates can be determined such that the resulting suspension of nanoparticle cores is monodispersed, exhibiting a mean particle size below 100 nm.

In this case, the two equal volume solutions from above (one of cationic condensing agents and one of anionic condensing agents) were prepared for mixing. For the solution of cationic condensing agents, polymer/peptide solutions were added to one protein low bind tube (eppendorf) and were then diluted with 60 mM HEPES (pH 5.5) to a total volume of 100 μl (as noted above). This solution was kept at room temperature while preparing the anionic solution. For the solution of anionic condensing agents, the anionic solutions were chilled on ice with minimal light exposure. 10 μg of nucleic acid in aqueous solution (roughly 1 μg/μl) and 7 μg of aqueous poly (D-Glutamic Acid) [0.1%] were diluted with 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.5) to a total volume of 100 μl (as noted above).

Each of the two solutions was filtered using a 0.2 micron syringe filter and transferred to its own Hamilton 1 ml Gastight Syringe (Glass, (insert product number). Each syringe was placed on a Harvard Pump 11 Elite Dual Syringe Pump. The syringes were connected to appropriate inlets of a Dolomite Micro Mixer chip using tubing, and the syringe pump was run at 120 μl/min for a 100 μl total volume. The resulting solution included the core composition (which now included nucleic acid payload, anionic components, and cationic components). The nanoparticle size (peak) was 128.8 nm, and the zeta potential (peak) was +10.5 mV (100%) (e.g., see FIG. 2).

Core Stabilization (Adding a Sheddable Layer)

To coat the core with a sheddable layer, the resulting suspension of nanoparticle cores was then combined with a dilute solution of sodium silicate in 10 mM Tris HCl (pH8.5, 10-500 mM) or calcium chloride in 10 mM PBS (pH 8.5, 10-500 mM), and allowed to incubate for 1-2 hours at room temperature. In this case, the core composition was added to a diluted sodium silicate solution to coat the core with an acid labile coating of polymeric silica (an example of a sheddable layer). To do so, 10 μl of stock Sodium Silicate (Sigma) was first dissolved in 1.99 ml of Tris buffer (10 mM Tris pH=8.5, 1:200 dilution) and was mixed thoroughly. The Silicate solution was filtered using a sterile 0.1 micron syringe filter, and was transferred to a sterile Hamilton Gastight syringe, which was mounted on a syringe pump. The core composition from above was also transferred to a sterile Hamilton Gastight syringe, which was also mounted on the syringe pump. The syringes were connected to the appropriate inlets of a Dolomite Micro Mixer chip using PTFE tubing, and the syringe pump was run at 120 μl/min.

Stabilized (coated) cores can be purified using standard centrifugal filtration devices (100 kDa Amicon Ultra, Millipore) or dialysis in 30 mM HEPES (pH 7.4) using a high molecular weight cutoff membrane. In this case, the stabilized (coated) cores were purified using a centrifugal filtration device. The collected coated nanoparticles (nanoparticle solution) were washed with dilute PBS (1:800) or HEPES and filtered again (the solution can be resuspended in 500 μl sterile dispersion buffer or nuclease free water for storage). Effective silica coating was demonstrated. The stabilized cores had a size of 110.6 nm and zeta potential of −42.1 mV (95%) (FIG. 3).

Surface Coat (Outer Shell)

Addition of a surface coat (also referred to as an outer shell), sometimes referred to as “surface functionalization,” was accomplished by electrostatically grafting ligand species (in this case Rabies Virus Glycoprotein fused to a 9-Arg peptide sequence as a cationic anchoring domain—‘RVG9R’) to the negatively charged surface of the stabilized (in this case silica coated) nanoparticles. Beginning with silica coated nanoparticles that were filtered and resuspended in dispersion buffer or water, the final volume of each nanoparticle dispersion was determined, as was the desired amount of polymer or peptide to add such that the final concentration of protonated amine group was at least 75 uM. The desired surface constituents were added and the solution was sonicated for 20-30 seconds prior to incubate for 1 hour. Centrifugal filtration was performed at 300 kDa (the final product can be purified using standard centrifugal filtration devices, e.g., 300-500 kDa from Amicon Ultra Millipore, or dialysis, e.g., in 30 mM HEPES (pH 7.4) using a high molecular weight cutoff membrane), and the final resuspension was in either cell culture media or dispersion buffer. In some cases, optimal outer shell addition yields a monodispersed suspension of particles with a mean particle size between 50 and 150 nm and a zeta potential between 0 and −10 mV. In this case, the nanoparticles with an outer shell had a size of 115.8 nm and a Zeta potential of −3.1 mV (100%) (FIG. 4).

Example 3: Nanoparticle Uptake

In these studies (e.g., see FIG. 5), nanoparticles with various surface chemistries and charge ratios were tested. Formulations were (charge ratio refers to the nanoparticle core):

HTT018B: charge ratio (cations/anions) was 2; surface coat was poly(L-Arginine)

HTT019B: charge ratio was 5; surface coat was poly(L-Arginine)

HTT020B: charge ratio was 2, surface coat was N-acetyl Semax

HTT021B: charge ratio was 5, surface coat was N-acetyl Semax

HTT022B: charge ratio was 2, surface coat was N-acetyl Selank

HTT023B: charge ratio was 5, surface coat was N-acetyl Selank

L3000GFP: lipofectamine (non-nanoparticle) delivery of a nucleic acid encoding GFP (plasmid encoding GFP)

L3000CRISPR: lipofectamine (non-nanoparticle) delivery of CRISPR/Cas components with no GFP or fluorescent tag.

Nanoparticles were generated. For HTT018B-023B, the core components included a nucleic acid payload (CRISPR/Cas encoding nucleic acids: one plasmid encoding a Cas9 guide RNA and a second plasmid encoding a Cas9 protein) and poly(L-arginine) (a cationic polymer composition) that was tagged with a fluorophore (FITC) so that uptake could be assessed by fluorescent microscopy. For L3000GFP (positive control), no nanoparticle was used and the delivered nucleic acid was a plasmid encoding GFP. For L3000CRISPR (negative control), no nanoparticle was used and the delivered nucleic acid was a plasmid encoding CRISPR components, but no plasmid used encoded GFP and nothing was tagged with FITC.

Neural stem cells were seeded at a density of 10⁵cells per well (96-well plate) and grown in Neurobasal medium supplemented with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)(1:1000). The nanoparticles and Lipofectamine 3000 (0.75 μL reagent/μg DNA) were introduced to cells 24 hr after seeding with 400 ng of DNA payload transfected per well. The nanoparticle samples were applied to neural stem cells in culture and allowed to incubate for 4-24 hours before washing with PBS up to 3 times to remove any non-internalized particles. Uptake was determined by imaging with the appropriate laser excitation and filter selection. Cells were imaged with a Zeiss LSM780 using a 20× objective. As an alternative or in addition, quantitative uptake data can be obtained using high content imaging and flow cytometry. The three rows depict three different replicates.

As noted above, samples HTT18B, HTT20B, and HTT22B were prepared with a charge ratio of 2, whereas, samples HTT19B, HTT21B, and HTT23B where prepared with a charge ratio of 5. The data show that a charge ratio of 2 (for condensation of the core) resulted in higher internalization than a charge ratio of 5. Further, surface coatings (outer shells) of the heptapeptide adaptogens Selank and Semax promoted a higher degree of internalization than a surface coat including the cell penetrating peptide poly(L-Arginine) [9.7 kDa].

Example 4: Characterizing Nanoparticle Internalization Behavior and Subcellular Trafficking

Neural stem cells were contacted with nanoparticles that include CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids as the nucleic acid payload. The nanoparticle core included poly(L-arginine) (a cationic polymer composition) that was tagged with a fluorophore (FITC) so that uptake could be assessed by fluorescent microscopy. The endosome and nucleus were stained using Lysotracker (Red) and Hoescht 3342 (blue) respectively. Nanoparticles and Lipfectamine 3000 (0.75 μl reagent/μg DNA) were introduced to cells 16 hours after seeding with 400 ng of DNA payload transfected per well. Cells were incubated with Hoescht 3342 and Lysotracker Red before imaging. Cells were imaged 2.5 and 5 hours post-transfection with a Cellomics CX5 using a 10× objective (FIG. 6, panels A-B). Co-localization of the nanoparticle's fluorescent signal with that of the stained endosome and nucleus were quantitatively measured and extent of co-localization was denoted by the resulting Pearson product-moment coefficient (FIG. 6, panels C-D).

For all nanoparticles listed in Table 2 (see FIG. 6), the core included (i) the cationic polypeptide composition indicated in the table, (ii) a nucleic acid payload, (iii) poly(L-arginine) [a cationic amino acid polymer], and (iv) poly(L-glutamic acid) [an anionic amino acid polymer]. The sheddable layer was a silica coat and the surface coat was as indicated in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Sample Cationic polypeptide name composition of the core Surface coat CAS9005 Histone tail peptide poly(L-arginine) (PLR) (HTP) = H3K4(me3) [tail of histone H3, tri methylated on K4] CAS9007 Same as above ‘RVG’: Rabies Virus Glycoprotein (RVG) fused to a 9-Arg peptide sequence (as a cationic anchoring domain) CAS9009 Same as above TAT (cell penetrating peptide) HTT024 Same as above N-acetyl Selank CAS9006 SV40 NLS RVG fused to a 9-Arg peptide sequence CAS9008 SV40 NLS TAT (cell penetrating peptide)

FIG. 6, panel C depicts Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients between nanoparticle polymers (the FITC tagged core polymer) and Hoescht DNA stain or between nanoparticle polymers (the FITC tagged core polymer) and Lyotracker. The correlation coefficients were calculated while generating the images in panels A and B. All values were normalized to the value of the negative control (Cas9 Lipofectamine 3000). The decreased Pearson correlation between Hoescht and FITC between the 2.5 hour and 5 hour time-points indicated nanoparticle polymer degradation, release, or diffusion to compartments other than the nucleus over time. FIG. 6, panel D depicts Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients between nanoparticle polymers and endosomes (Lysotracker Red). The correlation coefficients were calculated while generating the images in panels A and B. All values were normalized to the value of the negative control (Cas9 Lipofectamine 3000). Comparison of the 2.5 hour and 5 hour time points indicated endosomal escape over time.

Example 5: Timed-Release

FIG. 7 depicts microscopy images of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that were been transfected with nanoparticles, where the nucleic acid payload was mRNA encoding GFP. The images demonstrate that mRNA expression was extended to 16 days with nanoparticles that include a core with, at a defined ratio, a polymer of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and a polymer of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid. In this case, use of a nanoparticle core with a 2:1 ratio of poly(D-Glutamic acid) to poly(L-Glutamic Acid) resulted in maximum expression at 16 days (panel A=4 days; panel B=16 days). The nanoparticle core included (i) an anionic polymer composition: 7 μg total of poly(glutamic acid) (i.e., D- and L- isomers combined totaled 7 μg); (ii) a cationic polymer composition: poly(L-arginine); (iii) a cationic polypeptide composition: H3K4(me3) [i.e., tail of histone H3, tri methylated on K4]; and (iv) a nucleic acid payload: mRNA encoding GFP. The nanoparticle core was encapsulated by a silica coat (a sheddable layer) and the surface coat was poly(L-arginine) (PLR).

Example 6: Targeting Ligand that Provides for Targeted Binding to a Family B GPCR

FIG. 11 provides a schematic diagram of a family B GPCR, highlighting separate domains to consider when evaluating a targeting ligand, e.g., for binding to allosteric/affinity N-terminal domains and orthosteric endosomal-sorting/signaling domains. (Figure is adapted from Siu, Fai Yiu, et al., Nature 499.7459 (2013): 444-449). Such domains were considered when selecting a site within the targeting ligand exendin-4 for cysteine substitution.

In FIG. 12, a cysteine 11 substitution (5110) was identified as one possible amino acid modification for conjugating exendin-4 to an anchoring domain (e.g., cationic anchoring domain) in such a way that maintains affinity and also engages long endosomal recycling pathways that promote nucleic acid release and limit nucleic acid degradation. Following alignment of simulated Exendin-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) to known crystal structures of glucagon-GCGR (4ERS) and GLP1-GLP1R-ECD complex (PDB: 3IOL), the PDB renderings were rotated in 3-dimensional space in order to anticipate the direction that a cross-linked complex must face in order not to disrupt the two binding clefts. When the cross-linking site of a secretin-family ligand was sufficiently orthogonal to the two binding clefts of the corresponding secretin-family receptor, then it was determined that high-affinity binding may occur as well as concomitant long endosomal recycling pathway sequestration for optimal payload release. Using this technique, Amino acid positions 10, 11, and 12 of Exendin-4 were identified as positions for insertion of or substitution with a cysteine residue.

Example 7: Targeting Ligand that Provides for Targeted Binding to an RTK

FIG. 13 shows a tbFGF fragment as part of a ternary FGF2-FGFR1-HEPARIN complex (1fq9 on PDB). CKNGGFFLRIHPDGRVDGVREKS (highlighted) (SEQ ID NO: 14) was determined to be important for affinity to FGFR1. FIG. 14 shows that HFKDPK (SEQ ID NO: 5) was determined as a peptide to use for ligand-receptor orthosteric activity and affinity. FIG. 15 shows that LESNNYNT (SEQ ID NO: 6) was also determined as a peptide to use for ligand-receptor orthosteric activity and affinity.

Example 8

Table 3-Table 5 provide a guide for the components used in the experiments that follow (e.g., condensation data; physiochemical data; and flow cytometry and imaging data).

TABLE 3 Features of delivery molecules used in the experiments below. Targeting Ligand Name/nomenclature Format: A_B_C_D_E_F where A = Receptor Name: Name of receptor ligand is targeting; B = Targeting Ligand Source: Name of ligand targeting the receptor (Prefix “m” or “rm” for modified if Ligand is NOT wild type); C = Linker Name; D = Charged Polypeptide Name; E = Linker Terminus based on B; and F = Version Number (To distinguish between two modified targeting ligands that come from the same WT but differ in AA sequence); Anchor Linker Ligand Targeting Ligand (TL)/ SEQ Anchor Mers/ Mers/ Mers/ Peptide Catalogue Name Sequence ID NO: Charge Total Mers Total Mers Total Mers PLR10 RRRRRRRRRR 10 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C SNRWLDVKGGGGGSG 9 32.14% 35.71% 32.14% GGGSRRRRRRRRR CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_N RRRRRRRRRGGGGGS 9 26.47% 29.41% 44.12% GGGGSVVLKYEKDAF KR CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_C VVLKYEKDAFKRGGG 9 26.47% 29.41% 44.12% GGSGGGGSRRRRRRR RR CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_1 RRRRRRRRRGGGGSG 9 34.62% 38.46% 26.92% GGGSENLVLNE CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_C ENLVLNEGGGGSGGG 9 34.62% 38.46% 26.92% GSRRRRRRRRR CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_2 RRRRRRRRRGGGGSG 9 31.03% 34.48% 34.48% GGGSPTGMIRIHQM CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_N RRRRRRRRRGGGGGS 9 36.00% 40.00% 24.00% GGGGSAAQEE CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N RRRRRRRRRGGGGSG 9 27.27% 30.30% 42.42% GGGSTSVGKYPNTGY YGD CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_C TSVGKYPNTGYYGDG 9 27.27% 30.30% 42.42% GGGSGGGGSRRRRRR RRR IL2R_m IL2_(4GS)2_9R_N RRRRRRRRRGGGGSG 9 28.13% 31.25% 40.63% GGGSNPKLTRMLTFK FY IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_C NPKLTRMLTFKFYGG 9 28.13% 31.25% 40.63% GGSGGGGSRRRRRRR RR PLK10_PEG22 KKKKKKKKKK- 10 31.25% 68.75% 0.00% PEG22 ALL_LIGANDS_EQUIMOLAR N/A 9 30.25% 33.61% 36.13% ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_N RRRRRRRRRGGGGSG 9 22.50% 25.00% 52.50% GGGSMIASQFLSALT LVLLIKESGA ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_C MIASQFLSALTLVLL 9 22.50% 25.00% 52.50% IKESGSGGGGSGGGG SRRRRRRRRR cKit_mSCF_(4GS)2_9R_N RRRRRRRRRGGGGSG 10 31.25% 68.75% 0.00% GGGSEKFILKVRPAF KAV EPOR_mEPO_6R_N RRRRRRTYSCHFGPL 6 25.00% 0.00% TWVCKPQGG EPOR_mEPO_6R_C TYSCHFGPLTWVCKP 6 25.00% 0.00% QGGRRRRRR TfR_TfTP_6R_N RRRRRRTHRPPMWSP 6 33.33% 0.00% VWP TfR_TfTP_6R_C THRPPMWSPVWPRRR 6 33.33% 0.00% RRR mH3_K4Me3_1 ART-K(Me3)- 6 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% QTARKSTGGKAPRKQ LA mH4_K16Ac_1 SGRGKGGKGLGKGG 8 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% A-K(Ac)-RHRK mH2A_1 SGRGKQGGKARAKAK 8 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% TRSSR SCF_rmAc-cKit_(4GS)2_9R_C Ac-SNYSAibADKAi 9 19.15% 21.28% 59.57% bANAibADDAibAEA ibAKENSGGGGSGGG GSRRRRRRRRR cKit_rmSCF_(4GS)2_9R_N RRRRRRRRRGGGGSG 10 GGGSEKFILKVRPAF KAV

TABLE 4 Payloads used in the experiments below. Single or Double Protein Payloads Nucleotide Stranded? Mol. Wt. BLOCK-iT Alexa 20 2 N/A Fluor 555 siRNA NLS-Cas9-EGFP + 98 1 186229.4531 gRNA Cy5 EGFP mRNA 998 1 N/A VWF-GFP pDNA + 13000 2 N/A Cy5 PNA

TABLE 5 Guide Key for the components used in the experiments below. KEY: N = “nanoparticle”; cat. = “cationic”; an. = “anionic”; spec. = “species”; c:p = “Carboxyl:Phospate”; Project Targeting Ligand Code N Payload (PI) (TL) TCell.001 1 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP N/A TCell.001 2 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP N/A TCell.001 3 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 4 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 5 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 6 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_1 TCell.001 7 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 8 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_2 TCell.001 9 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 10 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 11 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 12 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 13 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 14 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 15 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP ALL_LIGANDS_EQUIMOLAR (C7-C18) TCell.001 16 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA N/A TCell.001 17 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA N/A TCell.001 18 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 19 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 20 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 21 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_1 TCell.001 22 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 23 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_2 TCell.001 24 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 25 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 26 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 27 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 28 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 29 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 30 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA ALL_LIGANDS_EQUIMOLAR (C7-C18) TCell.001 31 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA N/A TCell.001 32 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA N/A TCell.001 33 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 34 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 35 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 36 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_1 TCell.001 37 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 38 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_2 TCell.001 39 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 40 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 41 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 42 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 43 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 44 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 45 VWF_GFP_Cy5_pDNA ALL_LIGANDS_EQUIMOLAR (C7-C18) TCell.001 46 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA N/A TCell.001 47 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA N/A TCell.001 48 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 49 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 50 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD28_mCD80_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 51 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_1 TCell.001 52 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 53 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_2 TCell.001 54 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 55 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD137_m41BB_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 56 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 57 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 58 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.001 59 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.001 60 BLOCK_iT_Alexa_Fluor_555_siRNA ALL_LIGANDS_EQUIMOLAR (C7-C18) TCell.002 61 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP N/A TCell.002 62 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.002 63 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N TCell.002 64 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.002 65 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_2 TCell.002 66 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N + CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_2 TCell.002 67 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N + CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_3 + CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C TCell.002 68 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_RNP CD3_mCD3Ab_(4GS)2_9R_N + CD28_mCD86_(4GS)2_9R_N_3 + CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C + IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N HSC.004 69 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA N/A HSC.004 70 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA N/A HSC.004 71 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA N/A HSC.004 72 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_N HSC.004 73 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_N + cKit_rmSCF_(4GS)2_9R_N HSC.004 74 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA cKit_rmSCF_(4GS)2_9R_N CynoBM.002 75 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP N/A CynoBM.002 76 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP N/A CynoBM.002 77 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N CynoBM.002 78 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_N CynoBM.002 79 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP SCF_mcKit_(4GS)2_9R_N CynoBM.002 80 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP d CynoBM.002 81 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9RN + ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_N + cKit_mSCF_(4GS)2_9R_N CynoBM.002 82 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP + N/A Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CynoBM.002 83 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP + IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9R_N Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CynoBM.002 84 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP + ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_N Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CynoBM.002 85 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP + cKit_mSCF_(4GS)2_9R_N Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CynoBM.002 86 NLS_Cas9_gRNA_EGFP_RNP + IL2R_mIL2_(4GS)2_9RN + Cy5_EGFP_mRNA ESELLg_mESEL(4GS)2_9R_N + cKit_mSCF_(4GS)2_9R_N Blood.001 87 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C Blood.002 88 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C Blood.002 89 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C Blood.002 90 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA N/A Blood.002 91 Cy5_EGFP_mRNA N/A Blood.002 92 Vehicle CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C Project Cat. An. C:P +/− Code Spec. Spec. Ratio Ratio TCell.001 1 PLR10 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 2 PLK10_PEG22 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 3 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 4 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 5 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 6 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 7 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 8 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 9 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 10 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 11 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 12 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 13 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 14 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 15 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 16 PLR10 pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 17 PLK10_PEG22 pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 18 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 19 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 20 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 21 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 22 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 PDE100 TCell.001 23 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 24 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 25 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 PDE100 TCell.001 26 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 27 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 28 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 29 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 pDE100 TCell.001 30 TL pLE100: 1.35:1 0.82:1 PDE100 TCell.001 31 PLR10 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 32 PLK10_PEG22 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 33 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 34 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 35 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 36 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 37 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 38 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 39 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 40 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 41 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 42 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 43 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 44 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 45 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 46 PLR10 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 47 PLK10_PEG22 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 48 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 49 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 50 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 51 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 52 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 53 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 54 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 55 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 56 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 57 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 58 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.001 59 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.001 60 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.002 61 PLR10 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.002 62 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.002 63 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.002 64 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.002 65 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.002 66 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 TCell.002 67 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 TCell.002 68 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 HSC.004 69 PLR10 pLE20 2:1 2:1 HSC.004 70 PLR50 pLE20 2:1 2:1 HSC.004 71 PLK10_PEG22 pLE20 2:1 2:1 HSC.004 72 TL pLE20 2:1 2:1 HSC.004 73 TL pLE20 2:1 2:1 HSC.004 74 TL pLE20 2:1 2:1 CynoBM.002 75 PLR10 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 CynoBM.002 76 mH4_K 16Ac_1:mH2A_1 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 CynoBM.002 77 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 78 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 79 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 80 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 81 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 82 PLR50 pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 83 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 84 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 CynoBM.002 85 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 PDE100 CynoBM.002 86 TL pLE100: 2:1 2:1 pDE100 Blood.001 87 TL pLE100 1.35:1 0.82:1 Blood.002 88 TL pLE100 1.35:1 0.82:1 Blood.002 89 TL pLE100 1.35:1 0.82:1 Blood.002 90 PLK30_PEG113 pLE100 Blood.002 91 PLR50 pLE100 Blood.002 92 TL pLE100 N/A 1.93:1 *Subcellular trafficking peptides used in the nanoparticle formulations were nuclear localization signal peptides conjugated to certain payloads (e.g., “NLS_Cas9 . . . ”) *Cationic species used in the nanoparticle formulations were conjugated to the targeting ligands (TL) as a poly(arginine) chain with amino acid length 9 (9R). Nanoparticles without targeting ligands contained the non-conjugated cationic species poly(arginine) AA chain with length 10 (PLR10) or PEGylated poly(lysine) with AA chain length of 10. All cationic species in the table have L:D isomer ratios of 1:0. *HSC = hematopoietic stem cells; BM = bone marrow cells; Tcell = T cells; blood = whole blood; cynoBM = cynomolgus bone marrow

Materials and Methods Ligand Synthesis

Most targeting ligand sequences were designed in-house and custom manufactured by 3rd party commercial providers. Peptide ligands were derived from native polypeptide sequences and in some cases, mutated to improve binding affinity. Computational analysis of binding kinetics and the determination of optimal mutations was achieved through the use of Rosetta software. In the case where targeting ligands were manufactured in-house, the method and materials were as follows:

- Peptides were synthesized using standard Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Peptides were synthesized on Rink-amide AM resin. Amino acid couplings were performed with O-(1H-6-Chlorobenzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HCTU) coupling reagent and N-methylmorpholine (NMM) in dimethyl formamide (DMF). Deprotection and cleavage of peptides were performed with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), triisopropyl silane (TIPS), and water. Crude peptide mixtures were purified by reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). Pure peptide fractions were frozen and lyophilized to yield purified peptides.

Nanoparticle Synthesis

Nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature, 37C or a differential of 37C and room temperature between cationic and anionic components. Solutions were prepared in aqueous buffers utilizing natural electrostatic interactions during mixing of cationic and anionic components. At the start, anionic components were dissolved in Tris buffer (30 mM-60 mM; pH=7.4-9) or HEPES buffer (30 mM, pH=5.5) while cationic components were dissolved in HEPES buffer (30 mM-60 mM, pH=5-6.5).

