Did you know that shaking or vortexing mRNA-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) can compromise their integrity? A recent study, "Don’t shake it! Mechanical stress testing of mRNA-lipid nanoparticles", led by Andrea Allmendinger from the University of Freiburg, Germany, reveals that mechanical stress during handling and transport can lead to larger particle sizes, reduced nucleic acid encapsulation, and a decrease in the overall stability of these formulations.
Key Findings:
- Mechanical Stress Effects: Shaking or mechanical agitation of LNPs can damage the structural integrity of the lipid bilayers, affecting the encapsulation efficiency of mRNA and, in turn, reducing the overall stability of the formulation.
- Implications for RNA Therapeutics: These findings emphasize the need for optimized storage, transport, and handling conditions for LNP formulations to maintain their integrity. This is crucial to ensuring the mRNA vaccines and therapies we rely on remain effective.
Looking Ahead: The study calls for innovative strategies, like optimizing formulations and leveraging techniques such as lyophilization, to protect mRNA-LNPs during storage and transport. This can improve their stability, ensuring that cutting-edge mRNA-based therapeutics retain their full potential before reaching patients.
Read more:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939641124000912?via%3Dihub