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Understanding the nano-bio interface and molecular self-assembly in LNPs to improve RNA-therapeutics

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have unlocked the potential of RNA therapeutics and vaccines. Production and large-scale manufacturing methods for RNA-LNPs have been established and rapidly accelerate. Despite this, basic research on LNPs is still required, due to their high assembly complexity and fairly new development, including research on lipid organization, transfection optimization and in vivo behavior. Understanding fundamental aspects of LNPs i.e., how lipid composition and physicochemical properties affect their biodistribution, cell recognition and transfection, could propel their clinical development and facilitate overcoming current challenges. I will show that applying a biocentric approach on LNP development—considering how physicochemical properties and properties of each individual lipid component can affect the nano-bio interface—is vital for rational design strategies that could help overcome current challenges and lead to more effective therapies.

From 18 Sep 2026 11:30
Until 18 Sep 2026 12:30
Speaker
Alexander Kros
Affiliation
Dept. Supramolecular & Biomaterials chemistry Leiden institute of Chemistry Leiden University
Host Sophie Janssens

About the speaker

Prof. Kros is interested in curiosity-driven and fundamental molecular-level insight into drug-delivery related transport phenomena. One of nanomedicine’s enduring challenges is delivery, which may be overcome by elucidating (in vivo) transport phenomena at the molecular level. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in high impact journals like Advanced Materials, Advanced Science, Cell, Nature Communications, Nature Chemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie, Journal of Controlled Release. Prof. Kros’ work has been supported through prestigious grants supportive to this project, such as the ERC synergy grant to develop novel approaches to treat glioblastoma and several other grants including EU Horizon MSCA Cofund “EVOLVE”, and the NWO Gravitation Programme “iCNS” funding the new institute of Chemical NeuroScience, combining Chemistry and Neuroscience to develop innovative tools to create a molecular human brain atlas of psychiatric symptoms. Kros also has an NWO-XL grant on understanding and targeting the biology of glioblatoma. Over the past decade, he has led the development of synthetic fusogenic peptides and LNPs for drug delivery, enhancing tissue and organ uptake. He also pioneers the use of zebrafish as an in vivo high-/medium-throughput pre-screening tool for nanomedicines. Kros also developed an effective method to determine the true hard protein corona on lipid-based nanomedicines.

Understanding the nano-bio interface and molecular self-assembly in LNPs to improve RNA-therapeutics
Seminar