mRNA Technology and Its Future in Vaccine Development: Recent Advances, Pharmaceutical Applications and Challenges

Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has emerged as a revolutionary approach in modern vaccine development. Unlike conventional vaccines, which use weakened or inactivated pathogens or purified antigens, mRNA vaccines introduce genetic instructions into human cells to produce a specific antigen that stimulates an immune response. The success of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines has accelerated research into their applications against infectious diseases, cancer and other medical conditions. Recent developments in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems, self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA), circular RNA (circRNA) and molecular engineering have improved the potential of this technology. In India, the development of GEMCOVAC-19 has demonstrated the potential of mRNA-based vaccine research using indigenous technology. New research is also investigating improved storage stability, targeted delivery and personalized cancer vaccines. This review discusses the fundamental principles of mRNA technology, its mechanism of action, formulation, pharmaceutical applications, recent advancements, advantages, limitations and future prospects in vaccine development.