Explore recent mRNA, saRNA, circular RNA, and LNP research on delivery, therapeutic translation, safety, analytical characterization, and manufacturing.
Selected for substantive contributions to delivery, translation, analytics, manufacturing, and safety. Original publication dates and evidence levels are retained. This library covers the latest 120 days; individual published guides remain available.
Ao Hoi Tong; Haichao Zhu; Chenming Zou; Bingshu Liang; Xueer Wu; Shengrong Guo International journal of biological macromolecules · DOI 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.154367
An injectable hydrogel co-delivered hyaluronidase and light-responsive nanoparticles carrying IL-12 and GM-CSF mRNAs. The design combined stromal remodeling, local retention, and photoactivated intracellular delivery. In a postoperative mouse breast-cancer model, treatment reduced recurrence and altered local and systemic immune responses. The multiple-component system remains experimental, with light access, long-term safety, and clinical feasibility requiring further work.
Why it is included: Integrates extracellular and intracellular delivery strategies after surgery; a mouse recurrence model and short-term safety checks cannot establish clinical recurrence prevention.
Vita Golubovskaya; Liang Hu; Shiming Zhang; John Sienkiewicz; Hua Zhou; Robert Berahovich; Jinying Sun; Le Li; Walter Bodmer; Lijun Wu Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · DOI 10.1073/pnas.2616059123
Investigators combined mRNAs encoding an EpCAM-directed T-cell engager, IL-12, and GM-CSF through intratumoral nanoparticle administration. In partially humanized mouse xenograft experiments, the combination altered immune activity in both injected and uninjected tumors and inhibited tumor growth. The study supports localized production of several immune proteins, while the model cannot establish safety or effectiveness across human cancers.
Why it is included: Supports local multicomponent mRNA immunotherapy and distant-tumor effects; partially humanized mouse models provide limited predictions of human systemic toxicity.
Lohra M. Young; Benjamin E. Draper; Mark Chipley; Lauren F. Barnes; Brian Gau; Andrew Dawdy; Alex Kearns; John Orlet; Thomas W. Powers; Martin F. Jarrold Analytical Chemistry · DOI 10.1021/acs.analchem.6c03854
The study develops charge detection mass spectrometry for intact mRNA constructs spanning 997–4,522 nucleotides. Optimized preparation and calibration enabled length determination with 0.5% uncertainty, comparisons of modified nucleotides and poly(A) tails, and analysis after extraction from lipid nanoparticles. The method adds intact-molecule information, while counterion effects and orthogonal identity and impurity measurements remain relevant.
Why it is included: Adds an intact-molecule tool for characterization and comparability; release use still requires validating scope and combining it with sequence and impurity assays.
Electrically neutral self-assembling peptides were developed as mRNA vehicles that form RNA-containing nanotubular assemblies. Experiments examined delivery alongside cytotoxicity and membrane-disruption behavior, reporting favorable readouts in tested systems. This is an alternative peptide carrier rather than an LNP formulation. The peer-reviewed early article supports further development, but its title should not be interpreted as universal or clinical nontoxicity.
Why it is included: Broadens the carrier landscape beyond lipids; long-term tolerability, biodistribution, and therapeutic performance require further preclinical and clinical investigation.
Simin Chun; Hyorim Nam; Donghyun Lee; Yeeun Lee; Cheol Hui Park; Chaehwan Lim; Donghyun Kim; Ji Sun Park; Kee-Pyo Kim; Hak Soo Choi; Heebeom Koo Journal of the American
Chemical Society · DOI 10.1021/jacs.6c13674
Visible-light-driven multicomponent synthesis generated 275 branched amine-containing ionizable lipids from modular building blocks. The platform linked one-pot synthesis with purification-free cell screening and subsequent animal evaluation. A lead lipid improved expression relative to the tested MC3 formulation, and formulation adjustment enabled organ-selective delivery. The work accelerates discovery but does not establish a clinically optimized or validated manufacturing process.
Why it is included: Expands lipid chemical diversity with a practical screening workflow; lead superiority is comparator-dependent and requires further translational development.
The branched ionizable lipid FL0445 supported delivery of linear mRNA and capped circular RNA through a cholesterol-dependent cellular-entry pathway. In obese mice, GLP-1-encoding capped circular RNA produced sustained expression and improved glucose tolerance relative to tested formulations. Inflammatory transcriptional signals were also assessed. The results provide a preclinical delivery proof of concept, not evidence of clinical metabolic efficacy.
