Project

Novel cationic polymers for RNA vaccination

Acronym
PEI-PPI-Vac
Code
F2022/IOF-ConcepTT/096
Duration
15 December 2022 → 14 July 2024
Funding
Regional and community funding: Industrial Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Bio-organic chemistry
  • Medical and health sciences
    • In vitro testing
    • Non-clinical studies
    • Drug discovery and development not elsewhere classified
Keywords
copolymers Polymers vaccination synthetic mRNA
 
Project description

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are delivered with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). However, LNPs have several disadvantages. First, the formulation of mRNA-LNP vaccines is complex as it involves 4 lipids, an organic solvent, a special microfluid mixing device and a final purification step. Moreover, the current LNPs are shielded with polyethylene glycol that can trigger in rare cases life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. Cationic polymers are more simple and cost-effective alternatives for LNPs as they allow a single-step formulation and can easily be equipped with a non-PEG shield. Recent in vivo studies with our patented cationic polymers elucidated that some polymers induce a fast and short expression, while others induce a prolonged expression of mRNA. The former polymers are interesting for the delivery of RNA vaccines. These data now allow us to modulate the mRNA expression kinetics by using a rational polymer design. This project aims to further optimize the structure of our cationic polymers to increase their potential as RNA vaccine delivery system. With the most optimal polymer an in vivo vaccination proof-of-concept will be generated.