Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology is transforming medicine by providing our cells with genetic instructions to produce proteins that help the immune system prevent or fight a wide range of diseases, including cancer and other rare disorders.
Before the molecule can help fight disease, mRNA is packaged into lipid nanoparticles to protect it from rapid degradation. These fatty, protective bubbles act as a delivery vehicle, ensuring the mRNA properly enters the cell to deliver instructions for protein production.
Researchers at the University at Albany are developing a new technique that can determine whether mRNA is properly encapsulated inside lipid nanoparticles. Their method relies on Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive laser technique that analyzes the chemical composition of materials.
In a study…