Overview

• The polymer, poly(carboxybetaine) (PCB), serves as a stealthy alternative to poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) in lipid nanoparticle formulations.
• PCB’s super-hydrophilic, zwitterionic structure maintains nanoparticle stability while reducing recognition by the immune system.
• The findings published on May 29 in Nature Materials confirm PCB’s effectiveness in preclinical vaccine models without adverse immune responses.
• Cornell collaborators include Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the National Cancer Institute to advance mRNA cancer vaccine trials.
• Supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Cancer Institute, the research addresses the need for higher-dose mRNA vaccines in immunosuppressive tumor environments.