Why it is included: Links circular-RNA architecture with carrier selection and duration; mouse metabolic effects do not establish human dosing, safety, or therapeutic benefit.
Researchers used two-armed PEG conjugated to oligocations to transiently coat liver sinusoidal endothelium before mRNA-LNP exposure. The approach modifies the host delivery barrier rather than the LNP itself, aiming to reduce hepatic entry and off-target expression. Mouse experiments examined reversible coating and clearance. Translation would require evaluating the combined regimen, vascular effects, and repeat-dose safety.
Why it is included: Explores host-barrier modulation as a complement to particle engineering; clinical safety cannot be inferred from transient mouse liver shielding.
Siyu Wang; Yichen Zhong; Chang Wang; Meng Tian; Jeffrey L. Bennett; Eliza Bliss-Moreau; Yonger Xue; Changyue Yu; Xucheng Hou; Ya Ying Zheng; Haoyuan Li; Zhengwei Liu; Dinglingge Cao; Diana D. Kang; Binbin Deng; Yizhou Dong Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · DOI 10.1073/pnas.2538147123
The CA2d ionizable-LNP platform delivered mRNA to brain cells after intravenous administration in mice and nonhuman primates. Reported target populations included neurons, microglia, and astrocytes. In a rat ischemic-stroke model, combined thrombolytic and neuroprotective mRNA cargos reduced injury and improved functional measures. The work expands preclinical CNS delivery evidence without demonstrating human brain delivery or treatment efficacy.
Why it is included: Adds nonhuman-primate evidence for systemic CNS RNA delivery; species differences and neurological safety remain major translational questions.
This CMC review connects lipid chemistry and manufacturing parameters with critical quality attributes in mRNA-LNP development. It compares microfluidic scale-out with impinging-jet scale-up and emphasizes orthogonal analytics, stability in plasma or serum, lipid impurities, and RNA–lipid adducts. Early comparability planning is recommended. The framework does not demonstrate that one carrier or manufacturing platform is universally superior.
Why it is included: Helps connect discovery formulations with development requirements; particle size and encapsulation alone cannot establish a complete manufacturing control or comparability strategy.
Hannah C. Safford; Hannah C. Geisler; Ajay S. Thatte; Kuo-Chieh Liao; Alexandre Poirier; Marshall Padilla; Hannah M. Yamagata; Anushka Agrawal; Amanda M. Murray; Alex G. Hamilton; Kelsey L. Swingle; Emily Fitzgerald; Ori Chalom; Yue Wan; Michael J. Mitchell Nano Letters · DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6c01762
Placenta-tropic LNPs produced strong circular-RNA expression in cultured trophoblasts but weaker translation in pregnant mice than linear mRNA. Researchers identified innate immune signaling as a constraint and increased placental expression by inhibiting IFNAR-JAK-STAT pathways. VEGF-encoding cargos provided a therapeutic-payload demonstration. Immune suppression during pregnancy raises separate safety questions that expression improvements alone cannot resolve.
Why it is included: Explains an important in vitro–in vivo translation gap; pregnancy applications require rigorous maternal, fetal, and immunological safety assessment.
Akhil Pratap Singh; Kana Shibata; Yusuke Miyazaki; Wataru Shinoda Nature Communications · DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-76810-y
Molecular simulations examined how ionizable lipid nanoparticles interact with endosomal membranes and release nucleic acids. The authors identified several fusion routes, with a stalk-pore pathway predominating, and linked release to protonation, lipid geometry, membrane tension, and cargo organization. The simplified nucleic acid model used short double-stranded DNA, so findings require validation with therapeutic-length RNA.
Why it is included: Provides mechanistic design hypotheses for endosomal escape; simplified simulations are not direct evidence of improved therapeutic mRNA delivery.
A polymer-lipid carrier incorporating arginine-modified oligoethylenimine combined T-cell activation with mRNA delivery without an added targeting ligand. The formulation favored splenic delivery and engaged PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling. FAP-CAR mRNA generated functional CAR T cells in experimental cancer and fibrosis settings. These are preclinical results; the article also has a subsequent publisher correction that should accompany interpretation.
Why it is included: Connects carrier biology to in vivo CAR-T generation; durable benefit, repeat-dose safety, and applicability to human T cells remain unresolved.
