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Updated: Aug 30, 2025

Formulating and Characterizing Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery using a Microfluidic Mixing Platform

Formulating and Characterizing Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery using a Microfluidic Mixing Platform

Published on: February 25, 2021

mRNA lipid nanoparticle phase transition.

Marius F W Trollmann¹, Rainer A Böckmann¹

¹Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Erlangen National Center for High-Performance Computing (NHR@FAU), Erlangen, Germany.

Biophysical Journal

|September 1, 2022

Summary

Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the Comirnaty vaccine lipid nanoparticle (LNP) structure. Changes in pH trigger LNP transformation, releasing mRNA cargo within endosomes.

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Vaccine Technology
Computational Chemistry

Background:

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are essential delivery vehicles for mRNA vaccines.
Understanding LNP structure and behavior is critical for vaccine efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the atomistic structure and properties of the Comirnaty vaccine LNP.
To investigate the pH-driven phase transition mechanism responsible for mRNA release.

Main Methods:

All-atom molecular dynamics simulations were employed as a computational microscope.
Simulations provided an atomistic view of LNP composition, organization, and physicochemical properties.

Main Results:

At physiological pH, the LNP core consists of ALC-0315 and cholesterol (72:28 ratio), forming an oil-like structure.

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Last Updated: Aug 30, 2025

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A lipid monolayer surrounds the core, composed of distearoylphosphatidylcholine, ALC-0315, PEGylated lipids, and cholesterol (22:9:6:63 ratio).

Protonated aminolipids form inverted micellar structures around mRNA, offering protection.

Conclusions:

The LNP undergoes a pH-dependent phase transition, forming elastic lipid bilayers at low pH.
This transition, triggered by endosomal pH changes, facilitates mRNA release by destabilizing the LNP and endosomal membrane.