A ribonucleotide carbohydrate system (iRNC) enhances antigen presentation and controls glioblastoma
<b>Rationale:</b> Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based cancer vaccines hold great potential as immunotherapeutic agents; however, their clinical translation remains hindered by inefficient systemic delivery, suboptimal antigen presentation, and formulation-associated toxicity of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). To address these issues, we sought to design a delivery platform that couples antigen expression and innate immune stimulation within a single nanostructure. <b>Methods</b>: We engineered a synthetic immuno-ribonucleocarbohydrate (iRNC) system constructed from fluorinated cyclodextrin nanoparticles. This modular platform co-delivers mRNA and small-molecule NFκB agonists, enabling simultaneous antigen expression and immune activation. Using ovalbumin (OVA) mRNA as a model antigen, we evaluated biodistribution, immune activation, and therapeutic efficacy in CT2A orthotopic glioblastoma models following systemic administration. <b>Results</b>: iRNCs were preferentially internalized by tumor-associated phagocytes, leading to efficient mRNA transfection and antigen presentation within the glioblastoma microenvironment. This dual-function system elicited robust innate immune activation with minimal systemic toxicity. Importantly, iRNC vaccination demonstrated both prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in CT2A-bearing mice, significantly suppressing tumor growth and extending survival compared to conventional LNP formulations. <b>Conclusion</b>: The iRNC platform unifies mRNA delivery and immune stimulation into a single, programmable nanoparticle, providing a distinct and clinically relevant strategy for systemic mRNA vaccination. Its ability to reprogram tumor-associated phagocytes and induce potent anti-tumor immunity underscores its promise as a next-generation platform for cancer immunotherapy.
Authors
- Rainer H. Köhler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6269-6590)
- Sepideh Parvanian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3884-9961)
- Jueun Jeon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1888-1216)
- Juhyun Oh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4492-6978)
- Christopher Garris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5764-6203)
- Hyung Shik Kim
- Ralph Weissleder
- Fan Fei
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Center for Systems Biology (US)
- Hanyang University (KR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Theranostics
- Published
- 2026-01-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.127558
- Primary Topic
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institutes of Health