Shaoyi Jiang, Ph.D.

A new material developed at Cornell University could significantly improve the delivery and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines by replacing a commonly used ingredient in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that may trigger unwanted immune responses in some people. Traditional lipid nanoparticle formulations for mRNA delivery contain the polymer poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG), which is widely used in drug delivery carriers, but has recently been linked to immunogenicity concerns.

Cornell University professor of biomedical engineering Shaoyi Jiang, PhD, and colleagues have now developed poly(carboxybetaine) PCB lipids as surrogates for PEG-lipids used in mRNA formulations. Preclinical in vitro tests and in vivo immunization studies in mice showed that the PCB-containing LNPs had greater therapeutic efficacy than their PEG counterparts and could be administered repeatedly without loss of efficacy… Continue reading.