Dendrimers Improve Apolipoprotein Nanoparticle mRNA Delivery to Immune Cells

M Mirre M. Trines (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) D Daniek Hoorn (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) S Stijn R.J. Hofstraat (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) R Robby C. Zwolsman (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) T Tom Anbergen (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) I Iris Versteeg (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) Y Yuri van Elsas (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) J Jeroen Deckers (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) M Merel M.A. Hendrikx (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) T Teun Kleuskens (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) Y Youssef B. Darwish (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) G Gijs W.B. Ros (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) S Sjoerd F. Dijkstra (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) B Bram Priem (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) M Matt Timmers (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) P P. Michel Fransen (SyMO‐Chem B.V. Eindhoven 5612 AZ The Netherlands) M Maarten J. Pouderoijen (SyMO‐Chem B.V. Eindhoven 5612 AZ The Netherlands) B Bas F.M. de Waal (Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) E E.W. Meijer (Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) T Thijs J. Beldman (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) Y Yohana C. Toner (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands) E Ewelina Kluza (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) W Willem J.M. Mulder (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands) H Henk M. Janssen (SyMO‐Chem B.V. Eindhoven 5612 AZ The Netherlands) R Roy van der Meel (Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands)

Abstract

Abstract Employing messenger RNA (mRNA) for protein production in the liver or for vaccine purposes is a promising therapeutic approach. However, unlocking mRNA's full therapeutic potential requires systemic delivery platform technology with controllable biodistribution features. Apolipoprotein nanoparticles (aNP) containing monovalent ionizable cationic lipids have been shown to functionally deliver mRNA to myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow after intravenous administration. Here, the development of polyvalent ionizable cationic dendrimers is reported for incorporation in aNPs to enable efficient mRNA complexation and functional delivery. A library of dendrimers is first rationally designed with diverse hydrophobic core units, a number of branching units, and functionalized terminal units. Upon incorporation, eleven distinct dendrimer‐based aNP‐mRNA formulations are screened and characterized in vitro for their properties. Based on the screening outcome, four formulations are selected and evaluated their ability to induce functional gene expression in vivo. The results indicate that the lead polyvalent dendrimer‐based aNP formulation outperformed formulations containing a clinically approved ionizable cationic lipid regarding gene expression in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the bone marrow after intravenous administration.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 3
Published January 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (25)

M

Mirre M. Trines

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

D

Daniek Hoorn

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

S

Stijn R.J. Hofstraat

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

R

Robby C. Zwolsman

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

T

Tom Anbergen

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

I

Iris Versteeg

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

Y

Yuri van Elsas

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

J

Jeroen Deckers

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

M

Merel M.A. Hendrikx

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

T

Teun Kleuskens

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

Y

Youssef B. Darwish

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

G

Gijs W.B. Ros

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

S

Sjoerd F. Dijkstra

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

B

Bram Priem

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

M

Matt Timmers

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

P

P. Michel Fransen

SyMO‐Chem B.V. Eindhoven 5612 AZ The Netherlands

M

Maarten J. Pouderoijen

SyMO‐Chem B.V. Eindhoven 5612 AZ The Netherlands

B

Bas F.M. de Waal

Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

E

E.W. Meijer

Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

T

Thijs J. Beldman

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

Y

Yohana C. Toner

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI) Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6525 GA The Netherlands

E

Ewelina Kluza

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

W

Willem J.M. Mulder

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands

H

Henk M. Janssen

SyMO‐Chem B.V. Eindhoven 5612 AZ The Netherlands

R

Roy van der Meel

Laboratory of Chemical Biology Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven 5600 MB The Netherlands