Specifically, payloads (e.g., genetic material (RNA or DNA), genetic material-protein-nuclear localization signal polypeptide complex (ribonucleoprotein), or polypeptide) were reconstituted in a basic, neutral or acidic buffer. For analytical purposes, the payload was manufactured to be covalently tagged with or genetically encode a fluorophore. With pDNA payloads, a Cy5-tagged peptide nucleic acid (PNA) specific to TATATA tandem repeats was used to fluorescently tag fluorescent reporter vectors and fluorescent reporter-therapeutic gene vectors. A timed-release component that may also serve as a negatively charged condensing species (e.g. poly(glutamic acid)) was also reconstituted in a basic, neutral or acidic buffer. Targeting ligands with a wild-type derived or wild-type mutated targeting peptide conjugated to a linker-anchor sequence were reconstituted in acidic buffer. In the case where additional condensing species or nuclear localization signal peptides were included in the nanoparticle, these were also reconstituted in buffer as 0.03% w/v working solutions for cationic species, and 0.015% w/v for anionic species. Experiments were also conducted with 0.1% w/v working solutions for cationic species and 0.1% w/v for anionic species. All polypeptides, except those complexing with genetic material, were sonicated for ten minutes to improve solubilization.

Each separately reconstituted component of the nanoparticle was then mixed in the order of addition that was being investigated. Different orders of additions investigated include:

- 1) payload<cationic species
- 2) payload<cationic species (anchor)<cationic species (anchor-linker-ligand)
- 3) payload<anionic species<cationic species
- 4) payload<cationic species<anionic species
- 5) payload<cationic species (anchor)<cationic species (anchor-linker-ligand)<anionic species
- 6) payload<anionic species<cationic species (anchor)+cationic species (anchor-linker-ligand)
- 7) payload+anionic species<cationic species (anchor)+cationic species (anchor-linker-ligand)
- 8) payload 1 (ribonucleoprotein or other genetic/protein material)<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS or charged polypeptide anchor without linker-ligand)<anionic species
- 9) payload 1 (ribonucleoprotein or other genetic/protein material)<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS or charged polypeptide anchor without linker-ligand)<anionic species<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS, or charged polypeptide anchor with or without linker-ligand)
- 10) payload 1 (ribonucleoprotein or other genetic/protein material)<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS or charged polypeptide anchor without linker-ligand)<payload 2/3/4 (one or more payloads)<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS, or charged polypeptide anchor with or without linker-ligand)
- 11) payload 1 (ribonucleoprotein or other genetic/protein material)<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS or charged polypeptide anchor without linker-ligand)<payload 2/3/4 (one or more payloads)+anionic species<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS, or charged polypeptide anchor with or without linker-ligand)
- 12) payload 1/2/3/4 (one or more ribonucleoprotein, protein or nucleic acid payloads)+anionic species<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS, or charged polypeptide anchor with or without linker-ligand)
- 13) payload 1/2/3/4 (one or more ribonucleoprotein, protein or nucleic acid payloads)<cationic species (histone fragment, NLS, or charged polypeptide anchor with or without linker-ligand)

Cell Culture

T cells

24 hours prior to transfection, a cryovial containing 20M human primary Pan-T cells (Stemcell #70024) was thawed and seeded in 4×66 wells of 4 96-well plates at 200 μl and 75,000 cells/well (1.5E6 cells/ml). Cells were cultured in antibiotic free RPMI 1640 media (Thermofisher #11875119) supplemented with 10% FBS and L-glutamine, and maintained by exchanging the media every 2 days.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC)

24 hours prior to transfection a cryovial containing 500 k human primary CD34+ cells (Stemcell #70002) was thawed and seeded in 48 wells of a 96-well plate, at 200 μl and 10-12 k cells per well. The culture media consisted of Stemspan SFEM 11 (Stemcell #09605) supplemented with 10% FBS, 25 ng/ml TPO, 50 ng/ml Flt-3 ligand, and 50 ng/ml SCF and the cells were maintained by exchanging the media every 2 days.

Cynomolgus Bone Marrow (HSC)

48 hours prior to transfection, a cryovial containing 1.25M Cynomolgus monkey bone marrow cells (IQ Biosciences # IQB-MnBM1) was thawed and 48 wells of a round bottom 96-well plate, were seeded at 200 μl and −30 k cells/well. The cells are cultured in antibiotic free RPMI 1640 media supplemented with 12% FBS, and maintained by exchanging the media every 2 days.

Human Whole Blood

5 mL of whole blood was drawn through venous puncture. 1 mL was mixed with 14 mL of PBS. Nanoparticles were either directly transfected into 15 mL tubes, or 100 μl of blood was titrated into each well of a 96-well plate prior to nanoparticle transfection.

Transfection

After forming stock solutions of nanoparticles, 10 μl of nanoparticles were added per well of 96-well plates and incubated without changes to cell culture conditions or supplementation of media (See Table 6). 96-well plates were maintained during live cell imaging via a BioTek Cytation 5 under a CO2 and temperature controlled environment.

TABLE 6 Dosage per well Volume of Nanoparticle Payload (96 well plate) Suspension mRNA 100 ng mRNA 10 ul CRISPR RNP 100 ng sgRNA, 10 ul pDNA 200 ng pDNA 10 ul siRNA 50 ng 10 ul

Analysis Condensation and Inclusion Curves

Condensation curves were generated by mixing 50 μl solutions containing 0.0044 ug/μl of hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) gRNA or von Willebrand factor (VWF)-EGFP-pDNA with pDNA binding site or mRNA or siRNA with 1 μl of SYBR 0.4× suspended in 30 mM Tris buffer (pH=7.4-8.5). HBB gRNA was present as complexed in RNP. The fluorescence emission from intercalated SYBR Gold was monitored before and after a single addition of PLE20, PLE35, PLE100, or PLE100:PDE100 (1:1 D:L ratio) where the carboxylate-to-phosphate (C:P) ratio ranged between 1 and 150. Afterwards, cationic species were added in order to reach the desired amine to phosphate (N:P) or amine to phosphate+carboxylate [N:(P+C)] ratios. Representative cationic species included PLR10, PLR50, PLR150, anchor-linker peptides, various mutated targeting ligands conjugated to GGGGSGGGGS (SEQ ID NO: xx) linker conjugated to a charged poly(arginine) chain (i.e. internal name: SCF_mcKit_(4GS)2_9R_C), Histone_H3K4(Me3) peptide [1-22] (mH3_K4Me3_1), Histone_H4K16(Ac) peptide [1-20] (mH4_K16Ac_1), Histone_H2A peptide [1-20] (mH2A_1), corresponding to different positive to negative charge ratios (CR). In some experiments, cationic species were added prior to anionic species according to the above instructions.

Inclusion curves were obtained after performing multiple additions of SYBR GOLD 0.2× diluted in Tris buffer 30 mM (pH=7.4) to nanoparticles suspended in 60 mM HEPES (pH=5.5) solutions containing known amounts (100 to 600 ng) of VWF-EGFP-pDNA, gRNA HBB, Alexa555 Block-IT-siRNA encapsulated in different nanoparticle formulations.

Fluorescence emissions from intercalated SYBR Gold in the GFP channel were recorded in a flat bottom, half area, 96 well-plate using a Synergy Neo2 Hybrid Multi-mode reader (Biotek, USA) or a CLARIOstar Microplate reader (BMG, Germany).

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (Zeta)

The hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of the nanoparticle formulations were investigated by nanoparticle tracking analysis using a ZetaView instrument (Particle Metrix, Germany). Samples are diluted 1:100 in PBS (1:12) before injection into the instrument. To obtain the measurement, the camera settings are adjusted to the optimal sensitivity and particles/frame (˜100-150) before analysis.

Fluorescence Microscopy—BioTek Cytation 5

A Cytation 5 high-content screening live-cell imaging microscope (BioTek, USA) was utilized to image transfection efficiency prior to evaluation by flow cytometry. Briefly, cells were imaged prior to transfection, in 15 m increments post-transfection for 4 h, and then in 2 h increments for the following 12 hours utilizing the GFP and/or Cy5 channels as well as bright field under a 10× objective. Images were subsequently gathered as representative of continuous kinetics or discrete 1-18, 24, 36, or 48-hour time-points.

Flow-Cytometry

Cell labeling experiments were conducted performing a washing step to remove cell media followed by incubation of the cells with Zombie NIR viability kit stain and/or CellEvent™ Caspase-3/7 Green (Invitrogen, U.S.A.) dissolved in PBS at room temperature for 30 minutes. The total volume of the viability labeling mixture was 25 μl per well. A panel of fluorescent primary antibodies was then added to the mixture (0.25 μl of each antibody per well) and left incubating for 15 minutes. Positive controls and negative single-channel controls were generated utilizing UltraComp eBeads Compensation Beads and Negative Beads or Cy5 nuclear stains of live cells. All incubation steps were performed on a rotary shaker and in the dark. Attune multiparametric flow cytometry measurements were conducted on live cells using an Attune NxT Flow Cytometer (ThermoFisher, USA) after appropriate compensations among different channels have been applied. Representative populations of cells were chosen by selection of appropriate gates of forward and side scattering intensities. The detection of cell fluorescence was continued until at least 10000 events had been collected.

Results/Data FIG. 19-FIG. 44: Condensation Data

FIG. 19. (a) SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing VWF-EGFP pDNA with PNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload. CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic PLR150. The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of PLR150 causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various c:p ratios. Blank solutions contain SYBR Gold in absence of the payload. (b) Fluorescence intensity variations as a function of the positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles without PLE100.

FIG. 20. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR*) in nanoparticles containing NLS-CAS9-NLS RNP complexed w/ HBB gRNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. Additionally, determination of CR* does not include the negatively charged portion of the gRNA shielded by complexation with cas9. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload.

CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic PLR150. Blank solutions contain SYBR Gold in absence of the payload. The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of PLR150 causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various c:p ratios.

FIG. 21. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing gRNA HBB payloads initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload.

CR was increased via stepwise addition of PLR150. Blank solutions contain SYBR Gold in absence of the payload. The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of PLR150 causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation with respect to CR remains consistent across various C:P ratios.

TABLE 7 Hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential for some formulations were measured at the condensation end- points and are reported in the following table. Hydrodynamic diameter Zeta Potential Payload C:P [nm] [mV] pDNA 0 120 ± 49 — HBB gRNA 0 99 ± 32 6.7 ± 0.6 RNP (NLS-Cas9-NLS 0 90 ± 36 −0.6 ± 0.9 and HBB gRNA) RNP (NLS-Cas9-NLS 15 110 ± 49 26.7 ± 1 and HBB gRNA pDNA 15 88 ± 49 11.7 ± 0.6

FIG. 22-FIG. 24: Condensation Curves with Peptide SCF_rmAc-cKit (4GS)2_9R_C as Cationic Material

FIG. 22. (a)(b) SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing HBB gRNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload. CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated cKit targeting ligand conjugated to a (GGGS)2 linker conjugated to positively charged poly(arginine) (internal ligand name: SCF_rmAc-cKit(4GS)2_9R_C). The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of SCF_rmAc-cKit_(4GS)2_9R_C causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various c:p ratios. Blank solutions contain SYBR Gold in absence of the payload.

FIG. 23. (a)(b) SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing NLS-CAS9-NLS RNP complexed w/ HBB gRNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload.

CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated cKit targeting ligand conjugated to a (GGGS)2 linker conjugated to positively charged poly(arginine) (internal ligand name: SCF_rmAc-cKit_(4GS)2_9R_C). The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of SCF_rmAc-cKit_(4GS)2_9R_C causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various c:p ratios. Blank solutions contain SYBR Gold in absence of the payload.

FIG. 24. (a)(b) SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing VWF-EGFP pDNA with PNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload.

CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated cKit targeting ligand conjugated to a (GGGS)2 linker conjugated to positively charged poly(arginine) (internal ligand name: SCF_rmAc-cKit_(4GS)2_9R_C). The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of SCF_rmAc-cKit_(4GS)2_9R_C causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various c:p ratios. Blank solutions contain SYBR Gold in absence of the payload.

FIG. 25-FIG. 26: Condensation Curves with Histone H3K4Me as Cationic Material

FIG. 25. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing VWF-EGFP pDNA with PNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload. CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated Histone_H3K4(Me3) peptide [1-22] (internal peptide name mH3_K4Me3_1). The fluorescence changes observed show that increasing the CR through addition of mH3_K4Me3_1, in the presence of PLE100, fail to sufficiently cause SYBR to be displaced from the payload. Blank solutions contain SYBR Gold in absence of the payload.

FIG. 26. (a) SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing NLS-CAS9-NLS RNP complexed w/ HBB gRNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload. CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated Histone_H3K4(Me3) peptide [1-22] (internal peptide name mH3_K4Me3_1). The fluorescence changes observed show that increasing the CR through addition of mH3_K4Me3_1, in the presence of PLE100, fails to consistently cause SYBR to be displaced from the payload. However, Histone_H3K4(Me3) is shown to be an effective condensing agent at CR≤8:1 in the absence of anionic polypeptide.

FIG. 27-FIG. 30: Condensation Curves with Peptide CD45 aSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C as Cationic Material

FIG. 27. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing VWF-EGFP pDNA with PNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload. CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated CD45 receptor targeting ligand conjugated to a (GGGS)2 linker conjugated to positively charged poly(arginine) (internal ligand name: CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C). Empty symbols represent blank solutions containing SYBR Gold in absence of the payload.

