Investigating the structure and interactions of liquid-crystalline lipid nanoparticles derived from plant cell walls as novel gene delivery

Sustainability is becoming a key focus in pharmaceutical technology, highlighting the need of greener approaches for nanoparticle design. Here, we propose a novel class of non-lamellar lipid nanoparticles (NLLNPs) formulated using natural lipids extracted from plant cell walls, that are byproducts discarded by the cosmetic industry. By replacing synthetic lipids with these sustainable alternatives, we aim to develop eco-friendly nanocarriers for nucleic acid (NA) delivery. The highly curved bilayer structures of such NLLNPs are expected to facilitate endosomal escape, a major bottleneck in gene delivery. We propose Synchrotron static SAXS to resolve the internal structure of NLLNPs with high resolution, while time-resolved SAXS (TR-SAXS) with stopped-flow mixing will capture their interactions with biomimetic endosomal membranes on millisecond timescales. These insights will guide the next-generation NA delivery vectors, enhancing both efficiency and sustainability in pharmaceutics.