Nanotechnology

Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) are tiny, fat-based “bubbles” that carry medicines like RNA or small drugs safely through the body, protecting them until they reach their target. First explored in the 1990s as a way to improve drug delivery, these microscopic bubbles became world-famous in 2020 for their critical role in delivering mRNA COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna. Made from natural or body-friendly lipids, LNPs are usually formed by mixing lipids in alcohol with water using special techniques like ethanol injection, microfluidics, or high-pressure homogenization. This creates uniform nanoparticles just 50–150 nanometers wide—so small you’d need a microscope to see them. Scientists check their size, charge (zeta potential), and how much medicine they hold using tools like light scattering and electron microscopy. Because they can shield fragile molecules and deliver them with high precision, LNPs are now being used in gene therapies, cancer treatments, vaccines, and rare disease research. Think of them like soap bubbles carrying a tiny message—when they reach the right cell, they “pop” and release the medicine exactly where it’s needed, making treatments safer, more effective, and more targeted than ever before.

Our nanotechnology expert, Dr. Daniel Liu, with years of in-depth knowledge, hands-on experience and multiple related publications, can provide guidance in selecting the optimal strategy for your project. A wide range of nanoparticle preparation (small and large scales) and analytical methods (GLP or GMP) will be offered based on your needs. With our expertise and state-of-the-art methods, we ensure the development of scalable and robust lipid nanoparticle processes optimized for your projects.

Related Publications:

1. Lipid Nanoparticles Composed of Quaternary Amine-Tertiary Amine Cationic Lipid Combination (QTsome) for Therapeutic Delivery of AntimiR-21 for Lung Cancer Researchers developed a new drug delivery system called QTsome to help block a cancer-related molecule called miR-21, which is often found at high levels in many types of cancer. QTsome is a small, stable nanoparticle made from special lipids that respond to changes in pH, allowing it to deliver alpha blocking molecule called anti-miR-21 (AM-21) directly into cancer cells. In tests, QTsome/AM-21 reduced tumor growth, helped the animals live longer, and showed signs of turning off miR-21’s harmful effects, suggesting QTsome/AM-21 could be a potential new treatment for cancer.
2. A polyethylenimine-linoleic acid conjugate for antisense oligonucleotide delivery Researchers have developed a new delivery system to help bring genetic drugs into cancer cells more effectively. The system uses a small molecule called PEI-LA, made by combining a fat-like substance (linoleic acid) with a carrier (PEI). This system was tested with a genetic drug called LOR-2501, which targets and shuts down a key protein (RRM1) that cancer cells need to grow. The new PEI-LA carrier formed stable complexes with the drug and safely entered cancer cells without causing significant harm. Importantly, it delivered twice as much drug into cells compared to the older PEI system, and it reduced the target protein by up to 70%. These results suggest PEI-LA is a promising new tool for delivering gene-based treatments to fight cancer.
3. Lipid nanoparticles loaded with an antisense oligonucleotide gapmer against Bcl-2 for treatment of lung cancer. Scientists have developed a new way to help fight cancer by turning off a gene called Bcl-2, which helps cancer cells avoid death and keep growing. A genetic drug called G3139 was designed to block this gene, but it hasn’t worked well in past human trials. In this study, researchers created an improved version of the drug, called G3139-GAP, and packaged it into tiny fat-based nanoparticles (lipid nanoparticles or LNPs) to help deliver it more effectively to cancer cells. These nanoparticles were stable, well-formed, and safely carried the drug into lung cancer cells in the lab and in mice with human tumors. The treatment successfully reduced the Bcl-2 gene and protein levels in the tumors and helped slow down tumor growth, while also increasing survival in the treated mice. These results suggest that this new nanoparticle delivery system could be a promising step forward in cancer gene therapy.
4. Lipid-albumin nanoparticles (LAN) for therapeutic delivery of antisense oligo- nucleotide against HIF-1alpha. Researchers have developed a new kind of tiny delivery system, called lipid–albumin nanoparticles (LAN), to help carry a genetic drug (RX-0047) into solid tumors. This drug is designed to block HIF-1α, a gene that helps cancer cells survive in low-oxygen environments. The LAN particles are made by combining fat-based particles with a protein from human blood (albumin) that has been modified to help carry the drug. When tested in cancer cells and mice with human tumor models, these LAN particles delivered the drug more efficiently and significantly reduced levels of the target gene compared to earlier versions without albumin. Both types of particles had similar safety levels, but LAN showed better tumor suppression and increased survival in mice. LAN particles entered cells through multiple natural pathways, making delivery more effective. Overall, this new LAN system shows great promise as a powerful and precise way to deliver gene-targeting cancer therapies.