Delivery of mRNA Using Biomimetic Vectors: Progress and Challenges.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is an emerging class of therapeutic agents for treating a wide range of diseases. However, due to the instability and low cell transfection rate of naked mRNA, the expression of delivered mRNA in target cells or tissues in vivo requires delivery strategies. Biomimetic vectors hold advantages such as high biocompatibility, tissue specific targeting ability and efficient delivery mechanisms, potentially overcoming challenges faced by other delivery vectors. In this review, biomimetic vector-based mRNA delivery systems are summarized and discuss the possible challenges and prospects of such delivery systems, which may contribute to the progress and application of mRNA-based therapy in the biomedical field.

Oral administration of probiotic spore ghosts for efficient attenuation of radiation-induced intestinal injury.

Radiation-induced intestinal injury is the most common side effect during radiotherapy of abdominal or pelvic solid tumors, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and even resulting in poor prognosis. Until now, oral application of conventional formulations for intestinal radioprotection remains challenging with no preferred method available to mitigate radiation toxicity in small intestine. Our previous study revealed that nanomaterials derived from spore coat of probiotics exhibit superior anti-inflammatory effect and even prevent the progression of cancer. The aim of this work is to determine the radioprotective effect of spore coat (denoted as spore ghosts, SGs) from three clinically approved probiotics (B.coagulans, B.subtilis and B.licheniformis). All the three SGs exhibit outstanding reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability and excellent anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, these SGs can reverse the balance of intestinal flora by inhibiting harmful bacteria and increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus. Consequently, administration of SGs significantly reduce radiation-induced intestinal injury by alleviating diarrhea, preventing X-ray induced apoptosis of small intestinal epithelial cells and promoting restoration of barrier integrity in a prophylactic study. Notably, SGs markedly improve weight gain and survival of mice received total abdominal X-ray radiation. This work may provide promising radioprotectants for efficiently attenuating radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome and promote the development of new intestinal predilection.