{"id":32523,"date":"2025-12-16T17:57:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=32523"},"modified":"2025-12-16T17:57:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:57:22","slug":"new-nanoparticle-strategy-boosts-precision-of-mrna-cancer-vaccines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/new-nanoparticle-strategy-boosts-precision-of-mrna-cancer-vaccines\/","title":{"rendered":"New Nanoparticle Strategy Boosts Precision of mRNA Cancer Vaccines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Binghamton University-led researchers have designed tumor-seeking mRNA nanoparticles that use COVID-era immune memory to help the body recognize and destroy cancer cells. The approach could make future cancer vaccines more precise and easier on patients than chemotherapy or radiation.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For decades, doctors have relied on chemotherapy and radiation to fight cancer, even though those treatments can damage healthy cells and cause harsh side effects. Now, researchers led by biomedical engineer Yuan Wan from Binghamton University say a new way of delivering mRNA cancer vaccines could help the body do the job more precisely on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building on lessons from COVID-19 vaccines,  the researchers have developed tiny, tumor-targeting particles that deliver mRNA directly to cancer cells. Their work, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thno.org\/v16p0651.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the journal Theranostics, suggests a strategy that could one day make cancer vaccines more effective and easier to tailor to different tumors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wan, an associate professor in Binghamton\u2019s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, studies how to get cancer drugs and vaccines exactly where they are needed. He said the goal is to turn the immune system into a smart, selective weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe train the immune system using markers from the tumor. When cancer cells with that marker appear, natural immune responses can recognize and destroy them,\u201d Wan said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional cancer vaccines have struggled because tumors are constantly changing. As cancer cells grow and mutate, the proteins on their surfaces can shift, making it hard for a single vaccine design to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the last 50 years, scientists didn\u2019t have very good progress with cancer vaccines because tumors keep evolving \u2014 each one will, probably, develop differently,\u201d Wan added. \u201cIf you use a vaccine against a tumor marker for treatment but the tumor develops in a different way, the treatment becomes useless. In this newest strategy, scientists use a vaccine to force the cancer cells to show unique surface proteins. This acts like a switch, activating the immune system so it can recognize and specifically wipe out the tumor cells.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new approach uses mRNA, the same type of genetic material used in many COVID-19 vaccines. Instead of teaching the body to recognize a virus, however, the Binghamton-led team designed mRNA that tells cancer cells to make a familiar viral protein on their own surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To deliver that mRNA, the researchers created chimeric nanobodies \u2014 small, antibody-like molecules \u2014 with lipid tails. In cell factories, these nanobodies self-assemble with fats to form mRNA-lipid nanoparticles. The result is a tiny capsule with mRNA inside and nanobodies sticking out from the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those surface nanobodies are engineered to seek out and latch onto tumors that overproduce a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2. HER2 is a well-known marker that is overexpressed in several types of cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the nanoparticles arrive at a HER2-positive tumor, they go to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen they bind to the tumor surface, they get into the tumor and release the mRNA that will express the spike proteins,\u201d added Wan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The spike proteins in this case are modeled on the SARS-CoV-2 spike \u2014 the same viral feature that COVID-19 vaccines target. When tumor cells start displaying that spike on their surfaces, the immune system sees something it already knows is dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese spike proteins effectively stimulate a robust immune response in the body. Ultimately, the activated immune system will specifically recognize these spike protein-marked tumors and kill them,\u201d Wan added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because so many people now have immune memory against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, this tactic could give the body a head start. The immune system does not have to learn a new cancer-specific marker from scratch; it can reuse its existing defenses to attack tumor cells that suddenly look like virus-infected invaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The design also addresses a safety concern that has emerged with some nanoparticle-based medicines. Many current formulations rely on polyethylene glycol, or PEG, a chemical that helps stabilize particles but can cause allergic or other adverse reactions in some patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the new system, the nanoparticles are built without PEG. The nanobody component can also be swapped out, allowing scientists to retarget the particles to different tumor types that express other surface markers. That flexibility could make it easier to adapt the platform across a wide range of cancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far, Wan and his team have tested how well the spike protein-based strategy triggers immune responses against targeted cancer cells, using human tissue samples in experimental studies. The early results are promising, but the researchers emphasize that the work is still in its preclinical stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before any human trials can begin, the team needs to refine the technology and figure out how to manufacture the specialized nanoparticles at scale. Right now, they can only produce small batches in the lab, which is not enough for widespread testing or clinical use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scaling up is a common hurdle for cutting-edge therapies. Manufacturing must be consistent, safe and cost-effective, especially for complex biological products like mRNA-lipid nanoparticles. The researchers are now focused on developing methods that could support larger-scale production while preserving the particles\u2019 targeting ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond cancer, Wan sees potential for this kind of mRNA delivery system to play a role in many areas of medicine. mRNA therapies can, in principle, instruct cells to make almost any protein, opening the door to new treatments for infectious diseases, immune disorders and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the tumor-targeting strategy pans out, it could mark a shift in how doctors think about cancer vaccines \u2014 from chasing ever-changing tumor markers to forcing tumors to reveal a consistent, recognizable signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The work also highlights how quickly the science behind COVID-19 vaccines is being repurposed. In just a few years, the same basic tools that helped control a global pandemic are being reimagined as precision weapons against one of the world\u2019s deadliest diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For now, the Binghamton-led team\u2019s findings offer a glimpse of what future cancer care might look like: treatments that are less toxic than chemotherapy, more adaptable than traditional vaccines and powered by the body\u2019s own immune memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:13px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.binghamton.edu\/news\/story\/5965\/new-binghamton-university-research-shows-better-way-to-target-mrna-cancer-vaccines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Binghamton University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Binghamton University researchers have designed tumor-seeking mRNA nanoparticles that use COVID-era immune memory to help the body recognize and destroy cancer cells. The approach could make future cancer vaccines more precise and easier on patients than chemotherapy or radiation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[348],"class_list":["post-32523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science","tag-binghamton-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Binghamton University researchers have designed tumor-seeking mRNA nanoparticles that use COVID-era immune memory to help the body recognize and destroy cancer cells. The approach could make future cancer vaccines more precise and easier on patients than chemotherapy or radiation.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32523"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32538,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32523\/revisions\/32538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}