The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has accelerated significant scientific advances in mRNA technology, including mRNA-based vaccines and other mRNA-based therapies (gene editing, prime editing), which have now become commonplace. Furthermore, mRNA has emerged as an innovative therapeutic platform for personalised medicine. However, the efficient delivery of mRNA therapeutics requires further development of delivery systems that can protect and transport mRNA to specific target cells. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently the most advanced strategy in this area, but optimising them to improve encapsulation, biocompatibility and intracellular release remains a major challenge. LNP constructions typically comprise four components: an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, cholesterol and a PEG lipid. Of these, the ionizable lipid, which is the most extensively studied, is the key focus for developing new formulations. Until now, ionizable lipids have mainly been produced using commercially available, this significantly limits structural diversity. We hypothesised that integrating novel functionalities into ionizable lipids by developing original structures could enhance their efficacy and selectivity with respect to specific organs. This internship is part of a research project that aims to design and develop new families of ionizable lipids that could broaden mRNA formulations and enhance their efficacy, biodistribution and tolerability.
The intern will be expected to:
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
