Lipid Nanoparticles─From Liposomes to mRNA Vaccine Delivery, a Landscape of Research Diversity and Advancement

Abstract

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged across the pharmaceutical industry as promising vehicles to deliver a variety of therapeutics. Currently in the spotlight as vital components of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, LNPs play a key role in effectively protecting and transporting mRNA to cells. Liposomes, an early version of LNPs, are a versatile nanomedicine delivery platform. A number of liposomal drugs have been approved and applied to medical practice. Subsequent generations of lipid nanocarriers, such as solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and cationic lipid–nucleic acid complexes, exhibit more complex architectures and enhanced physical stabilities. With their ability to encapsulate and deliver therapeutics to specific locations within the body and to release their contents at a desired time, LNPs provide a valuable platform for treatment of a variety of diseases. Here, we present a landscape of LNP-related scientific publications, including patents and journal articles, based on analysis of the CAS Content Collection, the largest human-curated collection of published scientific knowledge. Rising trends are identified, such as nanostructured lipid carriers and solid lipid nanoparticles becoming the preferred platforms for numerous formulations. Recent advancements in LNP formulations as drug delivery platforms, such as antitumor and nucleic acid therapeutics and vaccine delivery systems, are discussed. Challenges and growth opportunities are also evaluated in other areas, such as medical imaging, cosmetics, nutrition, and agrochemicals. This report is intended to serve as a useful resource for those interested in LNP nanotechnologies, their applications, and the global research effort for their development.

Lipid in Chips: A Brief Review of Liposomes Formation by Microfluidics

“…It should be pointed out that not all LNPs prepared by SHM constitute a continuous bilayer that qualifies them as liposomes; some LNPs are micelle-like structures (micelles) with a non-aqueous core. 93 Unfortunately, techniques such as cryo-TEM were unaffordable or just unreported in some studies to confirm the structure of LNPs prepared by micromixer. According to those reported results, the formation of liposomes or micelles in SHM might depend mainly on lipid composition and synthesis parameters.…”

“… 106 Notably, COVID-19 vaccine nanoparticles manufactured by Pfizer are reported to be prepared by microfluidic mixers. 93 …”

Nanovaccines against Animal Pathogens: The Latest Findings

“…Non-viral options such as liposomes using cationic lipids to facilitate the encapsulation of negatively charged nucleic acids such as mRNAs and neutral lipids to increase transfection efficiency have revolutionised vaccinology during the COVID-19 pandemic; they were previously used for preventing infectious diseases, treating cancers, and are now highly prized in oncology [123][124][125]. Many technological advances in the fields of structural vaccinology, synthetic biology, and adjuvants have made mRNA-LNPs formulations a promising nanovaccine platform for effectively controlling a variety of diseases, including infectious diseases [126]. Nucleic acid platforms are among the most promising in terms of safety, immunogenicity, efficacy, ease of manufacture, adaptability to various targets, and ease of biological delivery (due to cytoplasmic translation, avoiding nuclear targeting, and nuclear membrane passage difficulties).…”

Effective Perturbations on the Amplitude and Hysteresis of Erg-Mediated Potassium Current Caused by 1-Octylnonyl 8-[(2-hydroxyethyl)[6-oxo-6(undecyloxy)hexyl]amino]-octanoate (SM-102), a Cationic Lipid

“…The administration of luciferase mRNA in SM-102-containing lipid nanoparticles was previously reported to induce hepatic luciferase expression in mice [3]. Formulations containing SM-102 have been noticeably used in the development of lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of mRNA-based vaccines [2,4,5], since such an efficient transfection procedure, based on compacted lipopolyamine-coated plasmids, has been developed [6]. Moreover, SM-102 is known to be one of the ingredients in the Moderna TM COVID-19 vaccine (https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download) (accessed on 27 September 2021) [7].…”