Subsequent-generation mRNA vaccine supply system makes use of biodegradable polymers

A analysis crew from POSTECH has developed a biodegradable polymer-based supply system that effectively transports mRNA. The examine was not too long ago printed in Biomaterials.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic, international curiosity in mRNA vaccines has surged. Amongst current supply strategies, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are extensively used attributable to their excessive effectivity. Nonetheless, LNPs have a important downside: as soon as injected, they will accumulate within the liver, doubtlessly inflicting toxicity or triggering an extreme immune response, which in extreme circumstances might result in anaphylaxis.

To deal with this subject, the POSTECH analysis crew explored the biodegradable polymer Poly β-amino ester (PBAE) as a substitute. PBAE has already been utilized for delivering siRNA, DNA, and mRNA and is safely degraded within the physique. On this examine, the crew synthesized 55 kinds of PBAE polymers and used them to design novel polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) for mRNA supply.

Experimental outcomes demonstrated that the newly developed polymer exhibited increased mRNA supply effectivity in comparison with typical LNPs. Moreover, mRNA expression lasted as much as 4 weeks—considerably longer than the standard five-day expression interval of LNPs. Notably, the polymer ensured mRNA expression solely on the injection website, with no detectable expression within the liver, thereby eliminating toxicity considerations.

Moreover, in immune response experiments, the polymer successfully induced T-cell exercise and demonstrated comparable efficiency to LNPs in producing neutralizing antibodies in opposition to the COVID-19 virus. These findings spotlight the potential of polymer-based supply techniques as a safer and extra environment friendly different for next-generation mRNA vaccines and gene therapies.

Professor Gained Jong Kim said, “Present LNP-based supply techniques have a brief expression interval, limiting their use for therapeutic functions. Nonetheless, the polymeric supply system developed by our crew extends mRNA expression as much as a month, making it well-suited for therapeutic mRNA supply.

“This analysis is important because it introduces a novel polymeric materials that would function an alternative choice to LNPs, whose patents are largely managed by abroad entities.”

The crew was led by Professor Gained Jong Kim from the Division of Chemistry at POSTECH in collaboration with the Korea Illness Management and Prevention Company (KDCA).