Using lipid nanoparticles to reach cells in low-oxygen parts of the body
Investigating and Manipulating Cells in Low Oxygen Environments Using Lipid Nanoparticles
This work looks at whether lipid nanoparticles can deliver mRNA effectively to cells in low-oxygen parts of the body to help people with conditions such as cancer, stroke, or chronic wounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247558 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will compare how different low-oxygen conditions change the way cells take up mRNA carried by lipid nanoparticles across multiple cell types and mRNA sequences. The team will also design and test a new class of particles called LOENRs (Low Oxygen Environment Nanoparticles) intended to work better in low-oxygen tissues. Experiments will use cultured cells and laboratory models to track uptake, delivery, and function of the mRNA under varying oxygen levels. The goal is to produce tools and knowledge that could guide future therapies targeting low-oxygen areas in the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People whose conditions involve low-oxygen tissues—for example certain solid tumors, ischemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, or nonhealing wounds—are the most likely eventual beneficiaries.
Not a fit: Patients without conditions characterized by low-oxygen tissue, or those looking for an immediate clinical treatment rather than early-stage laboratory research, are unlikely to benefit directly at this time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve delivery of mRNA-based treatments into low-oxygen tissues, potentially making future therapies for tumors, ischemic injuries, and chronic wounds more effective.
How similar studies have performed: Lipid nanoparticles have been very successful for mRNA vaccines and some therapies, but how they behave and deliver cargo in low-oxygen environments is not well understood, so this work is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fenton, Owen S — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Fenton, Owen S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.