Selective ORgan Targeting (SORT) nanoparticles for tissue specific mRNA delivery and CRISPR/Cas gene editing

Abstract

CRISPR/Cas gene editing and messenger RNA (mRNA)-based protein replacement therapy hold tremendous potential to effectively treat disease-causing mutations with diverse cellular origin. However, it is currently impossible to rationally design nanoparticles that selectively target specific tissues. Here, we report a strategy termed Selective ORgan Targeting (SORT) wherein multiple classes of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are systematically engineered to exclusively edit extrahepatic tissues via addition of a supplemental SORT molecule. Lung-, spleen-, and liver-targeted SORT LNPs were designed to selectively edit therapeutically relevant cell types including epithelial cells, endothelial cells, B cells, T cells, and hepatocytes. SORT is compatible with multiple gene editing techniques, including mRNA, Cas9 mRNA / sgRNA, and Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, and is envisioned to aid development of protein replacement and gene correction therapeutics in targeted tissues.

Reporting summary.

Further information on research design is available in the Nature Research Reporting Summary linked to this article.