Opportunities for Innovation: Building on the success of lipid nanoparticle vaccines

Huang, Jessica; Yuen, Daniel; Mintern, Justine D.; Johnston, Angus P.R.

Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations of messenger RNA (mRNA) have demonstrated high efficacy as vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The success of these nanoformulations underscores the potential of LNPs as delivery system for next generation biological therapies. In this article, we highlight the key considerations necessary for engineering LNPs as a vaccine delivery system and explore areas for further optimisation. There remain opportunities to improve protection of mRNA, optimise cytosolic delivery, target specific cells, minimise adverse side effects and control release of RNA from the particle. The modular nature of LNP formulations and the flexibility of mRNA as a payload provide many pathways to implement these strategies. Innovation in LNP vaccines is likely to accelerate with increased enthusiasm following recent successes, however any advances will have implications for a broad range of therapeutic applications beyond vaccination such as gene therapy.