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Revolutionary Innovations in Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) for In Vivo RNA Delivery and Prospective Applications

RNA therapeutics have emerged as a promising class of medications for treating a range of diseases, including cancer, genetic disorders, and infectious diseases. Among them, synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) has drawn much attention due to its versatile use in exogenous protein expression. Originally, mRNA is an endogenous single-stranded RNA molecule that transfers genetic information from DNA to proteins. This intermediary molecule is essential for gene expression and allows the production of target proteins in the cytoplasm through a single translation step. After the development of in vitro transcription systems in the 1990s, synthetic mRNA has emerged as an alternative tool for expressing target proteins in cells. Compared to other gene expression systems such as plasmid DNA (pDNA) and viral vectors, synthetic mRNA has several advantages such as simple intracellular processing, rapid and robust gene expression, and convenient manufacturing. However, the delivery of synthetic mRNA molecules to target cells and tissues remains a major challenge due to their fragile nature and susceptibility to degradation.

Revolutionary Innovations in Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) for In Vivo RNA Delivery and Prospective Applications

To overcome these limitations, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have received much attention as a versatile and efficient delivery system for mRNA therapeutics. Lipid nanoparticles play a crucial role in the development of mRNA therapeutics by enabling the efficient delivery of RNA molecules into target cells and tissues.

Fundamental Aspects of Lipid Nanoparticles for RNA Delivery

Optimizing RNA delivery systems is critical for the development of effective RNA therapeutics. Messenger RNA is a relatively large molecule (10-10 Da), which largely prevents its diffusion into cells, and its negative charge makes its transport through the anionic cell membrane challenging. In addition, mRNA is unstable and susceptible to degradation by several enzymes, including 5' or 3' exonucleases and endonucleases. LNPs have been shown to effectively encapsulate RNA molecules and protect them from degradation, enabling them to enter cells and perform their therapeutic functions. Moreover, LNPs can overcome several biological barriers by allowing endosomal escape, cellular uptake, and drug release, enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of synthetic mRNA. As a result, LNPs have become a widely used platform for the development of mRNA therapeutics, particularly in the context of vaccines and gene therapies.

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Current Applications of Lipid Nanoparticles for The Development of RNA Therapeutics

Current Challenges of The Use of Lipid Nanoparticles for In Vivo RNA Delivery

LNPs have demonstrated enormous potential as in vivo delivery platforms for RNA therapeutics, such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and mRNAs. There are several FDA-approved RNA therapies for gene therapy, including three LNP formulations of RNA therapies. However, with the exception of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 that have been authorized for emergency use, the majority of mRNA therapeutics for protein replacement therapies and gene editing are still in the stage of preclinical development. Although LNPs hold great promise as a delivery system for RNA therapeutics, several challenges remain and must be addressed before expanding the applications of RNA/LNPs to treat various diseases. One of the primary challenges is achieving extrahepatic delivery of RNA to specific organs or cells.

Overcoming The Challenge of Targeting LNPs Beyond the Liver

While LNP is a promising drug delivery system, major accumulation of LNP in the liver by ApoE-LDL interaction has hindered the successful development of mRNA/LNPs to treat extra-hepatic diseases. To expand the use of LNPs to target extra-hepatic organs, it is necessary to develop strategies to effectively target specific organs and tissues in the body. Therefore, new approaches have been investigated to deliver therapeutic mRNA to extra-hepatic organs such as the lung, spleen, lymphoid organ, eye, and brain.

Conclusions

While LNPs provide a highly efficient platform for the in vivo delivery of RNA by overcoming various biological barriers, several challenges remain to be resolved for further development and regulatory approval. These include a lack of targeted delivery to extrahepatic organs and a gradual loss of therapeutic potency with repeated doses. Overall, LNPs have the potential to revolutionize the delivery of a wide range of therapeutics, including RNA-based therapies and gene editing tools, but further research and development are needed to fully realize this potential.

Reference:

  1. Jeong, M.; et al. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for in vivo RNA delivery and their breakthrough technology for future applications. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 2023: 114990.
* For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.
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