Noninvasive aerosol inhalation is an established method of drug delivery to the lung, and remains a desirable route for nucleic‐acid‐based therapeutics. In vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA has broad ...therapeutic applicability as it permits temporal and dose‐dependent control of encoded protein expression. Inhaled delivery of IVT‐mRNA has not yet been demonstrated and requires development of safe and effective materials. To meet this need, hyperbranched poly(beta amino esters) (hPBAEs) are synthesized to enable nanoformulation of stable and concentrated polyplexes suitable for inhalation. This strategy achieves uniform distribution of luciferase mRNA throughout all five lobes of the lung and produces 101.2 ng g−1 of luciferase protein 24 h after inhalation of hPBAE polyplexes. Importantly, delivery is localized to the lung, and no luminescence is observed in other tissues. Furthermore, using an Ai14 reporter mouse model it is identified that 24.6% of the total lung epithelial cell population is transfected after a single dose. Repeat dosing of inhaled hPBAE‐mRNA generates consistent protein production in the lung, without local or systemic toxicity. The results indicate that nebulized delivery of IVT‐mRNA facilitated by hPBAE vectors may provide a clinically relevant delivery system to lung epithelium.
In vitro transcribed mRNA is nebulized using poly(beta amino esters) for noninvasive delivery to the lung. Hyperbranched polymers form stable mRNA‐polyplexes that distribute uniformly throughout the lungs of mice after inhalation. Reporter protein is expressed in 24.6% of the total lung epithelial cell population after a single dose and repeat dosing results in consistent protein levels without toxicity.
Therapeutic nucleic acids hold great promise for the treatment of disease but require vectors for safe and effective delivery. Synthetic nanoparticle vectors composed of poly(β‐amino esters) (PBAEs) ...and nucleic acids have previously demonstrated potential utility for local delivery applications. To expand this potential utility to include systemic delivery of mRNA, hybrid polymer–lipid nanoformulations for systemic delivery to the lungs were developed. Through coformulation of PBAEs with lipid–polyethylene glycol (PEG), mRNA formulations were developed with increased serum stability and increased in vitro potency. The formulations were capable of functional delivery of mRNA to the lungs after intravenous administration in mice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the systemic administration of mRNA for delivery to the lungs using degradable polymer–lipid nanoparticles.
mRNA‐loaded nanoparticles were synthesized using degradable poly(β‐amino ester) terpolymers formulated with a PEG‐lipid. The PEG‐lipid imparted serum stability to the nanoparticles, which resulted in successful mRNA delivery to the lungs after systemic nanoparticle administration in mice.
mRNA therapeutics hold great potential for treating a variety of diseases through protein-replacement, immunomodulation, and gene editing. However, much like siRNA therapy the majority of progress in ...mRNA delivery has been confined to the liver. Previously, we demonstrated that poly(β-amino esters), a class of degradable polymers, are capable of systemic mRNA delivery to the lungs in mice when formulated into nanoparticles with poly(ethylene glycol)–lipid conjugates. Using experimental design, a statistical approach to optimization that reduces experimental burden, we demonstrate herein that these degradable polymer–lipid nanoparticles can be optimized in terms of polymer synthesis and nanoparticle formulation to achieve a multiple order-of-magnitude increase in potency. Furthermore, using genetically engineered Cre reporter mice, we demonstrate that mRNA is functionally delivered to both the lung endothelium and pulmonary immune cells, expanding the potential utility of these nanoparticles.
Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of α-galactosidase A. Enzyme deficiency results in a progressive decline in renal and cardiac function, leading to ...cardiomyopathy and end-stage renal disease. Current treatments available, including enzyme replacement therapies, have provided significant benefit to patients; however, unmet medical needs remain. mRNA therapy, with drug-like properties, has the unique ability to produce therapeutic proteins endogenously. Here we describe the sustained delivery of therapeutic human α-galactosidase protein in vivo via nanoparticle-formulated mRNA in mouse and non-human primate, with a demonstration of efficacy through clinically relevant biomarker reduction in a mouse Fabry disease model. Multi-component nanoparticles formulated with lipids and lipid-like materials were developed for the delivery of mRNA encoding human α-galactosidase protein. Upon delivery of human GLA mRNA to mice, serum GLA protein levels reached as high as ∼1,330-fold over normal physiological values.
DeRosa et al. describe sustained delivery of therapeutic human α-galactosidase protein in vivo via nanoparticle-formulated mRNA in mouse and non-human primate, with a demonstration of efficacy through clinically relevant biomarker reduction in a mouse Fabry disease model. Therapeutic value was established by demonstrating a superior reduction in clinically relevant biomarkers versus protein-based therapy.
mRNA technologies have the potential to transform areas of medicine, including the prophylaxis of infectious diseases. The advantages for vaccines range from the acceleration of immunogen discovery ...to rapid response and multiple disease target manufacturing. A greater understanding of quality attributes that dictate translation efficiency, as well as a comprehensive appreciation of the importance of mRNA delivery, are influencing a new era of investment in development activities. The application of translational sciences and growing early-phase clinical experience continue to inform candidate vaccine selection. Here we review the state of the art for the prevention of infectious diseases by using mRNA and pertinent topics to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
B lymphocytes regulate several aspects of immunity including antibody production, cytokine secretion, and T‐cell activation; moreover, B cell misregulation is implicated in autoimmune disorders and ...cancers such as multiple sclerosis and non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas. The delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) into B cells can be used to modulate and study these biological functions by means of inducing functional protein expression in a dose‐dependent and time‐controlled manner. However, current in vivo mRNA delivery systems fail to transfect B lymphocytes and instead primarily target hepatocytes and dendritic cells. Here, the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) system that can encapsulate mRNA, navigate to the spleen, transfect B lymphocytes, and induce more than 60 pg of protein expression per million B cells within the spleen is described. Importantly, this LNP induces more than 85% of total protein production in the spleen, despite LNPs being observed transiently in the liver and other organs. These results demonstrate that LNP composition alone can be used to modulate the site of protein induction in vivo, highlighting the critical importance of designing and synthesizing new nanomaterials for nucleic acid delivery.
