Researchers refine lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies

Penn Engineers have cooked up a new way to improve mRNA delivery, developing an optimal “recipe” for ionizable lipids — key ingredients in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the molecules behind the COVID-19 vaccines and other innovative therapies. The method, described in Nature Biomedical Engineering ("Optimization of the activity and biodegradability of ionizable lipids for mRNA delivery via directed chemical evolution"), mirrors the iterative process of developing a culinary dish and may lead to safer, more effective mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.