The 60-year evolution of lipid nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery
Pr Cullis, Pl FelgnerDOI 10.1038/s41573-024-00977-6
Read the original ↗Summary
This historical review traces lipid-based gene delivery from cationic lipoplexes to ionisable lipid nanoparticles, connecting foundational research with approved mRNA vaccines and siRNA therapy.
Keywords
Purpose: Transporting nucleic acids into cells in vivo has been a longstanding barrier to gene therapy.
Approach: A historical review of two major research paths: cationic lipoplexes and ionisable cationic lipid nanoparticles.
Key findings: The authors connect decades of lipid-delivery research to approved mRNA vaccines and patisiran, an siRNA treatment for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Additional LNP-enabled therapies are under development.
Interpretation: Lessons from these two development paths inform the design of future nucleic acid carriers.
Limitations: Historical success with particular products does not guarantee success for other cargos or tissues.
Related articles
RSC pharmaceutics
Orthogonal ensemble and single-particle characterisation of antisense oligonucleotide lipid nanoparticles
Discover nanoLipid nanoparticle-based mRNA delivery system for cancer management
Molecular cancersiRNA-mediated mismatch repair disruption synergizes with oxaliplatin to restore immune surveillance in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer
Let's engineer the next delivery breakthrough together
We co-develop nanocarrier and biosensing programmes with pharma, biotech and academic groups — from target selection through scale-up.
ResearchersRequest a technical consultationTalk formulation, characterisation or assay design with one of our scientists.Industry partnersExplore co-developmentFeasibility studies, co-development programmes and licensing.InvestorsExplore the market opportunitySourced market sizes, pipeline, investment and deal data for genetic medicine delivery.