Whether you are responding to a pandemic, or fighting an endemic disease, having multiple versions or types of vaccines that can respond quickly to natural mutations is key.
That is why complex medicines, such as mRNA vaccines, have played such a huge role in the fight against COVID-19.
The type of cargo modules that could be loaded onto the nanoparticles (DNA, RNA, siRNA, small molecules)
The essential properties of the particles (size, charge, loading capacity)
The cell mode of action after uptake
The optimum particle/drug ratio for maximum efficacy
The efficacy of in vivo administration for vaccine applications
The biodistribution in vivo
Medicines Discovery Catapult conducted pre-clinical imaging studies using Nuvec particles labelled with a fluorescent dye.
We found that the Nuvec particle enters the cell by a known endocytotic pathway and releases the payload plasmid, resulting in effective transfection.
Using this labelled article, it was also possible to estimate the number of particles that enter the cell.
An important statistic that now paves the way for estimates of the number of plasmids required to effect transfection.
With the support of Medicines Discovery Catapult, N4 Pharma has the data and guidance it needs to accelerate the rational design of Nuvec for efficient gene delivery applications.
And looking to the future, silica nanoparticles like Nuvec could deliver even more benefits, including:
Vaccines that are easy to store, transport, and use
Scalable production that can respond to pandemics in an efficient and cost-effective way
Delivery systems that optimise the safe release of nucleic acids into target cells
So the potential for fighting pandemics and endemic diseases looks brighter than ever.
Technical Director
N4 Pharma
“Working with Medicines Discovery Catapult over the past year has allowed N4Pharma access to technology that has provided an understanding, at the cellular level, of the mechanism of action of Nuvec, which has been instrumental in progressing its development. Importantly, as well as providing access to high-end technology, working with MDC has also provided expertise and intellectual input. It has also enabled access to a wider network of companies providing specialist services.”
