Nanoformulations targeting immune cells for cancer therapy: mRNA therapeutics

Wei Yang; Jianwei Cao; Hui Cheng; Liang Chen; Meihua Yu; Yu Chen; Xingang Cui

Bioactive Materials (May 2023)

Nanoformulations targeting immune cells for cancer therapy: mRNA therapeutics

Wei Yang,
Jianwei Cao,
Hui Cheng,
Liang Chen,
Meihua Yu,
Yu Chen,
Xingang Cui

Affiliations

Wei Yang: Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
Jianwei Cao: Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
Hui Cheng: Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
Liang Chen: Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
Meihua Yu: Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China; Corresponding author.
Yu Chen: Materdicine Lab, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China; Corresponding author.
Xingang Cui: Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23
pp. 438 – 470

Abstract

Read online

The approved worldwide use of two messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) in late 2020 has proven the remarkable success of mRNA therapeutics together with lipid nanoformulation technology in protecting people against coronaviruses during COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented and exciting dual strategy with nanoformulations and mRNA therapeutics in play is believed to be a promising paradigm in targeted cancer immunotherapy in future. Recent advances in nanoformulation technologies play a prominent role in adapting mRNA platform in cancer treatment. In this review, we introduce the biologic principles and advancements of mRNA technology, and chemistry fundamentals of intriguing mRNA delivery nanoformulations. We discuss the latest promising nano-mRNA therapeutics for enhanced cancer immunotherapy by modulation of targeted specific subtypes of immune cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs) at peripheral lymphoid organs for initiating mRNA cancer vaccine-mediated antigen specific immunotherapy, and DCs, natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells, or multiple immunosuppressive immune cells at tumor microenvironment (TME) for reversing immune evasion. We highlight the clinical progress of advanced nano-mRNA therapeutics in targeted cancer therapy and provide our perspectives on future directions of this transformative integrated technology toward clinical implementation.

Published in Bioactive Materials

ISSN: 2452-199X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/bioactive-materials/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords