Advancing Therapeutic Nanotechnologies: Quantitative Insights into mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticles

Leveraging the groundbreaking research of Dr. Sabrina Leslie and her team, this project represents a significant stride towards mastering the analysis of mRNA within Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP). Building upon our novel findings, published in ACS Nano (2021), which introduced the first quantitative imaging technique for RNA-LNP formulations, we aim to precisely quantify mRNA molecules in LNPs. Our prior work, achieving single-particle resolution in measuring RNA-cargo loading and particle dynamics, sets the stage for this venture. We’re now focusing on mRNA-LNP complexes, more challenging due to their size and the larger mRNA they contain, which are crucial for next-generation vaccine formulations like those in COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna.

Over the next four months, with the expertise of two postdoctoral researchers, our goal is to refine detection and quantification methods to meet pharmaceutical industry demands. This project promises to elevate our analytical capabilities, allowing for scale-up to production levels and enabling us to serve more clients. It’s a pivotal step towards enhancing mRNA vaccine and therapeutic development, demonstrating our commitment to innovation and responsiveness to the pharmaceutical sector’s evolving needs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sabrina Leslie

Student:

Partner:

ScopeSys Group

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Biotechnology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: