Fluorinated lipid nanoparticles for enhancing mRNA delivery efficiency

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have shown potential for vaccine and disease treatment. In particular, mRNA vaccines have been urgently approved for use in the COVID-19 pandemic (1). LNPs assist mRNA to cross physiological barriers such as cell membranes and endosomes, while fewer than 5% cargo can escape from lysosomes (2). Fluorinated materials could be embraced to enhance the delivery efficiency of nucleic acids. Because carbon-fluorine bond, as one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry, could endow the surface of materials with low surface energy, and hydrophobicity and lipophobicity (3).