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Published on: February 1, 2019
Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles for Targeted RNA Delivery in Immune and Inflammatory Diseases
Yeongji Jang1,2, Hyun Kyu Song2, Man Kyu Shim1
1Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
Biomedicines
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Functionalized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) enhance RNA therapeutic delivery beyond the liver. Engineering LNPs improves targeting of immune cells for treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Immunology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are key for RNA therapeutics (mRNA, siRNA) but often target the liver.
- Limited delivery to extrahepatic tissues hinders broader therapeutic applications of RNA nanomedicine.
- Overcoming liver tropism is crucial for expanding RNA-based treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies for engineering functionalized LNPs for targeted delivery.
- To highlight applications of functionalized LNPs in immune and inflammatory diseases.
- To discuss challenges in the clinical translation of these advanced nanomedicines.
Main Methods:
- Surface modification of LNPs with targeting ligands (antibodies, peptides, aptamers).
- Advancements in lipid design to improve endosomal escape and intracellular delivery.
- Investigating LNP applications for in vivo immune cell engineering.
Main Results:
- Functionalized LNPs demonstrate improved specificity for extrahepatic tissues.
- Targeting ligands facilitate receptor-mediated uptake by immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes).
- Improved endosomal escape enhances intracellular RNA delivery efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Functionalized LNPs offer promising strategies for targeted RNA delivery to extrahepatic sites.
- These systems show potential for treating inflammatory disorders like autoimmune diseases and neuroinflammation.
- Addressing challenges in clinical translation is essential for realizing the full therapeutic potential of functionalized LNPs.
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