We use a conformation-sensitive targeting strategy to achieve in vivo gene silencing in a selective subset of leukocytes and show potential therapeutic applications in a murine model of colitis. In particular, by targeting the high-affinity conformation of α4β7 integrin, which is a hallmark of inflammatory gut-homing leukocytes, we silenced interferon-γ in the gut, resulting in an improved therapeutic outcome in experimental colitis. The lipid nanoparticles did not induce adverse immune activation or liver toxicity. These results suggest that our lipid nanoparticle targeting strategy might be applied for selective delivery of payloads to other conformation-sensitive targets.
- Dammes N, Goldsmith M, Ramishetti S, Dearling J. L .J, Veiga N, Packard A. B and Peer D (2021) Conformation-sensitive targeting of lipid nanoparticles for RNA therapeutics. Nature Nanotechology
