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Development of an Alcohol Dilution–Lyophilization Method for the Preparation of mRNA-LNPs with Improved Storage Stability

Authors :
Daiki Shirane
Hiroki Tanaka
Yu Sakurai
Sakura Taneichi
Yuta Nakai
Kota Tange
Itsuko Ishii
Hidetaka Akita
Source :
Pharmaceutics, Vol 15, Iss 7, p 1819 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

The lipid nanoparticle (LNP) is one of the promising nanotechnologies for the delivery of RNA molecules, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA). A series of LNPs that contain an mRNA encoding the antigen protein of SARS-CoV-2 were already approved as RNA vaccines against this infectious disease. Since LNP formulations are generally metastable, their physicochemical properties are expected to shift toward a more stable state during the long-time storage of suspensions. The current mRNA vaccines are supplied in the form of frozen formulations with a cryoprotectant for preventing deterioration. They must be stored in a freezer at temperatures from −80 °C to −15 °C. It is thought that therapeutic applications of this mRNA-LNP technology could be accelerated if a new formulation that permits mRNA-LNPs to be stored under milder conditions were available. We previously reported on a one-pot method for producing siRNA-encapsulated LNPs by combining freeze-drying technology with the conventional alcohol dilution method (referred to herein as the “alcohol dilution–lyophilization method”). In this study, this method was applied to the preparation of mRNA-LNPs to provide a freeze-dried formulation of mRNA LNPs. The resulting formulation can be stored at 4 °C for at least 4 months.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19994923
Volume :
15
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Pharmaceutics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.7474de252654456bfef9cf26ae6de09
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15071819