The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various C:P ratios.

FIG. 28. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing Cy5-EGFP mRNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload.

CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated CD45 receptor targeting ligand conjugated to a (GGGS)2 linker conjugated to positively charged poly(arginine) (internal ligand name: CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C). The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various c:p ratios.

FIG. 29. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing BLOCK-iT Alexa Fluor 555 siRNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload. CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated CD45 receptor targeting ligand conjugated to a (GGGS)2 linker conjugated to positively charged poly(arginine) (internal ligand name: CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C). The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various C:P ratios.

FIG. 30. (a) SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of positive to negative charge ratio (CR) in nanoparticles containing NLS-Cas9-EGFP RNP complexed to HBB gRNA payload initially intercalated with SYBR Gold. The carboxylate to phosphate (C:P) ratios shown in the legend are based on the nanoparticle's ratio of carboxylate groups on anionic polypeptides species (PLE100) to phosphate groups on the genetic material of the payload.

CR was increased via stepwise addition of cationic mutated CD45 receptor targeting ligand conjugated to a (GGGS)2 linker conjugated to positively charged poly(arginine) (internal ligand name: CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C). Filled symbols represent blank solutions containing SYBR Gold in absence of the payload.

The fluorescence decrease observed show that increasing the CR through addition of CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C causes SYBR to be displaced from the payload as the particle condenses. Additionally, condensation remains consistent across various c:p ratios.

(b) Representative image of hydrodynamic diameter distribution for nanoparticles without PLE and having a charge ratio=22. The mean diameter is <d>=134 nm±65.

TABLE 8 Hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential for some formulations were measured at the condensation end-points and are reported in the following table. Hydrodynamic diameter Zeta Potential Payload C:P Cationic Peptide [nm] [mV] RNP (NLS- 0 CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C 134 ± 65 13 ± 1 Cas9-EGFP and gRNA) RNP (NLS- 10 CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C 166 ± 75 19.2 ± 1 Cas9-EGFP and gRNA RNP (NLS- 20 CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C 179 ± 92 21 ± 1 Cas9-EGFP and gRNA

FIG. 31-FIG. 34: Inclusion Curves

FIG. 31. SYBR Gold inclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of stepwise SYBR addition to different nanoparticles formulations all containing 150 ng of BLOCK-iT Alexa Fluor 555 siRNA payload. The delta change in fluorescence from 0 μl to 50 μl of SYBR indicates the stability of the nanoparticle formulations. The less stably condensed a formulation, the more likely SYBR Gold is to intercalate with the genetic payload. Lipofectamine RNAiMAX is used here as a positive control. Tables 2-4.

FIG. 32. SYBR Gold inclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of stepwise SYBR addition to different nanoparticles formulations all containing 300 ng the HBB gRNA payload. The delta change in fluorescence from 0 μl to 50 μl of SYBR indicates the stability of the nanoparticle formulations. The less stably condensed a formulation, the more likely SYBR Gold is to intercalate with the genetic payload. Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX is used here as a positive control. Tables 2-4.

FIG. 33. SYBR Gold inclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of stepwise SYBR addition to different nanoparticles formulations all containing the Cy5 EGFP mRNA payload. The delta change in fluorescence from 0 μl to 50 μl of SYBR indicates the stability of the nanoparticle formulations. The less stably condensed a formulation, the more likely SYBR Gold is to intercalate with the genetic payload. Lipofectamine Messenger MAX is used here as a positive control. Tables 2-4.

FIG. 34. SYBR Gold inclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations as a function of stepwise SYBR addition to different nanoparticles formulations all containing 600 ng of VWF-EGFP pDNA with Cy5 tagged peptide nucleic acid (PNA) Binding Site payload. The delta change in fluorescence from 0 μl to 50 μl of SYBR indicates the stability of the nanoparticle formulations. The less stably condensed a formulation, the more likely SYBR Gold is to intercalate with the genetic payload. Lipofectamine 3000 is used here as a positive control. Tables 2-4.

FIG. 35-FIG. 44: SYBR Exclusion/Condensation Assays on TC.001 (See Tables 2-4)

These data show that formulations used in experiment TC.001 are stable, moreover they show that H2A and H4 histone tail peptides, unlike H3, are effective condensing agents on their own for all listed payloads. It also shows that H2A and H4 can be further combined with anchor-linker-ligands. Finally, evidence is presented that the subsequent addition of anionic polymers (in this embodiment, PLE100) does not affect particle stability, or enhances stability as demonstrated through size and zeta potential measurements on various anchor-linker-ligand peptides conjugated to nucleic acid or ribonucleoprotein payloads prior to addition to anionic polymers.

FIG. 35. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity decrease by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100 and by further addition of the cationic polypeptide to RNP. The fluorescence background signal id due to GFP fluorescence from the RNP.

FIG. 36. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100 and by further addition of the cationic polypeptide to siRNA and SYBR Gold.

FIG. 37. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide histone peptide H2A followed by CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C and by further addition of PLE100 to RNP of NLS-Cas9-EGFP with HBB gRNA and SYBR Gold.

FIG. 38. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide histone peptide H4 together with CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C and by further addition of PLE100 to RNP of NLS-Cas9-EGFP with HBB gRNA and SYBR Gold.

FIG. 39. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C fand by further addition of PLE100 to mRNA.

FIG. 40. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition histone H4 and by further addition of CD45-mSiglec-(4GS)2_9R_c and PLE100 to mRNA.

FIG. 41. SYBR Gold exclusion assay showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition histone H2A and by further addition of CD45-mSiglec-(4GS)2_9R_c and PLE100 to mRNA.

FIG. 42. SYBR Gold exclusion assay from intercalation with VWF_EGFP pDNA showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100.

FIG. 43. SYBR Gold exclusion assay from intercalation with VWF_EGFP pDNA showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of histone H4, followed by cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100.

FIG. 44. SYBR Gold exclusion assay from intercalation with VWF_EGFP pDNA showing fluorescence intensity variations by addition of histone H4, followed by cationic polypeptide CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C followed by PLE100.

FIG. 45-FIG. 83: Physicochemical Data

Particle size and zeta potential are routine measurements used in the characterization of colloidal nanomaterials. These measurements are primarily acquired through light scattering techniques such as DLS (dynamic light scattering). Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) utilizes laser scattering microscopy and image analysis to obtain measurements of particle size and zeta potential with high resolution.

Analysis

Dispersity is a measure of sample heterogeneity and is determined by the distribution, where a low standard of deviation and single peak indicates particle uniformity.

Targeting ligands consisting of polypeptides with a ligand, (GGGGS)2 linker, and electrostatic anchor domain were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis and used to functionalize the silica surface (sheddable layer) of particles carrying pEGFP-N1 plasmid DNA payload. The resulting particle size and zeta potential distributions were obtained by nanoparticle tracking analysis using a ZetaVIEW instrument (Particle Metrix, Germany).

FIG. 45. (A) Core Polyplex Size distribution, consisting of pEGFP-N1 plasmid complexed with H3K4(Me3) and poly(L-Arginine) (29 kD, n=150). (B) Polyplex of FIG. 45A with silica sheddable layer exhibiting characteristic negative zeta potential and mean particle size of 124 nm. (C) E Selectin ligand with N terminal anchor and glycine-serine linker ((GGGGS)2) coated upon the particles shown in FIG. 45B.

FIG. 46. Branched Histone Peptide Conjugate Pilot Particle. Histone H3 peptide with a C-terminal Cysteine was conjugated to 48 kD poly(L-Lysine) with 10% side-chain thiol substitutions. The final product, purified by centrifugal filtration and molecular weight exclusion, was used to complex plasmid DNA (pEGFP-N1). The resulting measurements, portrayed in FIG. 46, show a narrow size distribution. Size Distribution of H3-Poly(L-Lysine) conjugate in complex with plasmid DNA (pEGFP-N1)

For FIG. 47-FIG. 83, the Data are Indexed by Experiment Number (Project Code). In Many Cases, this can be Cross-Referenced to the Project Code of Table 5 (HSC=Hematopoietic Stem Cells; BM=Bone Marrow Cells; Tcell=T Cells; Blood=Whole Blood; cynoBM=Cynomolgus Bone Marrow).

FIG. 47 provides data related to project HSC.001.001.

FIG. 48 provides data related to project HSC.001.002, which used H3-poly(L-Lysine) conjugate complexed to PNA-tagged pDNA and an E-Selectin targeting peptide (ESELLg_mESEL_(4GS)2_9R_N).

FIG. 49-FIG. 52 provide data for experiments in which various targeting ligands or stealth molecules were coated upon silica-coated particles and silica-coated nanodiamonds (for diagnostic enhanced fluorescent applications). Size and Zeta Potential distributions are presented with associated statistics. Targeting ligands were ESELLg_mESEL_(4GS)2_9R_N, ESELLg_mESEL_(4GS)2_9R_C, CD45_mSiglec_(4GS)2_9R_C, and Cy5mRNA-SiO2-PEG, respectively.

Performance of nanoformulations and targeting ligands was significantly improved in all data that follows—elimination of silica layer and replacement with a charged anionic sheddable polypeptide matrix significantly enhanced transfection efficiencies of nanoparticles across all formulations, with a variety of payloads and ligand-targeting approaches. However, the multilayering techniques used in the data above, as well as enhanced condensation with branched histone complexes and subsequent peptide matrix engineering (working examples are presented in Tcell.001, HSC.004, CYNOBM.002, and Blood.002) demonstrate the flexibility of the techniques (e.g., multilayering) and core biomaterials (e.g., see entirety of disclosure and subsequent experiments). All techniques described herein may be applied to any particle core, whether diagnostic or therapeutic, as well as to self-assembled materials. For example, branched histones may be conjugated to linker-ligand domains or co-condensed with a plurality of embodiments and uses thereof.

FIG. 53-FIG. 57 depict particles carrying Cy5-EGFP mRNA payload, complexed with a sheddable poly(glutamic acid) surface matrix and CD45 ligand. Nanoparticles produced using this formulation were highly uniform in particle size and zeta potential. Particles with poly(glutamic acid) added after SIGLEC-derived peptide association with mRNA (BLOOD.002.88) were more stable and monodisperse than particles with poly(glutamic acid) added before SIGLEC-derived association with mRNA and poly(glutamic acid), indicating that a particular order of addition can be helpful in forming more stable particles. Additionally, particles formed from poly(glutamic acid) complexed with SIGLEC-derived peptides without a phosphate-containing nucleic acid were highly anionic monodispersed (BLOOD.002.92). Particles formed from PLR50 with PLE100 added after PLR association with mRNA were highly stable, monodispersed and cationic (BLOOD.002.91). In contrast, PLK-PEG association with mRNA prior to PLE100 addition resulted in very small particles with heterogenous charge distributions. The efficacy of these order of addition and SIGLEC-derivative peptaides was demonstrated by flow cytometry data wherein ligand-targeted SIGLEC-derivative particles resulted in nearly two orders of magnitude more Cy5 intensity in whole blood cells despite similar transfection efficiencies to PEGylated controls.

FIG. 53 provides data from BLOOD.002.88. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −3.32+/−0.29 mV with 90% having diameters less than 180 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 58.6% efficient Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in whole blood according to flow cytometry data. The narrow and uniform peak is exemplary of excellent charge distributions and was reproducible in forming net anionic particles in TCELL.001.18. This demonstrates broad applicability of SIGLEC-derived targeting peptides for systemic delivery (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below).

FIG. 54 provides data from BLOOD.002.89. Nanoparticles hadzeta potential of −0.25+/−0.12 mV with 90% having diameters less than 176 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 58.6% efficient Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in whole blood respectively according to flow cytometry data. This demonstrates broad applicability of Siglec derived targeting peptide for systemic delivery (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below).

FIG. 55 provides data from BLOOD.002.90. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of 2.54+/−0.03 mV with 90% having diameters less than 99 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 79.9% efficient Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in whole blood respectively according to flow cytometry data (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below).

FIG. 56 provides data from BLOOD.002.91. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of 27.10 FWHM 18.40 mV with 90% having diameters less than 130 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 96.7% efficient Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in whole blood respectively according to flow cytometry data (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). Strongly positively charged zeta potentials led to high efficiencies and intensities of Cy5+ signal on whole blood cells. Briefly, in this embodiment, a larger dose of PLR50 (15 μl of PLR50 0.1% w/v solution) was added to 100 μl pH 5.5 30 mM HEPES with 2.5 ug Cy5 mRNA (TriLink). After 5 minutes at 37° C., 1.5 μl of PLE100 0.1% was added to the solution. In contrast, other experiments involved adding larger relative volumes (5-20% of total solution volume) of PLE100 to a preformed cationic polymer+anionic material core.

