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A workforce of researchers led by The College of Texas MD Anderson Most cancers Heart has developed a novel supply system for messenger RNA (mRNA) utilizing extracellular vesicles (EVs). The brand new method has the potential to beat most of the supply hurdles confronted by different promising mRNA therapies.
Within the examine, printed immediately in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the researchers use EV-encapsulated mRNA to provoke and maintain collagen manufacturing for a number of months within the cells of photoaged pores and skin in laboratory fashions. It’s the first remedy to exhibit this capability and represents a proof-of-concept for deploying the EV mRNA remedy.
“That is a completely new modality for delivering mRNA,” stated corresponding creator Betty Kim, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Neurosurgery. “We used it in our examine to provoke collagen manufacturing in cells, nevertheless it has the potential to be a supply system for numerous mRNA therapies that at the moment don’t have any good methodology for being delivered.”
The genetic code for constructing particular proteins is contained in mRNA however delivering mRNA throughout the physique is among the largest hurdles dealing with medical functions of many mRNA-based therapies.
The present COVID-19 vaccines, which marked the primary widespread use of mRNA remedy, use lipid nanoparticles for supply, and the opposite main supply programs for genetic supplies thus far have been viral based mostly. Nonetheless, every of those approaches comes with sure limitations and challenges.
Extracellular vesicles are small buildings created by cells that transport biomolecules and nucleic acids within the physique. These naturally occurring particles might be modified to hold mRNAs, which supplies them the good thing about innate biocompatibility with out triggering a powerful immune response, permitting them to be administered a number of occasions. Moreover, their dimension permits them to hold even the most important human genes and proteins.
Within the present examine, the analysis workforce used EV mRNA remedy to ship COL1A1 mRNA, which encodes the collagen protein, into the pores and skin cells of a laboratory mannequin that mimics aging-damaged pores and skin in people. The EV mRNA was administered utilizing a microneedle supply system through a patch utilized to the pores and skin. This single injection improved collagen manufacturing and lowered wrinkle formation within the focused space for 2 months.
Whereas initiating collagen manufacturing in cells is a noteworthy achievement by itself, Kim stated, this examine opens the door for additional analysis of EV mRNA remedy as a viable platform for mRNA supply.
“mRNA therapies have the potential to handle numerous well being points, from protein loss as we age to hereditary problems the place useful genes or proteins are lacking,” Kim stated. “There’s even the potential for delivering tumor-suppressing mRNA as a most cancers remedy, so discovering a brand new avenue to ship mRNA is thrilling. There’s nonetheless work to be performed to deliver this to the clinic, however these early outcomes are promising.”
This analysis was supported by an institutional fund from MD Anderson.
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