Smart Bioinspired Nanoparticles for Improved mRNA Delivery

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have played a vital role in mRNA vaccine delivery, such as those used for COVID-19, but their efficiency remains limited, with only about 1–2% successfully escaping endosomes. This highlights the need for new nanoparticle designs to enhance intracellular delivery.

Drawing inspiration from natural biological processes, this project aims to develop bioinspired nanoparticles with dual stimuli-responsive properties to improve endosomal escape and delivery efficiency. The anticipated outcomes include a novel design concept informed by viral membrane fusion principles (without involving any viral materials), a new class of adaptive nanomaterials with enhanced delivery performance, and deeper insights into the mechanisms of endosomal escape.

This initiative will generate high-value materials for next-generation drug delivery and strengthen Australia’s leadership in Advanced Biomanufacturing, Nanotechnology, and RNA therapeutics.