Flu virus shells can assist mRNA delivery into cells - study
A recent UCSD study addresses the major issue of delivering biological drug molecules into cells safely and protecting them from endosomes.
Virus microbiology cell (illustrative) (photo credit: PIXABAY)
An easier procedure to deliver mRNA into cells has been developed by nano-engineers at the University of California, San Diego.
In
order to accomplish this, the researchers found, mRNA must be packed
inside nanoparticles that mimic the flu virus. The UCSD team published
their research in the peer-reviewed German journal Angewandte Chemie in October.
The
study addresses the major issue of delivering biological drug molecules
into cells safely and protecting them from endosomes – organelles that
sort and facilitate or prevent entry of substances into cells –
biological therapeutics needs to escape the endosomes in order to do
their job inside the cell.
Senior study author and nanoengineering professor at the UCSD
Jacobs School of Engineering Liangfang Zhang explained that "the amount
of mRNA that actually gets released into cells and shows effect is very
low" because current delivery methods lack effective endosomal escape
mechanisms; achieving efficient endosomal escape, however, would be a
big step forward for mRNA vaccines and therapies.
Zhang and his researchers developed unique mRNA
delivery nanoparticles that mimic the flu virus's ability to escape the
endosome; these flu virus-like nanoparticles were tested on mice.
PFIZER AND MODERNA were able to develop their mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 so quickly because the scientific community has been experimenting with mRNA for so many years for other indications. (credit: EUAN ROCHA/REUTERS)
Researchers
are currently testing the system for the delivery of therapeutic mRNA
and siRNA – short interfering RNA that inhibits the expression of
certain genes.
 |
| Neander-Troll wishes all readers & their families a Happy New Year |
PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS PAGE AND FOLLOW US AT:
No comments:
Post a Comment