Development of polypeptide-based materials toward messenger RNA delivery

  • Nanoscale. 2024 Feb 1;16(5):2250-2264. doi: 10.1039/d3nr05635j.
Bowen Zhao  1 ,  Xiao Zhang  1 ,  Molly S Bickle  1 ,  Shiwei Fu  1 ,  Qingchun Li  1 ,  Fuwu Zhang  1  2
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA. [email protected].
  • 2. The Dr John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
PMID: 38213302 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05635j
Abstract

Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutic agents have demonstrated significant potential in recent times, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. As a promising prophylactic and therapeutic strategy, polypeptide-based mRNA delivery systems attract significant interest because of their low cost, simple preparation, tuneable sizes and morphology, convenient large-scale production, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this review, we begin with a brief discussion of the synthesis of polypeptides, followed by a review of commonly used polypeptides in mRNA delivery, including classical polypeptides and cell-penetrating peptides. Then, the challenges against mRNA delivery, including extracellular, intracellular, and clinical barriers, are discussed in detail. Finally, we highlight a range of strategies for polypeptide-based mRNA delivery, offering valuable insights into the advancement of polypeptide-based mRNA carrier development.

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