NI LAB
NUS Diagnostic Radiology
NI LAB
We leverage on novel nucleic acids modification techniques and nanotechnologies to improve mRNA therapeutics (RNA vaccines, gene editing)
Recent Highlights
STING-Activating Polymers Boost Lymphatic Delivery of mRNA Vaccine to Potentiate Cancer Immunotherapy
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Dec 23, 2024 Impact factor: 27.4
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Zhang et al. developed a STING-activating polymer (PD) to enhance mRNA vaccine immunogenicity by forming lipid-like nanoparticles (PD LNPs) that promote lymphatic delivery and immune activation via the STING pathway. PD18, a polymer with eighteen tertiary amines, provided an optimal balance between immune response and tolerability, significantly boosting CD8+ T cell responses and demonstrating superior anticancer efficacy compared to 2′3’-cGAMP in cancer models. The PD18 LNP-based mRNA vaccine also conferred long-lasting cancer resistance for up to 60 days, offering a promising strategy for mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Read more in Advanced Materials.
Biomimetic nanovaccine-mediated multivalent IL-15 self-transpresentation (MIST) for potent and safe cancer immunotherapy
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Oct 24, 2023 Impact factor: 14.7
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Wang et al. developed a biomimetic nanovaccine that co-delivers IL-15 and an antigen/MHC to selectively target IL-15 to antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), reducing off-target toxicity. This nanovaccine, made from cytomembrane vesicles derived from genetically engineered dendritic cells, improves the circulation time of IL-15, with an 8.2-fold longer half-life compared to free IL-15. The dual-targeting approach enhances T cell responses, promotes tumor cures in multiple models, and reduces systemic side effects.
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Read more in Nature Communications.
Activatable NIR-II Photothermal Lipid Nanoparticles for Improved Messenger RNA Delivery
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Apr 19, 2023 Impact factor: 16.6
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Li et al. developed near-infrared (NIR-II) lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with pH-activatable Cy-lipid to enhance mRNA delivery via a photothermal-promoted endosomal escape strategy (SPEED). In the acidic endosomal environment, Cy-lipid is protonated, triggering NIR-II absorption and converting light to heat under 1064 nm laser irradiation, which induces morphological changes in the LNPs and facilitates endosomal escape. This results in a threefold increase in the translation of eGFP-encoding mRNA, and bioluminescence from luciferase-encoding mRNA in the liver shows a positive correlation with the radiation dose, supporting the effectiveness of the SPEED strategy.
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Read more in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
JOIN US AT NUS!
We are constantly seeking young researchers and students to join our lab!
If you are interested in joining us or have any inquiries, please contact Dr Ni at qqian.ni@nus.edu.sg.