Scientists from the University Medical Center Utrecht found that a method for delivering genetic material to the body is being tested as a way to repair damaged heart muscle after a heart attack.
The research was presented at Frontiers in CardioVascular Biomedicine and was conducted by Dr. Clara Labonia et al.
The COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines use lipid nanoparticles (tiny fat droplets) to deliver mRNA to the body’s cells.
This mRNA instructs the cells to manufacture a dummy spike protein on their surface to mimic the protein on the virus causing COVID-19.
The body then mounts an immune response by creating antibodies which can be used if the individual becomes infected with the virus.
A similar method for mRNA delivery was used in the current study. However, instead of aiming for an immune response, the researchers’ ultimate goal is to instruct the heart’s cells to repair themselves after a heart attack.
In the study, the team aimed to determine whether mRNA could be successfully delivered to the heart muscle in lipid nanoparticles.
They injected different formulations into the left ventricular wall of mouse hearts during open chest surgery under general anesthesia.
Twenty-four hours after administration, the mice were sacrificed and the location of mRNA translation was examined.
The researchers found that mRNA successfully reached the heart cells 24 hours after injection.
However, despite injection into the heart, the highest levels of mRNA translation were found in cells of the liver and spleen.
The team says a high expression was expected in the liver since it metabolizes the lipid nanoparticles.
Nonetheless, it was encouraging to see that there was mRNA translation in the heart tissue which means that lipid nanoparticles could work as delivery systems for mRNA therapy.
The team will then determine whether delivery of mRNA to mice with ischemic hearts (resembling a heart attack) has any therapeutic effect.
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