Designing mRNA formulations for vaccine development

Lipid nanoparticles, known as LNPs, have been the primary delivery system used in mRNA vaccines. Past studies have proposed that the innate reactogenicity of LNPs is responsible for producing the vaccine’s adaptive immune response. However, it has not been clear whether the main drive for the adaptive immune response is due to the adjuvant properties of LNPs in the muscle or the delivery of the formulation to the secondary lymphatic organs. The experiments in this thesis have revealed that the delivery and transfection of mRNA in the secondary lymphoid organs are the primary drivers for producing adaptive immune responses in mice. This study will help us design an mRNA delivery system that targets these organs for a better vaccine response.