Drug Delivery of mRNA and Other Gene-based Therapeutics
The use of mRNA, and other nucleic acid or protein-based therapeutics will become a major class of drugs. This was particularly clearly established during the recent pandemic through the outstanding success of mRNA vaccines. Delivery of such therapeutics is a major challenge, and the mRNA vaccines were inherently dependent on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for delivery and for their success. The development and use of these LNPs has led to a fascinating combination of science and applications. Moreover, as new drugs are developed for applications other than vaccines, there are new challenges in the delivery that must be addressed, such as how to deliver other classes of molecules and how to target specific cells within the body. This special topic issue will explore the challenges and successes of these drug delivery structures.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to:
- Lipid structures: will review the success and challenges of LNPs and will describe the challenges of delivery of other classes of molecules, beyond mRNA.
- Other delivery structures: will review other structures that have been used to deliver gene-based therapies. These will include the more traditional viral delivery vectors as well as other structures such as protein-based structures
- Mechanisms of release: will review the essential release mechanisms that are incorporated into any of the structures. Because the drugs being considered must ultimately be used within the cell, the delivery structures must enter the cell and release their cargo. This is primarily accomplished through endosomal release and this will be reviewed.
Applied Physics Reviews Editor
David Weitz, Harvard University
Guest Editors
Robert Prud’homme, Princeton University
Lennart Lindfors, AstraZeneca
About the Journal
Applied Physics Reviews (APR) features articles on important and current topics in experimental or theoretical research in applied physics or applications of physics to other branches of science and engineering. APR publishes the following types of articles:
- Original Research: An article reporting on an important and novel research study of high quality and general interest to the applied physics community.
- Reviews: This type of article can either be an authoritative, comprehensive review of established areas of applied physics, or a short timely review of recent advances in established fields or new and emerging areas of applied physics.