Next-Generation Nanoparticle-Enabled mRNA Vaccines in the Treatment of COVID-19

The emergence of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines as an alternative platform to traditional vaccines has been accompanied by advances in nanobiotechnology, which have improved the stability and delivery of these vaccines through novel nanoparticles (NPs). Specifically, the development of NPs for mRNA delivery has facilitated the loading, protection and release of mRNA in the biological microenvironment, leading to the stimulation of mRNA translation for effective intervention strategies. Intriguingly, two mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna), have been permitted for emergency usage authorization to prevent COVID-19 infection by USFDA. Both mRNA vaccines utilized lipidic NPs (LNPs) as a delivery platform and demonstrated superior efficacy and safety profiles compared to traditional vaccines. This review article gives insight into ongoing pre-clinical and clinical developments of mRNA vaccine candidates, their efficacy against coronavirus variants, and analysis of NP-based approaches to recognize their potential for forthcoming growth. This review article highlights recent advances in delivery strategies, including LNPs, polymeric NPs, and exosomes, for effective immunization against COVID-19. The key challenges associated with mRNA NPs have been identified, and potential strategies to overcome these difficulties have been proposed. Production of nanomaterials for specific mRNA applications can offer new insights into next-generation nanomaterials, revolutionizing mRNA technology.