B‐lymphocytesregulate several aspects of immunity, but B‐cell dysfunction can also serve as the root of disease. Accordingly, it is important to develop chemical tools that can modulate pathways associated with B‐cell function. A new class of ionizable lipid materials is synthesized that, when formulated into messenger RNA lipid nanoparticles, induces protein expression within B‐lymphocytes in mice.
RNAs are a promising class of therapeutics given their ability to regulate protein concentrations at the cellular level. Developing safe and effective strategies to deliver RNAs remains important for ...realizing their full clinical potential. Here, we develop lipid nanoparticle formulations that can deliver short interfering RNAs (for gene silencing) or messenger RNAs (for gene upregulation). Specifically, we study how the tail length, tail geometry, and linker spacing in diketopiperazine lipid materials influences LNP potency with siRNAs and mRNAs. Eight lipid materials are synthesized, and 16 total formulations are screened for activity in vitro; the lead material is evaluated with mRNA for in vivo use and demonstrates luciferase protein expression in the spleen. In undertaking this approach, not only do we develop synthetic routes to delivery materials, but we also reveal structural criteria that could be useful for developing next‐generation delivery materials for RNA therapeutics.
Deliver as required: Lipid nanoparticle formulations were developed that can deliver short interfering RNAs (for gene silencing) or messenger RNAs (for gene upregulation). Eight lipid materials are synthesized, and 16 total formulations are screened for activity in vitro; the lead material is evaluated with mRNA for in vivo use and demonstrates luciferase protein expression in the spleen.
Safe and effective delivery is required for siRNA and mRNA-based therapeutics to reach their potential. Here, we report on the development of poly(glycoamidoamine) brush nanoparticles as delivery ...vehicles for siRNA and mRNA. These polymers were capable of significant delivery of siRNA against FVII and mRNA-encoding erythropoietin (EPO) in mice. Importantly, these nanoparticles were well-tolerated at their effective dose based on analysis of tissue histology, systemic cytokine levels, and liver enzyme chemistry. The polymer brush nanoparticles reported here are promising for therapeutic applications.
Recent approval of mRNA vaccines for emergency use against COVID-19 is likely to promote rapid development of mRNA-based vaccines targeting a wide range of infectious diseases. Compared to ...conventional approaches, this vaccine modality promises comparable potency while substantially accelerating the pace of development and deployment of vaccine doses. Already demonstrated successfully for single antigen vaccines such as for COVID-19, this technology could be optimized for complex multi-antigen vaccines. Herein, utilizing multiple influenza antigens, we demonstrated the suitability of the mRNA therapeutic (MRT) platform for such applications. Seasonal influenza vaccines have three or four hemagglutinin (HA) antigens of different viral subtypes. In addition, influenza neuraminidase (NA), a tetrameric membrane protein, is identified as an antigen that has been linked to protective immunity against severe viral disease. We detail the efforts in optimizing formulations of influenza candidates that use unmodified mRNA encoding full-length HA or full-length NA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). HA and NA mRNA-LNP formulations, either as monovalent or as multivalent vaccines, induced strong functional antibody and cellular responses in non-human primates and such antigen-specific antibody responses were associated with protective efficacy against viral challenge in mice.
Antibody-based drugs are a leading class of biologics used to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, wide antibody implementation is hindered by manufacturing challenges and high ...production cost. Use of in-vitro-transcribed mRNA (IVT-mRNA) for endogenous protein expression has the potential to circumvent many of the shortcomings of antibody production and therapeutic application. Here, we describe the development of an IVT-mRNA system for in vivo delivery of a humanized anti-HER2 (also known as ERBB2) antibody, trastuzumab, and demonstrate its anticancer activity. We engineered the IVT-mRNA sequence to maximize expression, then formulated the IVT-mRNA into lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) to protect the mRNA from degradation and enable efficient in vivo delivery. Systemic delivery of the optimized IVT-mRNA loaded into LNPs resulted in antibody serum concentrations of 45 ± 8.6 μg/mL for 14 days after LNP injection. Further studies demonstrated an improved pharmacokinetic profile of the produced protein compared to injection of trastuzumab protein. Finally, treatment of tumor-bearing mice with trastuzumab IVT-mRNA LNPs selectively reduced the volume of HER2-positive tumors and improved animal survival. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate that using IVT-mRNA LNPs to express full-size therapeutic antibodies in the liver can provide an effective strategy for cancer treatment and offers an alternative to protein administration.
mRNA-induced host protein expression has the potential to overcome challenges associated with the application of antibody therapeutics and to improve treatment efficacy without hampering safety. This study demonstrates that multiple injections of mRNA encoding the anticancer antibody trastuzumab can safely and efficiently inhibit tumor growth, even outperforming trastuzumab protein therapy.
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