Enhanced lipid nanoparticles with improved RNA delivery
This technology is a PBA-conjugated lipid nanoparticle platform that improves bioactive RNA transfection efficiency.
Unmet Need: Lipid nanoparticles that can escape endosomal degradation
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are used to deliver RNA therapies to cells. Unfortunately, they have low efficiency due to endosomal degradation, with only 2-4% of the encapsulated material making it into cells. LNPs also have inefficient cytosolic unpacking, meaning they cannot degrade and release their encapsulated material in the cytosol. There is a need to develop LNPs that can better escape endosomal degradation and release RNA into the cytosol.
The Technology: PBA-conjugated lipid nanoparticles for improved RNA delivery
This technology is a phenylboronic acid (PBA)-conjugated lipid nanoparticle (LNP) that enhances RNA delivery efficiency in cells. These LNPs overcome intracellular barriers to gene delivery by switching between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states in response to pH, thereby stabilizing the particles to aid endosomal escape while promoting cytosolic unpacking of cargo. These properties allow the PBA-conjugated LNPs to have much greater efficiency of RNA delivery than unconjugated LNPs. Additionally, these nanoparticles can form reversible bonds with groups found in sugars, expanding the use of this technology to a range of applications that require selective targeting, such as targeted cancer therapies.
This technology has been validated with human cancer cell lines.
Applications:
- Delivery platform for mRNA vaccines
- Delivery platform for gene therapies
- Delivery platform for target therapy delivery
- Research tool for nucleic acid delivery
Advantages:
- Increased stability in the endosome
- Enhanced degradation in the cytosol
- Increased transfection efficiency
- Selective targeting capability
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Patent Pending
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU26135
Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu