Top 5 Breakthroughs in LNP Research in 2024
From overcoming blood-brain-barrier to more selective delivery, we've seen some truly exciting advancements in the LNP research field.
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a revolutionary tool in medicine, particularly highlighted by their role in the rapid development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. These nanometric delivery systems encase fragile genetic material, such as mRNA, and guide them safely into our cells. In 2024, we have witnessed some truly exciting discoveries in this field of nanotechnology. From our point of view, here we list five of the most important:
1. Fine-Tuning LNP Composition for Targeted Delivery
2. Multi-Armed Ionizable Lipids for Enhanced Spleen Targeting
While the liver has been a primary target for LNP-based therapies due to the natural tropism towards hepatocytes, the spleen is another key therapeutic target given its abundant immune cell density and its contribution to haematopoiesis. Scientists have designed novel ionizable lipids with a "multi-armed" structure, which has shown improved targeted mRNA delivery to immune cells in the spleen. These dendron-like lipids have a branched structure that enhances their ability to endogenously target the spleen by adsorbing a series of hematopoietic and transmembrane transporter-related proteins, without the need for additional targeting molecules and the multi-step manufacturing hurdles they pose. LNPs with these comb-shaped lipids could be instrumental in developing next-gen mRNA vaccines and treatments that aim to stimulate the immune system.
3. Peptide-Guided LNPs for Brain Delivery
4. Acid-Degradable LNPs for Fetal Brain Gene Editing
5. Lipid Tail Length as a Key Factor in Organ Selectivity
Bonus: Improving LNP Safety with AI
Looking Ahead
Interested in learning more about LNPs?
Overcoming Liver Accumulation: Extrahepatic Targeting Strategies for Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs)