MolecularCloud March Newsletter: How Nanotechnology Helped Create mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines?
The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has attracted constant attention while the toll of deaths and infections keeps growing around the world. In order to meet the urgent demand of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, different kinds of immunization approaches have been employed. Among them, mRNA vaccines stand out as they can be easily and rapidly developed with no potential risk of infection.
However, there are also some bottlenecks with mRNA therapy, and the delivery efficiency of mRNA to target cells and tissues is among the most challenging. High susceptibility to degradation by omnipresent ribonucleases (RNases), together with inherent negative charge, hinder the successful delivery of mRNA to cells and subsequent translocation across the negatively charged cell membrane. Therefore, a carrier is needed to protect mRNA from degradation and facilitate cellular uptake during the delivery.
Recently, Dr. Dan Peer’s team designed a lipid nanoparticle-based RBD-hFc (human Fc-conjugated receptor-binding domain) mRNA vaccine using a preliminary in vivo screen of structurally different ionizable lipid-based nanoparticles to achieve high delivery efficiency of mRNA (ACS nano, 2021).
In this study, the researchers first synthesized and selected 5 amino lipids (lipid 2, 5,10,14 and 15, Fig.1A) and then mix them with mRNA through a microfluidic mixture device to create lipid nanoparticles (LNPs #2, 5,10,14 and 15, Fig.1B).
Figure 1. Schematic illustrations of the structures of the lipids (A) and LNP synthesis (B)
To move forward, they conducted a luciferase mRNA-based in vivo screen to evaluate the in vivo efficiency of the LNPs in terms of distribution, protein expression efficiency, and kinetics. The results showed that LNP #14 and #15 were superior to other formulations in terms of protein expression level and its duration in all three routes of administration (intradermal, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection). Hence, the immune response that developed toward the luciferase protein related to those two LNPs were further examined.
Given the fact that RBD-hFc-fusion protein can be used as an improved antigen for vaccination in regard to enhancing the immunologic response to the RBD protein, they chose LNP#14 to encapsulate RBD-hFc mRNA as it led to a strong cellular response and a significant neutralizing response was observed in LNP #14-encapsulated RBD-hFc mRNA vaccinated mice while naked RBD-hFc mRNA immunization was unable to elicit detectable humoral or cellular responses before or after the boost. The data demonstrated the potential of LNP#14-based mRNA as a promising candidate for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Their remarkable work, as concluded by themselves, substantiates the concept that the development of an efficacious LNP-based mRNA vaccine in general and LNP-based RBD-hFc mRNA vaccine in particular may benefit from a judicious inspection of the lipid component of the formulation.
Time-limited Campaign
With the help of Dr. Dan Peer's team, MolecularCloud has initiated a reward-winning campaign for this specific topic "nano-based mRNA vaccines". As long as you leave a good comment on the topic or get the first perfect score from the related quiz below, you'll have a chance to win yourself a $20 gift card.
*MolecularCloud reserves the right of final explanation for details of this campaign. If there's any further question, please feel free to contact us at support@molecularcloud.org.
Previous Newsletters
MolecularCloud February Newsletter: Plant Genome Editing by SpCas9 Variants
MolecularCloud January Newsletter: Detergent-free Extraction of Membrane Protein
MolecularCloud December Newsletter: Methods and Protocols for Cereal Genomics
Q1: Can lipid nanoparticles help enhancing mRNA vaccine delivery? (1 mark)
-
Yes24
-
No0
24 participants, 0 days left
@MolecularCloud created
Q2: Which of the following is the best carrier for mRNA vaccine delivery? (2 marks)
-
LNP#21
-
LNP#51
-
LNP#100
-
LNP#1418
-
LNP#150
20 participants, 0 days left
@MolecularCloud created
Q3: When was the 1st RNA vaccine approved for human use? (3 marks)
-
20181
-
20190
-
202017
-
20212
20 participants, 0 days left
@MolecularCloud created
Q4: Which of the following is NOT an advantage of mRNA vaccines over traditional ones? (4 marks)
-
No potential risk of infection2
-
Do not require entry to the nucleus0
-
High susceptibility to degradation16
-
Can be rapidly and easily developed2
20 participants, 0 days left
@MolecularCloud created
Q5: Have previous reported LNP-based RBD mRNA vaccines pursued the effect of LNP lipid composition on immunogenicity? (5 marks)
-
Yes10
-
No10
20 participants, 0 days left
@MolecularCloud created
About Us · User Accounts and Benefits · Privacy Policy · Management Center · FAQs
© 2024 MolecularCloud
Based on statistics and factual information this article provides a lucid account on better understanding the different products’ characteristics crucial for the success of vaccination efforts in the context of the convid-19 pandemic. It targets decision-makers and program managers at the national and sub-national levels to focus on the adaptations needed to safely and effectively fight covid-19, in light of the disruption to health services caused by the pandemic.
This delivery system to could have additional application in the field of gene therapy.
Very interesting topic. It could help scientists develop more effective vaccines, and this is crucial considering the coronavirus pandemic.
A concept which needs to publicize at higher rate during this pandemic. Perfect place and timing for publication to spread awareness about fantastic science technology which can bring revolution in research and medicine and can open the doors to develop effective solutions for future challenges.
Great article. This technology really opens how many vaccines will be developed in the future.
Nanoparticles is a good source for several existing issues of human life but it become a blessing during the world pandemic when something efficient and fast needed. Thanks to this technology and for this quiz molecular cloud, which becomes an award for me after participating in it.
We always know that the mRNA vaccine elicits a higher immune response than compared to traditional Adenoviral vectors. Dr. Dan peer's work on mRNA lipid delivery systems will hopefully lay a path into mRNA cancer vaccines.
The article is OK, but this quiz is NOT. Could you make it more interesting and competitive, so that wieners would be chosen by natural selection, rather than by corrupter jury? Also Q2 has two potentially right answers, but only one could be posted - this is not good at all.
Excellent article and will be used in one of my chapter in the book on gene delivery systems to be published by CRC press Thanks for your kind help
in lipid#14 formulation I assume the lipid structure contributes to its duration. (I can see those O atoms just looking for H.) But how is protein expression a function of lipid chemistry/structure? Is it because the LNP is more stable over time? And protective of the RNA until introduced into cells? Is it just stability of the delivery system?