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.

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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

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article

A ribonucleotide carbohydrate system (iRNC) enhances antigen presentation and controls glioblastoma

Rainer H. Köhler, Sepideh Parvanian, Jueun Jeon, Juhyun Oh et al.
Theranostics
RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
article

A ribonucleotide carbohydrate system (iRNC) enhances antigen presentation and controls glioblastoma

Rainer H. Köhler, Sepideh Parvanian, Jueun Jeon, Juhyun Oh, Christopher Garris, Hyung Shik Kim, Ralph Weissleder, Fan Fei
article en

Abstract

<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.

TheranosticsVol. 16(8)
Harvard University (US), Massachusetts General Hospital (US), Center for Systems Biology (US), Hanyang University (KR)
National Institutes of Health
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 83%
RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
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