FIG. 57 provides data from BLOOD.002.92. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −22.16 FWHM 18.40 mV with 90% having diameters less than 130 nm. These nanoparticles did not result in detectable Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in whole blood according to flow cytometry data, as they were not labeled with a fluorophore (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The effective condensation of these nanoparticles without a payload (vehicle) also has implications in non-genetic material payload delivery, such as conjugation of the charged polymer to a small molecule or chemotherapeutic agent.

FIG. 58-FIG. 73 depict results from experiments performed to characterize representative particles containing CRISPR ribonucleoprotein (RNP) (TCELL.001.01-TCELL.001.15), mRNA (TCELL.001.16-TCELL.001.30), plasmid DNA (TCELL.001.31-TCELL.001.45) and siRNA (TCELL.001.46-TCELL.001.60) and patterned with identical ligands in corresponding groups.

FIG. 58 provides data from TCELL.001.1. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −3.24+/−0.32 mV with 90% having diameters less than 77 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 99.16% and 98.47% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ pan T cells respectively according to flow cytometry data (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). These formulations were also reflective of physicochemical properties of all CYNOBM.002.75, as well as the cores serving as substrates for subsequent layering in CYNOBM.002.82-CYNOBM.002.85, wherein the PLR10-coated particle was complexed with a sheddable anionic coat of one or more anionic polypeptides, nucleic acids and/or charged macromolecules of a range of D:L ratios, molecular weights, and compositions. TCELL.001.1 was subsequently coated in PLE100+mRNA prior to addition of charged polymers or charged anchor-linker-ligands in CYNOBM.002.82-CYNOBM.002.85.

FIG. 59 provides data from TCELL.001.3. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −0.98+/−0.08 mV with 90% having diameters less than 65 nm. Despite ideal size ranges, these nanoparticles resulted in 11.6% and 13.2% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ pan T cells, respectively, according to flow cytometry data in contrast to the strongly anionic similarly-sized particles in TCELL.001.1 that achieved ˜99% efficiency in the same cell populations. The relationship of particle size and stable negative zeta potential and methods and uses thereof are shown to be predicable constraints through the experiments described herein. An ideal nanoparticle has a majority of particles <70 nm with zeta potentials of <−5 mV, and the sheddable anionic coating methods described herein as well as multistage-layering sheddable matrices for codelivery described in CYNOBM.002 achieve stable and extremely efficient transfection of sensitive primary cells from human and cynomolgus blood, bone marrow, and specific cells within the aforementioned. The reduced efficiency of TCELL.001.3 is a marked contrast to the results of TCELL.01.27, where the same ligands achieved stable condensation of mRNA at an altered amine-to-phosphate-to-carboxylate ratio than the one used for this particular CRISPR formulation (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below).

FIG. 60 provides data from TCELL.001.13. Nanoparticles have zeta potential of 2.19+/−0.08 mV with 90% having diameters less than 101 nm. See flow cytometry/imaging data below for the efficiency of CRISPR-GFP-RNP uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ pan T cells.

FIG. 61 provides data from TCELL.001.14. Nanoparticles have zeta potential of −9.37+/−0.16 mV with 90% having diameters less than 111 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 25.7% and 28.6% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ pan T cells respectively according to flow cytometry data. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below).

FIG. 62 provides data from TCELL.001.16.

FIG. 63 provides data from TCELL.001.18. The size and zeta potential of these particles demonstrate average particle sizes of 80.9 nm with zeta potentials of −20.26+/−0.15 mV and 90% of particles with 39.2-129.8 nm diameters, indicating strong particle stability at a 1.35 carboxylate-to-phosphate (C:P) and 0.85 amine-to-phosphate ratio wherein poly(glutamic acid) was added following inclusion of the cationic anchor-linker-ligand. Please reference all zeta potential, size, flow cytometry and microscopy data of TCELL.001.2, TCELL.001.18, and CYNOBM.002 for additional general patterns, engineering constraints, observations and empirical measurements as relate to attaining high-efficiency primary cell transfections (e.g., see Table 5 and flow cytometry and imaging data below).

FIG. 64 provides data from TCELL.001.28. FIG. 65 provides data from TCELL.001.29. FIG. 66 provides data from TCELL.001.31. FIG. 67 provides data from TCELL.001.33. FIG. 68 provides data from TCELL.001.43. FIG. 69 provides data from TCELL.001.44. FIG. 70 provides data from TCELL.001.46. FIG. 71 provides data from TCELL.001.48. FIG. 72 provides data from TCELL.001.58. FIG. 73 provides data from TCELL.001.59.

FIG. 74-FIG. 83 depict results characterizing the formulations used in cynomolgus bone marrow cells.

FIG. 74 provides data from CYNOBM.002.82. Particles successfully deleted the BCL11a erythroid enhancer in whole bone marrow erythroid progenitor cells as evidenced by fetal hemoglobin protein expression in 3% of live cells. CYNOBM.002.82 nanoparticles had zeta potential of 2.96+/−0.14 mV with 90% having diameters less than 132 nm and 50% of particles with diameters less than 30 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in ˜48%, ˜53%, and ˜97% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA colocalized uptake of CRISPR RNP and Cy5 mRNA in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow subpopulations, respectively, despite only 11.4% overall bone marrow viable subpopulation targeting according to flow cytometry data.

In contrast, CYNOBM.002.75, with an identical core template consisting of PLR10, PLE100, PDE100 and Cas9 RNP but without an mRNA co-delivery component or additional layer of PLR50, exhibited ˜20%, ˜14%, and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow subpopulations, respectively, and 18.0% overall bone marrow viable subpopulation targeting according to flow cytometry data.

With these data, it can be inferred that larger particles may be less amenable to selective targeting even when minor enhancements were seen in overall transfection efficiency within a mixed bone marrow primary population. The effects of bimodal distributions of particles on primary cell culture transfections remains to be determined. In prior work, osteoblasts were found to endocytose 150-200 nm particles with high efficiency. Strikingly, the majority of population of particles with CYNOBM.002.82 was below the 85 nm peak, similarly to TCELL.001.1 but with a positively charged positive matrix of PLR50 surrounding the underlying polypeptide-ribonucleoprotein-mRNA-protein matrix of PLE, PDE, mRNA and Cas9 RNP.

Additionally, 3.0% of overall viable cells were positive for fetal hemoglobin, with none of these cells being CD34+, suggesting successful clonal expansion of BCL11a erythroid progenitor knockout populations within CD34− erythroid progenitor cells. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The results may also implicate successful targeting in endothelial cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and other cells of the bone marrow.

FIG. 75 provides data from CYNOBM.002.83. Particles successfully deleted the BCL11a erythroid enhancer in whole bone marrow erythroid progenitor cells as evidenced by fetal hemoglobin protein expression in 1.9% of live cells, with none of these cells being CD34+. The nanoparticles had a zeta potential of −2.47+/−0.33 mV with 90% having diameters less than 206 nm, leading to improved transfection efficiency vs. CYNOBM.002.03 with the same IL2-mimetic peptide coating. The large charge distribution with tails at approximately −50 mV and +25 mV were indicative of a polydisperse particle population with a variance of particle stabilities, similarly to CYNOBM.002.83, and in contrast to CYNOBM.002.84 which has a stable anionic single-peak zeta potential of −18 mV and corresponding increase in cellular viability compared to other CRISPR+mRNA co-delivery particle groups (CYNOBM.002.82-CYNOBM.002.85). The next-best nanoparticle group in terms of overall cynomolgus bone marrow co-delivery was CYNOBM.002.86, which demonstrated similar highly net-negatively charged zeta potential of −20 mV and a corresponding high efficiency of transfection, CD34 clonal expansion, and fetal hemoglobin production from BCL11a erythroid enhancer knockout. These nanoparticles resulted in ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in viable CD34+ bone marrow cells, within mixed cell populations, as well as 8.1% of whole bone marrow viable subpopulations according to flow cytometry data. The flow cytometry data indicates induction of selective CD34+ proliferation in cynomolgus bone marrow cells suggesting successful clonal expansion of BCL11a erythroid progenitor knockout populations within CD34− erythroid progenitor cells. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The results also implicate successful targeting in endothelial cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and/or other cells of the bone marrow.

FIG. 76 provides data from CYNOBM.002.84. Particles successfully deleted the BCL11a erythroid enhancer in whole bone marrow erythroid progenitor cells as evidenced by fetal hemoglobin protein expression in 9.5% of live whole bone marrow cells and no positive fetal hemoglobin measurements in CD34+, CD45 or CD3+ subpopulations despite moderate transfection efficiencies, as measured by Cy5-mRNA+ and CRISPR-GFP-RNP+ gates in each selective subpopulation. CYNOBM.002.84 nanoparticles had zeta potential of −18.07+/−0.71 mV with 90% having diameters less than 205 nm. The high net-negative charge indicates stable particle formation. These nanoparticles resulted in 76.5%, 71%, and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, respectively, as well as 25.5% of whole bone marrow viable subpopulations according to flow cytometry data. Additionally, 9.5% of overall viable cells were positive for fetal hemoglobin, with none of these cells being CD34+, suggesting successful clonal expansion of BCL11a erythroid progenitor knockout populations within CD34− erythroid progenitor cells. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The results also implicate successful targeting in endothelial cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and/or other cells of the bone marrow.

FIG. 77 provides data from CYNOBM.002.85. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −12.54+/−0.25 mV with 90% having diameters less than 186 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in ˜33%, ˜23%, and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, respectively, according to flow cytometry data. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The results may implicate successful targeting in endothelial, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and other cells of the bone marrow. Particle sizes and charge distributions were consistent with subsequent CYNOBM.002 groups and their expected biological performance in cynomolgus bone marrow CRISPR and/or mRNA delivery.

FIG. 78 provides data from CYNOBM.002.86. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −20.02+/−0.10 mV with 90% having diameters less than 120 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 20.1% efficient codelivery of CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA in viable cynomolgus bone marrow, with ˜68%, 70%, and ˜97% efficient CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ respective targeting according to flow cytometry data. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The results may implicate successful targeting in endothelial, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and other cells of the bone marrow. A highly negatively charged zeta potential and of 90% of particles counts <200 nm predicts high efficiency.

FIG. 79 provides data from CYNOBM.002.76. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −12.02+/−0.59 mV with 90% having diameters less than 135 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 18.4%, 10.3%, and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, respectively, according to flow cytometry data (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). Additionally, particles exhibit limited toxicity as expected from a histone-mimetic particle with highly negative zeta potential 10th-50th percentile particle sizes of 25.8-80.6 nm with no large aggregates as seen in CYNOBM.002.78, which exhibits similar zeta potential distributions and sizes with the addition of a large volume peak at ˜500 nm.

FIG. 80 provides data from CYNOBM.002.77. Nanoparticles had 90% of their diameters below 254 nm with a large portion in the 171-254 nm range. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). Additionally, the 10th-50th percentile particles by number were 70-172 nm, indicating a reasonable size distribution within this population. Consistent with other studies where a large number of particles >200 nm existed in solution and/or had a large, distributed zeta potential and/or a non-anionic zeta potential, these particles lead to significant cell death. These nanoparticles resulted in high uptake percentages overall, but a large number of cells (>90%) being dead. Ultimately, the particles resulted in negligible uptake at the limits of detection of CRISPR-GFP-RNP in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, and 3.8% CRISPR uptake within whole bone marrow viable subpopulations according to flow cytometry data. In contrast, 90% of CYNOBM.002.83 (a CRISPR & mRNA codelivery variant) particles with the same surface coating were below 200 nm with the number average being 121 nm. Other particles in CYNOBM.002.75-CYNOBM.002.81, which were produced via a different method than particles in TCELL.001.01-TCELL.001.15 with similar formulations, had more favorable size and zeta potential distributions and resulted in high transfection efficiencies (up to 99%) in viable human CD4+ and CD8a+ T-cells.

FIG. 81 provides data from CYNOBM.002.78. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of −11.72+/−0.79 mV with 90% having diameters less than 223 nm. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). Similarly, 90% of CYNOBM.002.84 (a CRISPR & mRNA codelivery variant) particles with the same surface coating were below 200 nm with the number average being 125 nm, though the zeta potential of CYNOBM.002.84 is significantly more negative (−18.07 mV vs.-11.72 mV), indicating enhanced stability with an anionic sheddable interlayer step intermediate to initial Cas9 RNP charge homogenization with PLR10 and subsequent coating with ligands or additional, optionally molecular weight staggered polymers or polypeptides. The differential physicochemical properties of these monodelivery vs. co-delivery (or interlayer vs. direct conjugation of ligands to RNP) nanoparticles and their respective size ranges is strongly correlated to transfection efficiency and toxicity.

FIG. 82 provides data from CYNOBM.002.79. Nanoparticles had diameters less than 200 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in very low (3.7%) GFP-RNP uptake in bone marrow overall, but the cells retained exceptional viability (70.0% vs. 71.6% for negative controls) in the culture. Despite very low overall uptake, the particles demonstrated selective uptake for ˜9.0% of viable CD3+ cells, 4.4% of viable CD45+ cells, and ˜100% of viable CD34+ cells according to flow cytometry data, which is at the limits of detection for cell counts in the CD34+ subpopulation. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The results implicate specific targeting of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells within mixed cell populations.

