Rakan El-Mayta

Nov 21, 2024 | nature.com | Xuexiang Han |Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh |Rakan El-Mayta |Kelsey Swingle |Junchao Xu |Ningqiang Gong | +5 more

AbstractIonizable lipids largely determine the biocompatibility of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and the efficacy for mRNA delivery. Rational design and combinatorial synthesis have led to the development of potent and biodegradable ionizable lipids, yet methodologies for the stepwise optimization of ionizable lipid structure are lacking.

Oct 1, 2024 | nature.com | Lulu Xue |Gan Zhao |Ningqiang Gong |Xuexiang Han |Zebin Xiao |Junchao Xu | +11 more

AbstractSystemic delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) for tissue-specific targeting using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) holds great therapeutic potential. Nevertheless, how the structural characteristics of ionizable lipids (lipidoids) impact their capability to target cells and organs remains unclear.

Jul 9, 2024 | nature.com | Xuexiang Han |Ningqiang Gong |Lulu Xue |Majed Ghattas |Junchao Xu |Gan Zhao | +8 more

AbstractLipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are widely used for mRNA delivery, with cationic lipids greatly affecting biodistribution, cellular uptake, endosomal escape and transfection efficiency. However, the laborious synthesis of cationic lipids limits the discovery of efficacious candidates and slows down scale-up manufacturing.

Jul 1, 2024 | nature.com | Ningqiang Gong |Rakan El-Mayta |Lulu Xue

AbstractIn situ cancer vaccination refers to any approach that exploits tumour antigens available at a tumour site to induce tumour-specific adaptive immune responses. These approaches hold great promise for the treatment of many solid tumours, with numerous candidate drugs under preclinical or clinical evaluation and several products already approved. However, there are challenges in the development of effective in situ cancer vaccines.

Feb 25, 2024 | nature.com | Xuexiang Han |Junchao Xu |Ying Xu |Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh |Lulu Xue |Ningqiang Gong | +6 more

AbstractThe ionizable lipidoid is a key component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Degradable lipidoids containing extended alkyl branches have received tremendous attention, yet their optimization and investigation are underappreciated. Here, we devise an in situ construction method for the combinatorial synthesis of degradable branched (DB) lipidoids.