Acid Degradable Lipid Nanoparticles Enhance the Delivery of mRNA

Learn about innovative acid degradable lipid nanoparticles designed to improve mRNA delivery through this 31-minute webinar presented by Dr. Niren Murthy from UC Berkeley's Department of Bioengineering. Discover the development of novel acid degradable linkers based on azide-acetal chemistry that rapidly hydrolyze at endosomal pH levels while maintaining exceptional stability at physiological pH 7.4. Explore the unique two-step hydrolysis mechanism requiring both reduction and acid hydrolysis, which provides an optimal combination of stability and rapid triggerable breakdown. Understand how these azide-acetal linkages achieve hydrolysis half-lives of days at pH 7.4 while enabling convenient synthesis and incorporation into drug delivery systems. Gain insights into the challenges of developing acid degradable linkages due to their inherent instability and how this new approach addresses these limitations. The presentation covers the interdisciplinary research from Dr. Murthy's laboratory, which focuses on developing new biomaterials for drug delivery and molecular imaging, including previous work on maltodextrin-based imaging agents and hydrocyanine reagents for detecting radical oxidants. PACE credits are available for registered participants through October 23, 2026.