FIG. 83 provides data from CYNOBM.002.80. Nanoparticles had zeta potential of 1.36+1-1.69 mV. These nanoparticles resulted in 8% transfection efficiency and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP uptake in viable CD34+ bone marrow cells according to flow cytometry data, which is at the limits of detection for cell counts. (e.g., see flow cytometry and imaging data below). The results may implicate successful targeting in endothelial, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and other cells of the bone marrow. The even peak at ˜0 mV with wide surfaces is indicative of a zwitterionic particle surface. A high degree of cellular viability indicates that particles were well tolerated with this size and that a c-Kit-receptor-derived particle surface is likely to mimic presentation of native stem cell population surface markers within the bone marrow during cell-cell interactions.

FIG. 84-FIG. 120: Flow Cytometry and Imaging Data

FIG. 84. Untransfected controls for CynoBM.002 samples in cynomolgus bone marrow. Microscope images—Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge. Flow cytometry data—with viability, CD34, CD3, and CD45 stains.

FIG. 85. Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX delivery of NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attains 2.5% transfection efficiency in viable cells and causes significant toxicity, with percentage of CD45 and CD3 relative subpopulations significantly decreased compared to negative controls in cynomolgus bone marrow. Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX does not exhibit cell-selectivity as exemplified by 7.4% efficient targeting of remaining CD3+ cells and negligible remaining populations of CD45+ and CD34+ cells. Microscope images—Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 86. CynoBM.002 RNP-Only controls show NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attaining negligible transfection efficiencies in cynomolgus bone marrow without a delivery vector, but with both payloads pre-combined prior to transfection. A high degree of colocalization despite no delivery vector and minimal events is indicative of association of the ribonucleoprotein complex with mRNA, and exemplary of anionic functionalization of CRISPR RNPs. (In this instance, the mRNA acts as a loosely-associated sheddable coat for the RNP and could be further layered upon with cationic materials). Calculating colocalization coefficient. X: % CRISPR uptake in live cells:

Y: % mRNA uptake in live cells

C: % of cells with CRISPR AND mRNA

Z: value of X or Y, whichever is greater

Colocalization Coefficient=C/Z

Cas9-mRNA Colocalization Coefficient: 92.2%

FIG. 87. CynoBM.002.82 demonstrated that non-specifically-targeted NLS-Cas9-EGFP achieves 11.3% efficient mRNA delivery and 11.4% efficient CRISPR delivery to cynomolgus bone marrow with a 98.9% colocalization coefficient. Subcellular localization demonstrated that noon-specifically targeted NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs co-localize with Cy5 mRNA and attain high transfection efficiencies. A high degree of colocalization determines that discrete particles were loaded with both payloads. Additionally, Cas9 can be seen neatly localized in a separate compartment from the mRNA, wherein the mRNA forms a ringed structure around the nuclear-associated Cas9. This indicates cytosolic (mRNA) vs. nuclear (CRISPR) localization of the two payloads. Microscope images—Top: digital phase contrast; middle: Cy5 mRNA; bottom: merge. and top: Cas9-GFP RNP; bottom: Cy5 mRNA colocalized with Cas9-GFP RNP.

See above data for physicochemical parameters and additional observations. CYNOBM.002.82 had zeta potential of 2.96+/−0.14 mV with 90% having diameters less than 132 nm and 50% of particles with diameters less than 30 nm. These nanoparticles resulted in 45.5%, 56.0%, and 97.3% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow subpopulations, respectively, despite only 11.4% overall bone marrow viable subpopulation targeting. Cas9-mRNA Colocalization Coefficient: 94.8%. Viable CD34+ and CRISPR+: 97.2% of Viable CD34+. Fetal Hemoglobin Positive: 3.022% of viable cells

FIG. 88. CynoBM.002.83 achieves 8.1% efficient mRNA delivery and 8.1% efficient CRISPR delivery to cynomolgus bone marrow with a 93.0% colocalization coefficient. Subcellular localization demonstrated that homovalently-targeted IL2-derived peptides associated with NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs co-localize with Cy5 mRNA and attain high transfection efficiencies. A high degree of colocalization determines that discrete particles were loaded with both payloads. Additionally, Cas9 can be seen neatly localized in a separate compartment from the mRNA, wherein the mRNA forms a ringed structure around the nuclear-associated Cas9. This indicates cytosolic (mRNA) vs. nuclear (CRISPR) localization of the two payloads. Microscope images—Top: digital phase contrast; middle: Cy5 mRNA; bottom: merge. and top: Cas9-GFP RNP; bottom: Cy5 mRNA colocalized with Cas9-GFP RNP.

See above data for physicochemical parameters and additional observations. These nanoparticles resulted in ˜27%, 41%, and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, respectively. Cas9-mRNA Colocalization Coefficient: 93.0%. Fetal Hemoglobin Positive: 1.9% of viable cells

FIG. 89. CYNOBM.002.84 particles successfully delete the BCL11a erythroid enhancer in whole bone marrow erythroid progenitor cells as evidenced by fetal hemoglobin protein expression in 9.5% of live whole bone marrow cells and no positive fetal hemoglobin measurements in CD34+, CD45 or CD3+ subpopulations despite moderate transfection efficiencies, as measured by Cy5-mRNA+ and CRISPR-GFP-RNP+ gates in each selective subpopulation. Subcellular localization demonstrated that homovalently-targeted E-selectin-derived peptides associated with NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs co-localize with Cy5 mRNA and attain high transfection efficiencies. A high degree of colocalization determines that discrete particles were loaded with both payloads. Additionally, Cas9 can be seen neatly localized in a separate compartment from the mRNA, wherein the mRNA forms a ringed structure around the nuclear-associated Cas9. This indicates cytosolic (mRNA) vs. nuclear (CRISPR) localization of the two payloads. Microscope images—Top: digital phase contrast; middle: Cy5 mRNA; bottom: merge. and top: Cas9-GFP RNP; bottom: Cy5 mRNA colocalized with Cas9-GFP RNP.

See above data for physicochemical parameters and additional observations. These nanoparticles resulted in 76.5%, 71%, and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA colocalized uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, respectively, as well as ˜25.5% of whole bone marrow viable subpopulations according to flow cytometry data. Additionally, 9.5% of overall viable cells were positive for fetal hemoglobin, with none of these cells being CD34+, CD3+, or CD45+, suggesting successful clonal expansion of BCL11a erythroid progenitor knockout populations within CD34− erythroid progenitor cells. Cas9-mRNA Colocalization Coefficient: 97.1%. Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF) Positive: 9.5% of viable cells 14% CD34+ cells; 0% colocalization of CD34+ and HbF+

FIG. 90. CynoBM.002.85 achieved 5.2% efficient mRNA delivery and 5.3% efficient CRISPR delivery to cynomolgus bone marrow with a 87.2% colocalization coefficient. Despite 5.3% efficient CRISPR delivery to viable cells, CynoBM.002.85 did not lead to a concomitant increase in fetal hemoglobin positive cells as seen in other codelivery embodiments. Subcellular localization demonstrated that homovalently-targeted SCF-derived peptides associated with NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs co-localize with Cy5 mRNA and attain high transfection efficiencies. A high degree of colocalization determined that discrete particles were loaded with both payloads. Additionally, Cas9 could be seen neatly localized in a separate compartment from the mRNA, wherein the mRNA forms a ringed structure around the nuclear-associated Cas9. This indicates cytosolic (mRNA) vs. nuclear (CRISPR) localization of the two payloads. Microscope images—Top: digital phase contrast; middle: Cy5 mRNA; bottom: merge. and top: Cas9-GFP RNP; bottom: Cy5 mRNA colocalized with Cas9-GFP RNP.

See above data for additional physicochemical characteristics. These nanoparticles resulted in ˜33%, ˜23%, and ˜100% efficient CRISPR-GFP-RNP+Cy5_EGFP_mRNA uptake in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, respectively. Cas9-mRNA Colocalization Coefficient: 87.2%. Fetal Hemoglobin Positive: 0.9% of viable cells

FIG. 91. CynoBM.002.86 achieved 20.1% efficient mRNA delivery and 21.8% efficient CRISPR delivery to cynomolgus bone marrow with a 98.6% colocalization coefficient. Subcellular localization demonstrated that heterotrivalently-targeted IL2-, E-selectin- and SCF-derived NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs co-localized with Cy5 mRNA and attain high transfection efficiencies. A high degree of colocalization determined that discrete particles were loaded with both payloads. Additionally, Cas9 could be seen neatly localized in a separate compartment from the mRNA, wherein the mRNA forms a ringed structure around the nuclear-associated Cas9. This indicates cytosolic (mRNA) vs. nuclear (CRISPR) localization of the two payloads. Microscope images—Top: digital phase contrast; middle: Cy5 mRNA; bottom: merge. and top: Cas9-GFP RNP; bottom: Cy5 mRNA colocalized with Cas9-GFP RNP.

See above data for additional physicochemical characteristics. Cas9-mRNA Colocalization Coefficient: 91.3%. Fetal Hemoglobin Positive: 7.6% of viable cells

FIG. 92. CynoBM.002.75 demonstrated that non-specifically-targeted NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs with sheddable anionic polypeptide coats attain 18.0% transfection efficiency in viable cynomolgus bone marrow. Overall, 20% of viable CD3+ T-cells were CRISPR+ in the mixed population cynomolgus bone marrow culture model herein, in contrast to 97-99% of viable CD4 and CD8a T-cells in human primary Pan T-cells being CRISPR+ in TCELL.001. Particle sizes of an identical formulation were smaller and more uniform in TCELL1, which was synthesized via fluid-handling robotics as opposed to by hand. See above data for additional qualitative and quantitative commentary and data comparisons. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 93. CynoBM.002.76 demonstrated that dual-histone-fragment-associated and non-specifically-targeted NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attain 13.1% transfection efficiency and limited toxicity versus negative controls in cynomolgus bone marrow. 18%, 10%, and 0% of CD3+, CD45+ and CD34+ viable subpopulations were CRISPR+. See above data for additional physicochemical characteristics and observations. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 94. CynoBM.002.77 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted IL2-derived peptides associated with NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attain 3.8% transfection efficiency and enhanced viability over negative controls in cynomolgus bone marrow.-90% of transfected cells were dead. Ultimately, the particles resulted in negligible uptake at the limits of detection of CRISPR-GFP-RNP in viable CD3+, CD45+, and CD34+ bone marrow cells, indicating that the remaining 3.8% of live CRISPR+ cells were not from those subpopulations. Size data supports a causative role for toxicity in large particle polydispersity and ˜999 nm 90th volume percentile particle sizes. See above data for additional physicochemical properties. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 95. CynoBM.002.78 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted E-selectin-derived peptides associated with NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attain ˜71% transfection efficiency overall (including dead cells), with only 4.5% of live cells remaining transfected in cynomolgus bone marrow. This is indicative of particle toxicity and may be correlated to a large size distribution, despite 50% of the particles by number being 33.1-113.1 nm. The >250 nm particles, comprising the majority of particle mass and volume in solution, likely led to the reduced viability of this experiment. CD45+ and CD3+ subpopulation densities were manifold reduced in this embodiment as well. See above data for more detailed physicochemical characteristics and qualitative observations comparing nanoparticle groups from the same transfection. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 96. CynoBM.002.79 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted SCF-derived peptides associated with NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attain 3.7% transfection efficiencies and excellent viability over negative controls in cynomolgus bone marrow. These nanoparticles resulted in very low (3.7%) GFP-RNP uptake in bone marrow overall, but the cells retained exceptional viability (69.0% vs. 71.6% for negative controls) in the culture. Despite very low overall uptake, the particles demonstrated selective uptake for ˜5% of viable CD3+ cells, ˜4% of viable CD45+ cells, and ˜100% of viable CD34+ cells (the latter which were at the limits of detection in number). The high degree of cellular viability coupled with a strongly negative zeta potential and significantly more CD45+ cells than other groups is implicative of a SCF-mimetic particle surface's multifactorial role in establishing stem cell niche targeting and proliferation and/or survival techniques. See above data for additional physicochemical parameters. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 97. CynoBM.002.80 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted c-Kit-(CD117)-derived peptides associated with NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attain 8.097% transfection efficiencies. Transfection efficiencies were 3.3%, 2.4%, and at the limits of detection for CD3+, CD45+ and CD34+ viable subpopulations, respectively, indicating low selectivity for CD3+ and CD45+ cells. See above data for more quantitative and qualitative data. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge. (cont.): flow cytometry data.

FIG. 98. CynoBM.002.81 demonstrated that heterotrivalently-targeted IL2-, E-selectin- and SCF-derived NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attain 5% transfection efficiency in cynomolgus bone marrow with ˜10% of transfected cells being live CD34+ cells despite only 0.48% of cells being CD34+. This indicates nearly 100% efficient selective transfection of CD34+ cells. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 99. Qualitative images of CynoBM.002 RNP-Only control show NLS-Cas9-EGFP BCL11a gRNA RNPs attaining mild positive signal in cynomolgus bone marrow without a delivery vector. Top: digital phase contrast; middle: GFP; bottom: merge.

FIG. 100. HSC.004 (nanoparticles 69-74, see Table 5) High-Content Screening. Fluorescence microscopy images (Cy5 mRNA) of HSC.004 Cy5 mRNA delivery 12-15 h post-transfection in Primary Human CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells. With this particular embodiment of mRNA formulation, heterobivalent targeting with SCF peptides and E-selectin, as well as homovalent targeting with E-selectin but not SCF peptides, achieves higher transfection efficiencies than Lipofectamine MessengerMAX. HSC.001.69: A1-A6; HSC.001.70: B1-B6; HSC.001.71: C1-C6; HSC.001.72: D1-D6; HSC.001.73: E1-E6; HSC.001.74: F1-F6; HSC.004 Lipofectamine MessengerMAX Dose 1: G1-G2 & G4-G5; TC.001 Lipofectamine MessengerMAX Dose 2: H1-H2 & H4-H5; TC.001 Negative: G3, G6, H3, H6

FIG. 101. TCELL.001 (nanoparticles 1-15, see Table 5) High-Content Screening. Robotic formulations were performed for TC.001.1-TC.001.60, representing 15 ligands across 4 payloads (CRISPR RNP, mRNA, siRNA and pDNA). Shown are embodiments of T-cell CRISPR delivery and qualitative transfection efficiencies—thumbnail images of 12-15 h post-transfection composite microscopy of TCELL.001 CRISPR-EGFP RNP delivery to Primary Human Pan T-cells. Plate layout: TC.001.1: A1-C1; TC.001.3: D1-F1; TC.001.4: A2-C2; TC.001.5: D2-F2; TC.001.6: A3-C3; TC.001.7: D3-F3; TC.001.8: A4-C4; TC.001.9: D4-F4; TC.001.10: A5-C5; TC.001.11: D5-F5; TC.001.12: A6-C6; TC.001.13: D6-F6; TC.001.14: A7-A9; TC.001.15: B7-B9; TC.001.2: A10-A12; TC.001 Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX Dose 1: B10-B12; TC.001 Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX Dose 2: C7-C9; TC.001 RNP Only: C10-C12; TC.001 Negative: D7-E12.

FIG. 102. TCELL.001 Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX. Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX attained 4.7% and 4.8% efficient delivery of NLS-Cas9-EGFP RNP in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 12.5% of CRISPR+ cells and 65.9% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 103: TCell.001.1 demonstrated 99.163% efficient and 98.447% efficient non-specifically-targeted CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 60.2% of CRISPR+ cells and 57.2% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 104. TCell.001.2, a non-specifically-targeted PEGylated control, demonstrated 5.5% efficient and 6.9% efficient CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 5.6% of CRISPR+ cells and 40.5% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 105. TCell.001.3 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted sialoadhesin-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 11.6% and 13.2% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 40.0% of CRISPR+ cells and 79.2% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 106. TCell.001.4 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted CD80-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 6.8% and 8.8% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 12.9% of CRISPR+ cells and 60.2% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 107. TCell.001.5 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted CD80-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 10.3% and 10.9% efficient CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 48.3% of CRISPR+ cells and 85.1% of overall cells were viable. Note that across 9 wells of negative controls (n=3 negatives for TCELL.001 flow cytometry), viabilities were 81.4%, 84.7%, and 82.5%, which demonstrated that a C-terminally anchored, CD80-derived CD28-targeting peptide may have mild survival-promoting effects on non-transfected cells in culture solution. In contrast, TCell.001.4, an identical N-terminally anchored peptide, displayed marked toxicity, as did TC.001.6 and TC.001.7, which are also CD80-derived fragments with different allosterism for the CD28 transmembrane receptor.

FIG. 108. TCell.001.6 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted CD86-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 1.7% and 2.9% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 6.8% of CRISPR+ cells and 69.1% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 109. TCell.001.7 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted CD86-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 1.6% and 2.1% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 10.3% of CRISPR+ cells and 76.4% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 110. TCell.001.8 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted CD86-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 14.5% and 16.0% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 39.1% of CRISPR+ cells and 76.3% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 111. TCell.001.9 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted 4-1BB-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 3.6% and 3.2% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 27.5% of CRISPR+ cells and 87.8% of overall cells were viable. Note that across 9 wells of negative controls (n=3 negatives for TCELL.001 flow cytometry), viabilities were 81.4%, 84.7%, and 82.5%, which demonstrated that a C-terminally anchored, 4-1BB-derived CD137-targeting peptide, which has innate survival signaling with T-cells, has mild survival-promoting effects on non-transfected cells in culture solution.

FIG. 112. TCell.001.10 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted 4-1BB-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 5.8% and 5.4% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 30.8% of CRISPR+ cells and 84.2% of overall cells were viable. Note that across 9 wells of negative controls (n=3 negatives for TCELL.001 flow cytometry), viabilities were 81.4%, 84.7%, and 82.5%, which demonstrated that a C-terminally anchored, 4-1BB-derived CD137-targeting peptide, which has innate survival signaling with T-cells, demonstrates no overall toxicity in culture solution.

FIG. 113. TCell.001.11 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted CD3-Ab-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 12.9% and 12.4% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 50.0% of CRISPR+ cells and 77.6% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 114. TCell.001.12 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted CD3-Ab-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 9.0% and 9.5% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 38.9% of CRISPR+ cells and 80.7% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 115. TCell.001.13 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted IL2-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 25.7% and 28.6% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 40.3% of CRISPR+ cells and 68.1% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 116. TCell.001.14 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted IL2-derived peptides associated with CRISPR-GFP Ribonucleoprotein generate 24.9% and 25.8% efficient uptake in viable CD4+ and CD8a+ subpopulations, respectively, of human primary Pan T-cells at 24 h post-transfection. Overall, 45.9% of CRISPR+ cells and 70.1% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 117. TCell.001.15, a dodecavalently-targeted 12-ligand variant, does not lead to endocytic uptake or CRISPR delivery. Overall, 59.8% of overall cells were viable.

FIG. 118. TCELL.001 Negative Controls. Representative results from one of 9 wells of negative (non-transfected) control. Overall, 81.4%, 84.7%, and 82.5% of total cells were viable 52 h after cell seeding (24 h post-transfection).

FIG. 119. Blood.002 attains 60%-97% mRNA delivery efficiency in the lymphocyte gate of whole human blood through utilizing a SIGLEC derivative for glycosylated cell surface marker targeting; shown is Cy5-tagged EGFP mRNA assayed via an Attune NxT flow cytometer. Ligand targeting is a significant enhancer of cellular signal versus a PEGylated control. See above data for additional physicochemical properties predictive of nanoparticle behavior. Blood.002 Control: Untransfected. Blood.002.88: CD45- and Neu5Ac-targeting SIGLEC derivative (cationic anchor-linker-ligand peptide added before anionic polymer). Blood.002.89: CD45- and Neu5Ac-targeting SIGLEC derivative (cationic anchor-linker-ligand peptide added after anionic polymer). Blood.002.90: PEGylated control (cationic anchor-PEG added before anionic polymer). Blood.002.91: Non-specifically-targeted variant. Blood.002.92: CD45- and Neu5Ac-targeting SIGLEC derivative without payload (anchor-linker-ligand is directly conjugated to anionic polymer, negative fluorescent control).

FIG. 120. TCell.001.27 demonstrated that homovalently-targeted SIGLEC-derived peptides direct 45% efficient Cy5 mRNA uptake in viable CD8a+ and CD4+ subpopulations of human primary Pan T-cells at 5 h post-transfection, as measured via flow cytometry. The size and zeta potential of these particles demonstrated average particle sizes of 171 nm with zeta potentials of −25.5+/−0.15 mV, indicating strong particle stability at a 1.35 carboxylate-to-phosphate (C:P) and 0.85 amine-to-phosphate ratio wherein poly(glutamic acid) is added following inclusion of the cationic anchor-linker-ligand. See above data for zeta potential and size data, TCell.001.2 and TCell.001.18. See above data for additional quantitative details. Top-right: bright field; middle-right: Cy5 mRNA; bottom-right: merge Top: bright field of negative control; bottom: Cy5 channel of negative control.

Example 9

FIG. 121. Rationale for Ribonucleoprotein and Protein Delivery. Charge density plots of CRISPR RNP allow for determining whether an anionic or cationic peptide/material should be added to form a stable charged layer on the protein surface. In one embodiment, exposed nucleic acid (anionic) and anionic charge pockets serve as strong electrostatic anchoring sites for charged cations prior to addition of charged anions, or as their own ligand-linker anionic anchors. Scale bar: charge.

FIG. 122. Rationale for Ribonucleoprotein and Protein Delivery. Charge density plots of Sleeping Beauty Transposons allow for determining whether an anionic or cationic peptide/material should be added to form a stable charged layer on the protein surface. In another embodiment, cationic charge pockets serve as strong electrostatic anchoring sites for charged anions, either as their own ligand-linker-anionic anchor domains, or prior to addition of charged cations. Scale bar: charge.

FIG. 123. (1) Exemplary anionic peptides (9-10 amino acids long, approximately to scale to 10 nm diameter CRISPR RNP) anchoring to cationic sites on the CRISPR RNP surface prior to (2) addition of cationic anchors as (2a) anchor-linker-ligands or standalone cationic anchors, with or without addition of (2b) subsequent multilayering chemistries, co-delivery of multiple nucleic acid or charged therapeutic agents, or layer stabilization through cross-linking.

Handwriting in drawing from left to right converted to text: ‘cationic anchor’. ‘spacer’. ligand′. ‘And/Or’. ‘2d’. ‘cationic polymer and/or polypeptide’. ‘2b. followed by interlayer chemistry’.

FIG. 124. Rationale for Payload Co-delivery with Charged Protein Core Templates. Examples of orders of addition and electrostatic matrix compositions based on core templates, which may include Cas9 RNP or any homogenously or zwitterionically charged surface. A method for homogenizing the charge of a zwitterionic surface utilizing a variety of polymers is shown. A ˜10 nm core particle consisting of CRISPR-Cas9 RNP bound to gRNA is shown with zwitterionic domains. Briefly, a cationic polymer or anionic polymer may be added to homogenize the surface charge prior to addition of oppositely charged polymers. Stagged molecular weight of anionic constituents is demonstrated to increase the transfection efficiency and gene editing efficiency of particles with RNP cores and mRNA-PLE interlayers with a variety of surface coatings in CYNOBM.002.82-CYNOBM.002-86 vs. single payload delivery variants in CYNOBM.002.75-CYNOBM.002.81. Charged core template embodiments encompass any charged surface including a charged dendrimer or oligosaccharide-dendrimer, recombinant or synthetic histone dimer/trimer/tetramer/octamer, nanodiamond, gold nanoparticle, quantum dot, MRI contrast agent, or combination thereof with the above.

Handwriting in drawing from left to right converted to text: The negatively charged coating may be layered upon by with cationic polymer or anchor-linker-ligand, wherein the anchor is cationic.’ ‘amino sugar’. ‘charged glycosaminoglycan’. ‘pDNA’. ‘CODELIVERY’. ‘exposed gRNA’. ‘net negative sheddable polymer coat’. ‘glycan’. ‘cationic protein domain on cas9’. ‘˜10 nm cas9 RNP’. ‘cationic protein domain on cas9’. ‘PLR’. ‘PDE (5-100)’. ‘PLE(5-100)’. ‘anionic protein domain on cas9’. ‘mRNA’. ‘branched cationic polymer on glycopeptide’. ‘histone’. ‘siRNA’. The negatively charged coating may also be domain of an anionic anchor-linker-ligand or a standalone anionic matrix composition. Staggered mw of consistent polymers increases colloidal stability and gene editing efficiency.

Example 10

FIG. 125. Peptide Engineering—Novel IL2-Mimetic Fragment for IL2R Targeting.

Interleukin-2 (left) bound to the Interleukin-2 Receptor (right) (PDB: 1Z92) The sequence ASN(33)-PRO(34)-LYS(35)-LEU(36)-THR(37)-ARG(38)-MET(39)-LEU(40)-THR(41)-PHE(42)-LYS(43)-PHE(44)-TYR(45) is selected from IL2 (PDB 1Z92), correlating to the areas of active binding to the IL2 receptor alpha chain. Engineering complementary binding through selecting the interacting motifs of IL2R with IL2: here, the sequence CYS(3)-ASP(4)-ASP(5)-ASP(6)-MET(25)-LEU(26)-ASN(27)-CYS(28)-GLU(29) is selected for two binding motifs from IL2 receptor.

FIG. 126: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—A Novel Antibody-Derived “Active Binding Pocket” Engineering Proof of Concept with CD3. The sequence THR(30)-GLY(31)-ASN(52)-PRO(53)-TYR(54)-LYS(55)-GLY(56)-VAL(57)-SER(58)-THR(59)-TYR(101)-TYR(102)-GLY(103)-ASP(104) is selected from a CD3 antibody (PDB 1XIW), correlating to the areas of active binding to CD3 epsilon and delta chains. The order of the amino acids is rearranged in order to reflect binding kinetics of a 2-dimensional plane of peptides in the binding pocket which no longer have tertiary structure maintained by the larger protein. This dimensional reduction results in: THR(59)-SER(58)-VAL(57)-GLY(56)-LYS(55)-TYR(54)-PRO(53)-ASN(52)-THR(30)-GLY(31)-TYR(101)-TYR(102)-GLY(103)-ASP(104).

FIG. 127: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—A Novel SIGLEC Derivative for CD45 Glycosylation Targeting. PDB rendering of sialoadhesin N-terminal in complex with N-Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) (RCS PDB 1ODA). A sialoadhesin fragment proximal to sialoadhesin in the rendering was utilized for targeting glycosylated CD45 and other complex cell-surface glycoproteins. It generates successful targeting of T-cells with CRISPR RNP in TCELL.001.3, as well as mRNA in whole blood lymphocyte gates in BLOOD.002.1-BLOOD.002.2. The sequence for the ligand is SNRWLDVK (SEQ ID NO: xx).

FIG. 128: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—A Novel SCF Fragment for c-Kit Targeting. Dashed circles—signal peptide domains of Stem Cell Factor (RCS PDB 1SCF) represent dimeric domains necessary for c-Kit activity. Effect of ligand presentation on cellular uptake due to particular nanoparticle surface size+ SCF coating densities can be compared and contrasted between CynoBM.002.79 (˜5% efficiency) and CynoBM.002.85 (˜56% efficiency). Additionally, a contrast is displayed with qualitative imagery of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell transfections, where E-selectin+ SCF Fragment (HSC.004.73) achieves high efficiencies, but the SCF Fragment on its own does not (HSC.004.74). The marked difference in behavior is suggestive of a particular role of the dimeric peptide in generating endocytic cues and subsequent nuclear targeting of nucleic acid and/or ribonucleoprotein materials. The sequence for the ligand is EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (mSCF); and EKFILKVRPAFKAV (SEQ ID NO: xx) (rmSCF).

FIG. 129: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—A Novel cKit Receptor Fragment for Membrane-Bound SCF Targeting. Rational design of a stem cell factor targeting peptide derived from c-Kit to mimic behavior of hematopoietic stem cell rolling behavior on endothelial and bone marrow cells and increase systemic transfection efficiency (see CynoBM.002.80). Sequence evaluated for folding: Name SCFN, Sequence: RRRRRRRRRGGGGSGGGGSEGICRNRVTNNVKDVTKLVANLPK (SEQ ID NO: xx). Sequences were evaluated with Rosetta and NAMD simulation packages—Rosetta Results: A shortened sequence was placed into Rosetta for ab initio folding (GGSEGICRNRVTNNVKDVTKLVANLPK)(SEQ ID NO: xx).

FIG. 130: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—cKit Receptor Fragment (Continued). Molecular dynamics simulations with anchor segment of anchor-linker-ligands held in place to allow for simulating entropically favorable conformation as would be presented on the nanoparticle surface. Each result contains the same scoring factor which means it's difficult to determine if any of these structures would be preferred. Also Rosetta does not do folding dynamics so it is highly possible that these sequences will not fold into a helix-like structure.

NAMD results: Because Rosetta doesn't do folding dynamics, it was checked if the full sequences would quickly fold into a secondary structure. Simulations were performed in NAMD using replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) on 16 or 32 replicas between 300-500 K and simulated to 10 ns on each replica. The anchor section (poly-R) was fixed as linear to simulate bound protein to particle. Lowest energy snapshots are shown.

Further analysis of the sequence derived from KIT showed that it likely doesn't have a lot of inherent order. Orange cartoon section belongs to the sequence initially selected from KIT.

FIG. 131: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—cKit Receptor Fragment (Continued). Stabilization of a random coiled peptide with strong ligand-linker self-folding into a stable helical peptide for effective ligand presentation through modification of key hydrophobic domains with amino isobutyric acid.

Blue chains represented a more ordered helix present in KIT, ranging from residues 71 to 94:SNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECVKENS. NAMD simulations of KIT residues 71 to 94 with anchor and linker: RRRRRRRRRGGGGSGGGGSSNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECVKENS

Converged to a structure in which the strand heavily interacts with the linker residues. For residues 71 to 94 there are hydrophobic residues that stabilize the helix by interacting with two other helices in KIT. Hydrophobic residues are shown in red (underline): SNYSIIDKLVNIVDDLVECVKENS. The sequence was changed to remove the hydrophobic residues and replaced with amino isobutyric acid (Aib), which helps induce helical folds, to arrive at the following sequence: KIT7194_AIB1: SNYS AibADK AibANAibA DD AibAEAibAKENS. Sequence containing Aib was synthesized on Rink resin and isolated at the free amine and an acylated amine (Ac). Secondary structure was examined by circular dichroism.

FIG. 132: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—cKit Receptor Fragment (Continued)

Circular dichroism of SCF_mcKit_(4GS)2_9R_N and SCF_mcKit(Ac)_(4GS)2_9R_N. Acetylation of ligand ends can be utilized to neutralize the charge of a charged polypeptide end. Top: CD of KIT7194_AIB1 shows a slight dip around 222 and large dip around 208, consistent with the secondary structure of an alpha-helix and helices that contain Aib units. Bottom: KIT7194_AIB1_Ac shows a similar CD to that of KIT7194_AIB1. Sometime acylation can assist in folding but it does not seem necessary. Acetylation can also help with ligand interaction is the terminal amine need to be neutral rather than charged. Full anchor-linker-KIT7194_AIB1 construct: RRRRRRRRR-GGGGSGGGGS-SNYS AibADK AibANAibA DD AibAEAibAKENS.

FIG. 133: PEPTIDE ENGINEERING—cKit Receptor Fragment. Stable conformation of SCF_mcKit(Ac)_(4GS)2_9R_N following modification of key hydrophobic residues with amino isobutyric acid.

Claims

1. A nanoparticle, comprising a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core, wherein the core comprises:

(i) an anionic polymer composition;

(ii) a cationic polymer composition;

(iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and

(iv) a nucleic acid and/or protein payload,

wherein (a) said anionic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid; and/or (b) said cationic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid.

2. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein said anionic polymer composition comprises a first anionic polymer selected from poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDE) and poly(D-aspartic acid) (PDD); and comprises a second anionic polymer selected from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLE) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PLD).

3. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein said cationic polymer composition comprises a first cationic polymer selected from poly(D-arginine), poly(D-lysine), poly(D-histidine), poly(D-ornithine), and poly(D-citrulline); and comprises a second cationic polymer selected from poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), poly(L-histidine), poly(L-ornithine), and poly(L-citrulline).

4. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein said polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.

5. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein said polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to said polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.

6. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the sheddable layer is an anionic coat or a cationic coat.

7. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the sheddable layer is pH and/or glutathione sensitive.

8. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the sheddable layer comprises one or more of: silica, a peptoid, a polycysteine, calcium, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, manganese, manganese phosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, iron, iron phosphate, and iron sulfate.

9. (canceled)

10. The nanoparticle of claim 1, further comprising a surface coat surrounding the sheddable layer.

11. The nanoparticle of claim 10, wherein the surface coat comprises a cationic or anionic component that interacts electrostatically with the sheddable layer.

12. The nanoparticle of claim 10, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more of: a polymer of a cationic amino acid, a poly(arginine), an anchoring domain, a cationic anchoring domain, an anionic anchoring domain, a cell penetrating peptide, a glycoprotein, a heparin sulfate proteoglycan, and a targeting ligand.

13. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the surface coat is zwitterionic and multivalent.

14. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands.

15. The nanoparticle of claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more targeting ligands is conjugated to a cationic anchoring domain that interacts with the sheddable layer.

16. The nanoparticle of claim 15, wherein the cationic anchoring domain is selected from RRRRRRRRR (SEQ ID NO: 15) and HHHHHH (SEQ ID NO: 16).

17. The nanoparticle of claim 15, wherein the anchoring domain is conjugated to the at least one of the one or more targeting ligands via a linker.

18. (canceled)

19. The nanoparticle of claim 17, wherein the linker is a polypeptide.

20. The nanoparticle of claim 17, wherein the linker is conjugated to the targeting ligand via sulfhydryl or amine-reactive chemistry, and/or the linker is conjugated to the anchoring domain via sulfhydryl or amine-reactive chemistry.

21. The nanoparticle of claim 17, wherein said at least one of the one or more targeting ligands comprises a cysteine residue and is conjugated to the linker via the cysteine residue.

22. The nanoparticle of claim 14, wherein said one or more targeting ligands provides for targeted binding to a family B G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR).

23. The nanoparticle of claim 22, wherein said targeting ligand comprises a cysteine substitution, at one or more internal amino acid positions, relative to a corresponding wild type amino acid sequence.

24. The nanoparticle of claim 22, wherein said targeting ligand comprises an amino acid sequence having 85% or more identity to the amino acid sequence HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS (SEQ ID NO: 1).

25. The nanoparticle of claim 24, wherein said targeting ligand comprises a cysteine substitution at one or more of positions L10, S11, and K12 of the amino acid sequence set forth in (SEQ ID NO: 1).

26. The nanoparticle of claim 25, wherein said targeting ligand comprises the amino acid sequence HGEGTFTSDLCKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS (SEQ ID NO: 2).

27. The nanoparticle of claim 14, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands that provides for targeted binding to a cell surface protein selected from c-Kit, CD27, and CD150.

28. The nanoparticle of claim 14, wherein the surface coat comprises one or more targeting ligands selected from the group consisting of: rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) fragment, ApoE-transferrin, lactoferrin, melanoferritin, ovotransferritin, L-selectin, E-selectin, P-selectin, PSGL-1, ESL-1, CD44, death receptor-3 (DR3), LAMP1, LAMP2, Mac2-BP, stem cell factor (SCF), CD70, SH2 domain-containing protein 1A (SH2D1A), a exendin-4, GLP1, a targeting ligand that targets α5β1, RGD, a Transferrin ligand, an FGF fragment, succinic acid, a bisphosphonate, CD90, CD45f, CD34, a hematopoietic stem cell chemotactic lipid, sphingosine, ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramide-1-phosphate, and an active targeting fragment of any of the above.

29. The nanoparticle of claim 14, wherein the surface coat comprises stem cell factor (SCF) or a targeting fragment thereof, CD70 or a targeting fragment thereof, and SH2 domain-containing protein 1A (SH2D1A) or a targeting fragment thereof.

30. (canceled)

31. The nanoparticle of claim 14, wherein the surface coat comprises two or more different targeting ligands.

32. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the cationic polypeptide composition comprises a polypeptide that comprises a nuclear localization signal (NLS) and/or a histone tail peptide (HTP).

33. (canceled)

34. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the cationic polypeptide composition comprises a histone tail peptide (HTP).

35. The nanoparticle of claim 34, wherein the HTP is conjugated to a cationic amino acid polymer.

36-37. (canceled)

38. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein said cationic polypeptide composition comprises histone peptides having a branched structure.

39. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the payload comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a ZFP, (viii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, (ix) a TALE protein, and (x) a DNA donor template.

40. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the payload comprises (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA and/or a DNA molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas guide RNA; and (ii) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide and/or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide.

41. The nanoparticle of claim 40, wherein the payload further comprises a DNA donor template.

42. A nanoparticle formulation, comprising:

(a) a first nanoparticle according to claim 1, wherein the payload comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a ZFP, (viii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, and (ix) a TALE protein; and

(b) a second nanoparticle comprising a nucleic acid payload that comprises a DNA donor template.

43. A multi-layered nanoparticle, comprising:

(a) an inner core comprising a payload comprising a DNA donor template;

(b) a first sheddable layer surrounding the inner core;

(c) an intermediate core surrounding the first sheddable layer, wherein the intermediate core comprises one or more of: (i) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (ii) a DNA molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA, (iii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (iv) a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (v) a CRISPR/Cas guide RNA complexed with a CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided polypeptide, (vi) a zinc finger protein (ZFP), (vii) a DNA molecule encoding a ZFP, (viii) a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein, and (ix) a DNA molecule encoding a TALE protein; and

(d) a second sheddable layer surrounding the intermediate core.

44-49. (canceled)

50. A method of delivering a nucleic acid and/or protein payload to a target cell, the method comprising:

contacting a eukaryotic target cell with the nanoparticle of claim 1.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the payload includes a gene editing tool.

52-61. (canceled)

62. A branched histone molecule, comprising: one or more histone tail peptides (HTPs) conjugated to side chains of a cationic polymer.

63-64. (canceled)

65. A ligand-targeted polymeric nanoparticle bearing one or more guided nuclease payloads and donor strands.