Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap

Abstract Lyophilization enhances mRNA vaccine stability, but conventional approaches using external trehalose for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) colloidal stability neglect mRNA chemical degradation and are compromised in vivo efficacy. Here, we report a dual-function trehalose strategy integrating its ex...

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Main Authors: Xu-Han Liu, Hui-Ping Song, Ling-Ling Tao, Zhe Zhai, Jin-Xing Huang, Yong-Xian Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:npj Vaccines
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01253-3
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author Xu-Han Liu
Hui-Ping Song
Ling-Ling Tao
Zhe Zhai
Jin-Xing Huang
Yong-Xian Cheng
author_facet Xu-Han Liu
Hui-Ping Song
Ling-Ling Tao
Zhe Zhai
Jin-Xing Huang
Yong-Xian Cheng
author_sort Xu-Han Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lyophilization enhances mRNA vaccine stability, but conventional approaches using external trehalose for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) colloidal stability neglect mRNA chemical degradation and are compromised in vivo efficacy. Here, we report a dual-function trehalose strategy integrating its external and internal roles within LNP. This strategy enables trehalose to externally form a vitrified matrix that preserves LNP colloidal integrity, while internally stabilizing mRNA through hydrogen bonding, markedly reducing chemical degradation during storage compared to LNP relying solely on externally added trehalose. Crucially, co-loaded trehalose is co-delivered into cells, bridging the in vitro-in vivo gap by mitigating oxidative stress through reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) alongside elevated glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). This is corroborated by downregulated cytoplasmic and nuclear nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression. Our strategy provides a simple, universally adaptable, and scalable method to enhance mRNA-LNP formulations stability without exogenous components or complex lyophilization steps.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2059-0105
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Vaccines
spelling doaj-art-3a1e2a9feb6f497d95784d3a2c438ac72025-08-24T11:06:35ZengNature Portfolionpj Vaccines2059-01052025-08-0110111210.1038/s41541-025-01253-3Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gapXu-Han Liu0Hui-Ping Song1Ling-Ling Tao2Zhe Zhai3Jin-Xing Huang4Yong-Xian Cheng5Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Shenzhen UniversityDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Shenzhen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Shenzhen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Shenzhen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Ingredients and Gut Microbiomics, Shenzhen UniversityAbstract Lyophilization enhances mRNA vaccine stability, but conventional approaches using external trehalose for lipid nanoparticle (LNP) colloidal stability neglect mRNA chemical degradation and are compromised in vivo efficacy. Here, we report a dual-function trehalose strategy integrating its external and internal roles within LNP. This strategy enables trehalose to externally form a vitrified matrix that preserves LNP colloidal integrity, while internally stabilizing mRNA through hydrogen bonding, markedly reducing chemical degradation during storage compared to LNP relying solely on externally added trehalose. Crucially, co-loaded trehalose is co-delivered into cells, bridging the in vitro-in vivo gap by mitigating oxidative stress through reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) alongside elevated glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). This is corroborated by downregulated cytoplasmic and nuclear nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression. Our strategy provides a simple, universally adaptable, and scalable method to enhance mRNA-LNP formulations stability without exogenous components or complex lyophilization steps.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01253-3
spellingShingle Xu-Han Liu
Hui-Ping Song
Ling-Ling Tao
Zhe Zhai
Jin-Xing Huang
Yong-Xian Cheng
Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap
npj Vaccines
title Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap
title_full Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap
title_fullStr Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap
title_full_unstemmed Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap
title_short Trehalose-loaded LNPs enhance mRNA stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap
title_sort trehalose loaded lnps enhance mrna stability and bridge in vitro in vivo efficacy gap
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-025-01253-3
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AT linglingtao trehaloseloadedlnpsenhancemrnastabilityandbridgeinvitroinvivoefficacygap
AT zhezhai trehaloseloadedlnpsenhancemrnastabilityandbridgeinvitroinvivoefficacygap
AT jinxinghuang trehaloseloadedlnpsenhancemrnastabilityandbridgeinvitroinvivoefficacygap
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