RNApp

Application research for RNA-based active substances in medical and pharmaceutical technology (RNApp)

Sponsor: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur

Contact persons: Daniel Jupke und Manuel Reuning

Summary of the overall project:

RNApp is a graduate school for RNA applications in medicine and pharmacy funded by zukunft.niedersachsen. In this project, the MHH, LUH, UMG, the Fraunhofer IST and the Technical University of Braunschweig bring together universities and research institutions with different focuses to work on different topics of ribonucleic acid applications.

The coronavirus pandemic has impressively demonstrated the potential of RNA-based vaccines. However, these vaccines have so far placed very high demands on logistics due to the need for storage at ultra-low temperatures. One approach to improving this is the dehydration of RNA-containing lipid nanoparticles into dry solid forms. This is to be achieved in this project using various drying methods such as spray drying or freeze drying. Since the drying methods for both LNPs and RNA have various potentially damaging effects, the difference in the product before and after drying will be compared. Properties such as particle size of the LNPs but also the integrity and function of the RNA play a major role. At the end of this project, process-property relationships should be established as completely as possible in order to be able to predict processability, formulation and stability.

Daniel Jupke is working on the drying process, while Manuel Reuning is concerned with the reconstitution of the particles. In another project at the Institute of Particle Technology, the drying process is being simulated in order to provide as comprehensive a picture as possible of the processes used.

Goals and tasks of iPAT

• Evaluation of different drying methods with a particular focus on clarifying the effects of formulation and process parameters on the properties and stability of dried RNA products
• Control of the products resulting from the drying process with regard to properties such as particle size
• Development of representative, physiologically meaningful reconstitution methods including functional testing of LNPs and RNA

Project partners

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Fraunhofer-Institut für Schicht- und Oberflächentechnik IST, Leibniz Universität Hannover and Universitätsmedizin Göttingen