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Polymer library for RNA-based therapeutic approaches
12 Jul 2024
The research group of LMU pharmacist Olivia Merkel has optimized the synthesis of polymer nanoparticles to facilitate the targeted distribution of RNA agents in the body.
Olivia Merkel is the lead author of the newly published study. | © Florian Generotzky / LMU
RNA therapy with polymer nanoparticles is considered a promising approach for the treatment of various illnesses. It involves the use of polymers as “nanocarriers” to transport RNA drugs precisely to the correct target cells. Manufacturing such polymers, however, has proven to be complex and difficult.
In a recent study by the research group of Olivia Merkel, Professor of Drug Delivery in the Department of Pharmacy at LMU, so-called spermine-modified poly(beta-amino esters) (PBAEs), a polymer type that is frequently used for the formulation and delivery of nucleic acids were focused on. “We synthesized and characterized a library of 27 different polymers, taking into account various factors such as the ratios of starting materials, the temperature, and the reaction time,” explains Merkel.
Our research helps to improve the quality, efficiency, and precision of RNA drugs.Olivia Merkel
Factors that significantly influence polymerization are identified by statistical analysis of a library of 27 polymers that are particularly suitable for therapeutic RNA delivery. | © Merkel Lab
A design-of-experiment approach, whereby the significant factors of experiments are identified by means of statistical analyses, enabled the researchers to derive a wealth of information out of just a few experiments. The polymers were chemically analyzed to understand their composition and molecular properties. In addition, a computer-based protocol was developed to better capture the complex process of polymerization and predict it for future syntheses. “Our research helps to improve the quality, efficiency, and precision of RNA drugs,” says Merkel regarding the results of the study.
Adrian Kromer, Felix Sieber-Schäfer, Johan Farfan Benito & Olivia M. Merkel: Design of Experiments Grants Mechanistic Insights into the Synthesis of Spermine-Containing PBAE Copolymers. ACS Publications 2024
More on the topic:
- A matter of perseverance : Since the start of her career, Olivia Merkel has been researching methods for transporting therapeutic RNA segments precisely to their target location in the lungs. A portrait from our science magazine INSIGHTS
- The interpreter: Olivia Merkel on “nanocarriers” – LMU researchers explain scientific terms in a generally understandable way.