LNP Delivery System Development Service

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are novel spherical vesicles with core-shell nanostructure. A typical LNP usually has a specially designed ionizable lipid component, which is positively charged at low pH (for RNA complexation) and neutral at physiological pH (reducing potential toxic effects compared with cationic liposomes). Due to their special characteristics and small size (~100 nm), LNPs could be uptake by cells via endocytosis and then release the cargo into the cytoplasm by low pH mediated endosomal escape. Thus, the LNPs possess additional advantages over the traditional lipid-based carriers such as improved nucleic acid encapsulation and transfection efficiency, better penetration capacity, and decreased cytotoxicity.

Fig 1. Structure of lipid nanoparticle. (Creative Biolabs)

Before the first drug using LNP was approved in 2018, the LNP technology has long been investigated and optimized regarding lipid composition, physicochemical property, drug administration, cell interaction, and safety. The great interest in LNP development was driven by the growing need for a safe and efficient delivery vehicle for genetic medicine, which has various applications such as gene editing, vaccine development, immune-oncology, and treatment of genetic and undruggable diseases. Now LNP has become the most clinically advanced non-viral gene delivery system, and the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines using LNP carriers also showed the promising future of the technology.

LNP formulations usually consist of four lipid components, (1) ionizable or cationic lipids are used to sequester the nucleic acids through charge absorption; (2) helper/structural lipid help to form the particle structure; (3) polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipid can reduce opsonization by serum proteins and reticuloendothelial clearance; (4) cholesterol can fill the gaps between lipids and stabilize the lipid bilayer. The relative amounts of different components may affect the efficacy of LNP, so the LNP formulation needs to be optimized according to different drugs, applications, and administration routes.

Fig 2. Cellular uptake of LNP. (Creative Biolabs)

With more than ten years of experience in lipid-based drug carrier development, Creative Biolabs has been providing fully customized solutions for our partners and supporting the development of novel therapies to improve lives. Our liposome expert team was integrally involved in LNP formulation and performance optimization over the past few years and has developed several stable LNP formulas and mature preparation processes based on the advanced LipoDrive™ platform. You can get any support in Creative Biolabs if you are looking for an efficient gene delivery vector or the right LNP formula to meet the need of your project. Our lipid nanoparticle (LNP) development service includes:

• LNP formulation screening and optimization
• LNP analysis and characterization
• Functional verification
• Scale-up and process optimization

We also provide lipid products for LNP. For more flexible customized services on LNP development, please feel free to contact us.

For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use