Endolysosomal targeting conjugates for improved delivery of cargo molecules to the endolysosomal compartment of target cells

Endolysosomal targeting conjugates that are engineered to deliver cargo molecules such as cytotoxic drugs or imaging labels with improved efficiency to late endosomes and/or lysosomes in target cells such as tumor cells are described. The endolysosomal targeting conjugate includes a targeting component and a cargo component. The targeting component is configured to bind to a cell surface molecule of a target cell and the cargo component includes a cargo molecule. The targeting component and the cargo component may be fused by a covalent bond or associated by a non-covalent bond. The targeting component may bind to the cell surface molecule or the cargo component with higher affinity in the extracellular space than in an endolysosomal compartment of the target cell.