The Messenger RNA (mRNA) Revolution: From Fundamental Biology to Therapeutic Applications and Future Horizons
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33687/ricosbiol.04.01.106Keywords:
mRNA, synthetic mRNA, mRNA therapeutics, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), vaccinology, in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA, epitranscriptomics, RNA delivery, personalized medicineAbstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has evolved from a fundamental biological intermediary to a versatile platform for therapeutic and prophylactic interventions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the mRNA field, beginning with the essential biology of natural mRNA processing and regulation. We detail the key engineering breakthroughs that transformed synthetic mRNA into a viable drug modality, including nucleoside modifications and sequence optimization to enhance stability and translational efficiency while modulating immunogenicity (Karikó, Buckstein, Ni, & Weissman, 2005; Pardi, Hogan, Porter, & Weissman, 2018). A critical discussion of delivery technologies, with a focus on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), explains how these carriers enable in vivoapplication (Hou, Zaks, Langer, & Dong, 2021). The review then surveys the expansive therapeutic landscape, from the paradigm-shifting success of COVID-19 vaccines (Polack et al., 2020) to applications in protein replacement therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and gene editing. Finally, we examine persistent challenges—including delivery refinement, durability of response, and scaling manufacturing and envision future directions such as circular RNA, personalized neoantigen vaccines, and programmable protein therapeutics. The convergence of mRNA biology, chemistry, and delivery science heralds a new era in medicine with the potential to address a vast array of human diseases.
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