Themed collection mRNA vaccines against COVID-19: Celebrating the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
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Rational design and combinatorial chemistry of ionizable lipids for RNA delivery
This review will delve into the crucial role of ionizable lipids in the development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for efficient RNA delivery.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 6527-6539
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TB00649B
mRNA therapeutics for disease therapy: principles, delivery, and clinical translation
This review provides an overview of the latest research progress in mRNA structural optimization strategies and their delivery systems, and discusses key considerations for their future clinical use.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 3484-3510
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TB02782H
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Lipid-based colloidal nanoparticles for applications in targeted vaccine delivery
This review article demonstrated nucleic acid-based therapeutics and lipid nanoparticle type as a carrier of nucleic acid therapeutics for further applications of LNPs as flexible carriers in immuno-therapeutics and anti-cancer reagents.
Nanoscale Adv., 2023,5, 1853-1869
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NA00795A
Nano dimensions/adjuvants in COVID-19 vaccines
A pictural representation showing that the combined contributions from the virology, nanotechnology and oncology fields can lead to an effective nano-vaccine against COVID-19.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022,10, 1520-1552
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TB02408F
Recent advances in nanotechnology-based COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutic antibodies
This review summarizes the nanotechnology-based COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, including protein nanoparticle-based vaccines, lipid nanoparticle-formulated mRNA vaccines, and nanobodies as unique therapeutic antibodies.
Nanoscale, 2022,14, 1054-1074
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NR03831A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A comprehensive overview of vaccines developed for pandemic viral pathogens over the past two decades including those in clinical trials for the current novel SARS-CoV-2
We describe updated information on the various vaccines available over the last two decades, along with recent progress in developing 63 diverse vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
RSC Adv., 2021,11, 20006-20035
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA09668G
Biomaterials for mRNA delivery
Schematic representation of various biomaterial-based systems for mRNA delivery: (a) protamine–mRNA complex; (b) lipid nanoparticle; (c) lipid nanoparticle with inorganic compounds (e.g. apatite); (d) cationic polymeric nanoparticle; (e) lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles including (i) mRNA–polymer complex core surrounded by a lipid shell and (ii) polymer core surrounded by a lipid shell with mRNA absorbed onto the surface; and (f) gold nanoparticle.
Biomater. Sci., 2015,3, 1519-1533
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5BM00198F
Emerging mRNA technologies: delivery strategies and biomedical applications
This review highlights significant progress in mRNA delivery platforms and therapeutic applications from the view of chemistry. Insights into the challenges and future development towards clinical translation of mRNA therapeutics are also provided.
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022,51, 3828-3845
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CS00617G
A PEG-lipid-free COVID-19 mRNA vaccine triggers robust immune responses in mice
A novel PEG-lipid-free COVID-19 mRNA vaccine triggers robust immune responses in mice without causing obvious adverse effects.
Mater. Horiz., 2023,10, 466-472
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2MH01260J
Enhanced immunogenicity induced by mRNA vaccines with various lipid nanoparticles as carriers for SARS-CoV-2 infection
mRNA vaccines have emerged as a highly promising approach for preventing cancer and infectious diseases, attributed to their superior immunogenicity, rapid development speed, and quality-controlled scale production.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 7454-7465
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TB00303E
A microfluidic electrophoretic dual dynamic staining method for the identification and relative quantitation of dsRNA contaminants in mRNA vaccines
mRNA vaccines (i.e., COVID-19 vaccine) offer various advantages over traditional vaccines in preventing and reducing disease and shortening the time between pathogen discovery and vaccine creation.
Analyst, 2023,148, 3758-3767
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3AN00281K
Successful batch and continuous lyophilization of mRNA LNP formulations depend on cryoprotectants and ionizable lipids
Lyophilization of mRNA LNP formulations enables ambient storage of mRNA LNP in dry state.
Biomater. Sci., 2023,11, 4327-4334
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2BM02031A
A fluorinated ionizable lipid improves the mRNA delivery efficiency of lipid nanoparticles
The combination of ionizable lipids bearing alkyl chains and fluorinated alkyl chains improves the cellular uptake and mRNA expression of lipid nanoparticles.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 4171-4180
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TB00516J
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Towards superior mRNA caps accessible by click chemistry: synthesis and translational properties of triazole-bearing oligonucleotide cap analogs
mRNA-based gene delivery is a powerful strategy for many therapeutic areas. In this work, we used CuAAC to synthesize next-generation triazole-bearing mRNA 5' cap analogs and evaluated them as reagents for modification of in vitro transcribed mRNA.
RSC Adv., 2023,13, 12809-12824
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA00026E
A cationic lipid with advanced membrane fusion performance for pDNA and mRNA delivery
Cationic lipids were designed to study the structure–activity relationship of hydrophobic parts. At a certain length, the unsaturation degrees significantly affected the transgene expression through enhancing membrane fusion and fluidity.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 2095-2107
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TB02783F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA candidates elicit potent T cell responses
Addition of limited amounts of fusogenic lipid DOPE (Orange) and beta-sitosterol (red) improves transfection efficacy of dendritic cells and improves CDB* T-cell responses.
Biomater. Sci., 2023,11, 964-974
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2BM01581A
mRNA-carrying lipid nanoparticles that induce lysosomal rupture activate NLRP3 inflammasome and reduce mRNA transfection efficiency
We have demonstrated the ability of mRNA-carrying lipid nanoparticles to activate NLRP3 inflammasomes is highly dependent on lipid composition, affecting the endo/lysosomal rupture or calcium influx/mitochondrial ROS production by the nanoparticle.
Biomater. Sci., 2022,10, 5566-5582
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2BM00883A
Development of a high-throughput platform for screening lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery
We present an automated high-throughput platform to screen novel ionisable lipids for lipid nanoparticle-mediated mRNA delivery, which is integrated into a fully-automated workflow for LNP preparation, characterisation and biological evaluation.
Nanoscale, 2022,14, 1480-1491
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NR06858J
Optimization of phospholipid chemistry for improved lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA)
Alteration of phospholipid chemistry in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) can increase endosomal escape and control organ targeting.
Biomater. Sci., 2022,10, 549-559
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1BM01454D
Towards mRNA with superior translational activity: synthesis and properties of ARCA tetraphosphates with single phosphorothioate modifications
New mRNA cap analogs have been designed, synthesized and characterized as useful reagents to obtain modified mRNA with potential therapeutic applications.
New J. Chem., 2010,34, 993-1007
https://doi.org/10.1039/B9NJ00644C
About this collection
This cross-journal collection celebrates the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine by bringing together research published on mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Understanding mRNA's interaction with the immune system had a crucial role in accelerating vaccine development during one of the most significant health crises in contemporary history. This collection highlights recent advancements in mRNA technologies for vaccine development, covering mRNA delivery strategies, biomaterials, nanoparticles, and click chemistry.