Australian researchers from Monash University have developed a novel method to improve the delivery of mRNA to target cells, potentially paving the way for a new generation of mRNA medicines beyond vaccines.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, demonstrate a technique that increases the precision and efficiency of delivering mRNA to specific cells, reducing unintended effects and enhancing treatment outcomes, as revealed in a news release.
The research was led by the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), with support from the Victorian mRNA Innovation Hub and mRNA Victoria.
“In mRNA medicine, it’s not just about what we deliver, it’s about where and how we deliver it,” said Moore Zhe Chen, PhD candidate at MIPS and co-lead author of the study.
“Our findings show the precise orientation of targeting ligands on lipid nanoparticles plays a vital role in ensuring that mRNA reaches the right cells with maximum efficiency. This level of control opens up new possibilities for developing mRNA medicines with far greater specificity.”
The study outlines a method that captures and attaches antibodies to the surface of lipid nanoparticles in an optimal orientation, ensuring the mRNA they carry is directed precisely to the intended cell type.
Monash stated that lipid nanoparticles are tiny fat-based particles that protect mRNA as it travels through the body, a technology popularised during the COVID-19 pandemic for delivering mRNA vaccines.
According to the researchers, the new technique boosted mRNA binding to target cells by a factor of eight compared to conventional methods. Crucially, it avoids the need to chemically modify antibodies, a common step in existing approaches that can reduce effectiveness and limit their application beyond vaccines.
“There is growing interest and an urgent need to develop precise, controlled, and cost-effective systems to deliver therapeutic mRNA,” said Associate Professor Angus Johnston, a drug delivery expert at MIPS and co-lead author of the study.
“In this study we used powerful imaging techniques to develop a simple antibody capture system that requires no modification of the antibody, and ensures the antibodies are attached onto lipid nanoparticles in an orientation that increases binding to target cells. This is vital for developing new mRNA medicines beyond vaccines.”
