A group of researchers at Penn Engineering led by Michael Mitchell, PhD, Associate Professor in Bioengineering, have developed a method to direct lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to target specific tissues.
The researchers incorporated siloxane compounds, a class of silicon- and oxygen-based compounds already used in medical devices, cosmetics and drug delivery, into ionizable lipids and tested variants of the siloxane-incorporating lipid nanoparticles (SiLNPs). Making a small change in the lipid chemistry substantially increased tissue-specific delivery, and has the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine and gene therapy. Read more here.
In a parallel research project, Mitchell also led a team in discovering a new way to improve mRNA delivery, developing an optimal “recipe” for ionizable lipids. Ionizable lipids are also key ingredients in LNPs, which are utilized in certain COVID-19 vaccines. Because lipid structure influences the ability of LNPs to successfully deliver their contents, the researchers used an iterative process, testing variations to find the ideal structure for the ionizable lipid.
This new method for designing ionizable lipids has the potential to facilitate the development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, which may be able to treat a range of conditions, from genetic disorders to infectious diseases. Read more here.
To learn more about these technologies and potential business or partnership opportunities, please contact PCI’s Terry Bray, PhD, Executive Director of Licensing, Physical Sciences and Engineering here.