Figure 5 Exosomes for delivery of RNA interference therapeutics Figure 5 | Exosomes for delivery of RNA interference therapeutics. a | Synthetic interference RNA (RNAi) can be introduced to the exosomes by electroporation. The protocol for loading of exosomes should be optimized for the target, cargo and model. After loading, exosomes should be re-isolated and the loading efficacy of RNAi should be established and optimized if necessary. b | Exosomes are injected and can be taken up by different liver cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Introduction of targeting moieties (such as introduction of the APOE to the exosomal lipid bilayer for more rapid and targeted delivery to hepatocytes) can facilitate the uptake of exosomes by specific liver cells. Exosomes can deliver their cargo after cellular uptake. c | Exosomes deliver synthetic RNAi cargo to the cells. Transferred RNAi can use the host cell RISC complex or exosome-delivered RISC complex to induce degradation or cleavage of target mRNA. AP2, adaptor protein complex 2; RISC, RNA-induced silencing complex. Szabo, G. & Momen-Heravi, F. (2017) Extracellular vesicles in liver disease and potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2017.71