Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative Imaging

Abstract Self‐assembly plays a critical role in nanoparticle‐based applications. However, it remains challenging to monitor the self‐assembly of multi‐component nanomaterials at a single‐particle level, in real‐time, with high throughput, and in a model‐independent manner. Here, multi‐color fluoresc...

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Main Authors: Michael C. Chung, Hector R. Mendez‐Gomez, Dhruvkumar Soni, Reagan McGinley, Alen Zacharia, Jewel Ashbrook, Brian Stover, Adam J. Grippin, Elias J. Sayour, Juan Guan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414305
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author Michael C. Chung
Hector R. Mendez‐Gomez
Dhruvkumar Soni
Reagan McGinley
Alen Zacharia
Jewel Ashbrook
Brian Stover
Adam J. Grippin
Elias J. Sayour
Juan Guan
author_facet Michael C. Chung
Hector R. Mendez‐Gomez
Dhruvkumar Soni
Reagan McGinley
Alen Zacharia
Jewel Ashbrook
Brian Stover
Adam J. Grippin
Elias J. Sayour
Juan Guan
author_sort Michael C. Chung
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Self‐assembly plays a critical role in nanoparticle‐based applications. However, it remains challenging to monitor the self‐assembly of multi‐component nanomaterials at a single‐particle level, in real‐time, with high throughput, and in a model‐independent manner. Here, multi‐color fluorescence microscopy is applied to track the assembly of both liposomes and mRNA simultaneously in clinical mRNA‐based cancer immunotherapy. Imaging reveals that the assembly occurs in discrete steps: initially, RNA adsorbs onto the liposomes; then, the RNA‐coated liposomes cluster into heterogeneous structures ranging from sub‐micrometer to tens of micrometers. The clustering process is consistent with a Smoluchowski model with a Brownian diffusion kernel. The transition between the two steps of assembly is determined by the orientation of RNA‐mediated interactions. Given the facile application of this approach and the ubiquity of the components studied, the imaging and analysis in this work are readily applied to monitor multi‐component assembly of diverse nanomaterials.
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spelling doaj-art-d27a1920478d4a00843e38554dc36df82025-08-20T02:49:46ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-03-011212n/an/a10.1002/advs.202414305Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative ImagingMichael C. Chung0Hector R. Mendez‐Gomez1Dhruvkumar Soni2Reagan McGinley3Alen Zacharia4Jewel Ashbrook5Brian Stover6Adam J. Grippin7Elias J. Sayour8Juan Guan9Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry College of Pharmacy University of Texas at Austin Austin TX 78712 USADepartment of Neurosurgery Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Lillian S. Wells Gainesville FL 32610 USADepartment of Neurosurgery Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Lillian S. Wells Gainesville FL 32610 USADepartment of Microbiology and Cell Science University of Florida Gainesville FL 32603 USADepartment of Physics University of Florida Gainesville FL 32611 USAMiddlebury College Department of Physics McCardell Bicentennial Hall Middlebury VT 05753 USADepartment of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology University of Florida Gainesville FL 32610 USAMD Anderson Cancer Center Division of Radiation Oncology University of Texas Houston TX 77030 USADepartment of Neurosurgery Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Lillian S. Wells Gainesville FL 32610 USADivision of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry College of Pharmacy University of Texas at Austin Austin TX 78712 USAAbstract Self‐assembly plays a critical role in nanoparticle‐based applications. However, it remains challenging to monitor the self‐assembly of multi‐component nanomaterials at a single‐particle level, in real‐time, with high throughput, and in a model‐independent manner. Here, multi‐color fluorescence microscopy is applied to track the assembly of both liposomes and mRNA simultaneously in clinical mRNA‐based cancer immunotherapy. Imaging reveals that the assembly occurs in discrete steps: initially, RNA adsorbs onto the liposomes; then, the RNA‐coated liposomes cluster into heterogeneous structures ranging from sub‐micrometer to tens of micrometers. The clustering process is consistent with a Smoluchowski model with a Brownian diffusion kernel. The transition between the two steps of assembly is determined by the orientation of RNA‐mediated interactions. Given the facile application of this approach and the ubiquity of the components studied, the imaging and analysis in this work are readily applied to monitor multi‐component assembly of diverse nanomaterials.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414305cancer‐therapydrug‐deliveryimagingnanomaterialsnanoparticlesquantitative imaging
spellingShingle Michael C. Chung
Hector R. Mendez‐Gomez
Dhruvkumar Soni
Reagan McGinley
Alen Zacharia
Jewel Ashbrook
Brian Stover
Adam J. Grippin
Elias J. Sayour
Juan Guan
Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative Imaging
Advanced Science
cancer‐therapy
drug‐delivery
imaging
nanomaterials
nanoparticles
quantitative imaging
title Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative Imaging
title_full Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative Imaging
title_fullStr Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative Imaging
title_full_unstemmed Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative Imaging
title_short Multi‐Step Assembly of an RNA‐Liposome Nanoparticle Formulation Revealed by Real‐Time, Single‐Particle Quantitative Imaging
title_sort multi step assembly of an rna liposome nanoparticle formulation revealed by real time single particle quantitative imaging
topic cancer‐therapy
drug‐delivery
imaging
nanomaterials
nanoparticles
quantitative imaging
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414305
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