Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines have recently emerged as a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of cancers, in addition to infectious diseases. LNPs are carriers that safely and effectively deliver nucleic acid vaccines, eliciting a robust immune response.

One milestone is the clinical use of leading LNP mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, which exhibits different degrees of protection efficacy, in addition to some uncomfortable side effects. As these vaccines are known to be secure, efficient and simply developed, they’ve been widely used as protection against various human diseases, especially malignant cancers. Despite its high take-up rate in cancer treatment, the common uncomfortable side effects of pain, swelling, and fever, proceed to be present, potentially on account of inflammatory qualities inside the LNPs, that form a part of vaccines.

Within the study published on Advanced Materials, Prof Chen and his team synthesized a series of alternating copolymers, which might work as vehicles and help mRNA cargos deliver into cells. After entry into cells, mRNA is translated into protein antigens and kill the disease. In the method, the soundness of polymeric nanoparticle (PNP) is maintained, which might ensure accurate transmission of all genetic information to the targeted motion sites of the antigen to kill the disease. This ensures the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.

Professor Shawn Chen Xiaoyuan, Nasrat Muzayyin Professor in Medicine and Technology, and Director of the Nanomedicine Translational Research Programme on the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), and a team of researchers, have developed potent yet low-inflammatory mRNA cancer vaccine vectors-; non-harmful vehicles that deliver the DNA instructions into cells, which in turn trigger protective immunity against the cancer cells. As an alternative of LNPs, they applied polymers because the carrier for cancer mRNA vaccines.

As carriers, these polymers can similarly deliver vaccine antigens, proteins, and medicines to the location of motion, with lower inflammatory responses. With similar functions in vaccines, polymers have a bigger molecular weight than lipids, and preclinical studies within the paper suggested that the polymers didn’t show difference in safety levels.

Currently, the research team is working on optimizing the performance of the polymeric carrier. Its lead structure could be subjected to further studies and clinical translation in the subsequent 18 to 24 months.

This vaccine offers a treatment which could higher profit cancer patients by being potentially potent with low side-effects, and we’re hopeful about its efficacy.”

Professor Shawn Chen Xiaoyuan, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

Source:

National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

Journal reference:

Huang, P., et al. (2022) Integrated Polymeric mRNA Vaccine without Inflammation Side-Effects for Cellular Immunity Mediated Cancer Therapy. Advanced Materials. doi.org/10.1002/adma.202207471.