Stealth Mission: Novel mRNA Vaccine Delivery System

The recent success of mRNA vaccines during the COVID pandemic has vaulted this technology from its humble research beginnings to international recognition by the scientific and medical community as a groundbreaking measure in combating a host of diseases. The delivery of mRNA molecules has been dominated by the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). However, while LNPs have proven effective, they provide investigators with several challenges-most importantly, the activation of unwanted cell-mediated immune responses. Alternative mRNA delivery systems offer the capability to stealthily deliver nucleic acids to their target and evade the immune system while generating a potent antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell response.
In this final webinar of a four-part series on RNA, cohosted by GEN and The CRISPR Journal, we will delve into the delivery question surrounding mRNA research and therapeutics. Dr. Helen McCarthy will review the key issues around RNA delivery and describe a novel peptide-based drug delivery system that her company has developed. This system is based on a sequence of 30 amino acids and condenses anionic cargo, like mRNA, irrespective of size, into nanoparticles for highly efficient entry into cells.