Monday, 23 February 2026
Scientists have developed an adaptable materials platform that can safely and efficiently deliver a wide range of genetic medicines, a breakthrough that could accelerate the development of next‑generation vaccines, cancer treatments, and gene‑silencing drugs.
Experts from the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy have created a new drug delivery platform that uses modular building blocks that self‑assemble with Ribonucleic acid- RNA to form nanoscale delivery particles. The research has been published in Advanced Materials.
The materials incorporate a reversible “host–guest” linking system, allowing the fine‑tuning of the particles' stability and behaviour. By simple variations in the chemical structure of the building blocks, diverse formulations can be rapidly generated suited to different therapeutic needs.
These findings demonstrate a powerful, highly tuneable system with the potential to improve the delivery of genetic medicines. By offering a flexible alternative to current delivery technologies and enabling automated, scalable manufacture, this platform could support faster development of RNA based vaccines during future infection outbreaks, improve the effectiveness of RNA therapies in cancer, and expand treatment options for many diseases.
The team demonstrated that RNA‑loaded nanoparticles can be produced with the new materials using automated methods that meet the stringent Critical Quality Attributes required for the manufacture of RNA vaccines and therapeutics. This suggests strong potential for industrial scalability and rapid deployment.
The researchers successfully tested the materials delivering RNA into a broad range of cell types with efficiency matching or exceeding that of leading commercial transfection reagents, while showing no acute harmful effects on cells. The delivered RNAs were shown to reduce the expression of cancer-associated genes in breast tumour tissue in mice and to induce protection against H1N1 influenza in mice.
This work involved a multidisciplinary team spanning the University of Nottingham, Imperial College London, King’s College London, University College London and two Cambridge-based spinouts, Aqdot Ltd and Centillion Ltd.
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Cameron Alexander on Cameron.Alexander@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home. More news…