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Updated: Sep 7, 2025
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Self-Assembly of Gamma-Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids into Complex Nanostructures in Organic Solvent Mixtures
Published on: June 26, 2020
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mRNA Delivery and Storage by Co-Assembling Nanostructures with Designer Oligopeptides
Ruilu Feng1, Atta Cheuk Yan Chang1, Rong Ni1
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China.
ACS Applied Bio Materials
|June 21, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed pepMAX, a peptide for efficient mRNA delivery into cells. This novel tool achieves high transfection rates comparable to commercial options and remains stable after lyophilization.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Effective mRNA delivery is crucial for research and clinical applications.
- Current mRNA delivery vectors have limitations in flexibility and clinical translation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel peptide-based system for efficient mRNA delivery.
- To characterize the mRNA-peptide co-assemblies and their transfection capabilities.
Main Methods:
- A 27-amino acid peptide (pepMAX) mimicking viral capsid protein was designed.
- mRNA and pepMAX were co-assembled into nanostructures (100-150 nm).
- Optimization of mRNA loading and N/P ratio for different cell lines (HeLa, HEK293, SKNMC).
Main Results:
- pepMAX formed stable mRNA nanostructures for efficient transfection (>80%) in multiple cell lines.
- Transfection efficiency was comparable to commercial Lipofectamine MessengerMAX (LipoMMAX).
- pepMAX facilitated mRNA delivery into the cytosol, leading to efficient protein production and stability after lyophilization.
Conclusions:
- pepMAX is a promising peptide-based tool for efficient mRNA delivery and transfection.
- The pepMAX/mRNA system offers flexibility and stability, with potential for clinical translation.
- Further research can explore pepMAX for various mRNA-based therapeutic strategies.
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