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Abstract Synergistically improving T-cell responsiveness is promising for favorable therapeutic outcomes in immunologically cold tumors, yet current treatments often fail to induce a cascade of cancer-immunity cycle for effective antitumor immunity. Gasdermin-mediated pyroptosis is a newly discovered mechanism in cancer immunotherapy; however, cleavage in the N terminus is required to activate pyroptosis. Here, we report a single-agent mRNA nanomedicine-based strategy that utilizes mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encoding only the N-terminus of gasdermin to trigger pyroptosis, eliciting robust antitumor immunity. In multiple female mouse models, we show that pyroptosis-triggering mRNA/LNPs turn cold tumors into hot ones and create a positive feedback loop to promote antitumor immunity. Additionally, mRNA/LNP-induced pyroptosis sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, facilitating tumor growth inhibition. Antitumor activity extends beyond the treated lesions and suppresses the growth of distant tumors. We implement a strategy for inducing potent antitumor immunity, enhancing immunotherapy responses in immunologically cold tumors. 

Abstract SARS‐CoV‐2 has led to a worldwide pandemic, catastrophically impacting public health and the global economy. Herein, a new class of lipid‐modified polymer poly (β‐amino esters) (L‐PBAEs) is developed via enzyme‐catalyzed esterification and further formulation of the L‐PBAEs with poly(d,l‐lactide‐coglycolide)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA‐PEG) leads to self‐assembly into a “particle‐in‐particle” (PNP) nanostructure for gene delivery. Out of 24 PNP candidates, the top‐performing PNP/C12‐PBAE nanoparticles efficiently deliver both DNA and mRNA in vitro and in vivo, presenting enhanced transfection efficacy, sustained gene release behavior, and excellent stability for at least 12 months of storage at −20 °C after lyophilization without loss of transfection efficacy. Encapsulated with spike encoded plasmid DNA and mRNA, the lipid‐modified polymeric PNP COVID‐19 vaccines successfully elicit spike‐specific antibodies and Th1‐biased T cell immune responses in immunized mice even after 12 months of lyophilized storage at −20 °C. This newly developed lipid‐polymer hybrid PNP nanoparticle system demonstrates a new strategy for both plasmid DNA and mRNA delivery with the capability of long‐term lyophilized storage. 

Abstract Nucleic acid vaccines are a method of immunization aiming to elicit immune responses akin to live attenuated vaccines. In this method, DNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences are delivered to the body to generate proteins, which mimic disease antigens to stimulate the immune response. Advantages of nucleic acid vaccines include stimulation of both cell‐mediated and humoral immunity, ease of design, rapid adaptability to changing pathogen strains, and customizable multiantigen vaccines. To combat the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, and many other diseases, nucleic acid vaccines appear to be a promising method. However, aid is needed in delivering the fragile DNA/mRNA payload. Many delivery strategies have been developed to elicit effective immune stimulation, yet no nucleic acid vaccine has been FDA‐approved for human use. Nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the top candidates to mediate successful DNA/mRNA vaccine delivery due to their unique properties, including unlimited possibilities for formulations, protective capacity, simultaneous loading, and delivery potential of multiple DNA/mRNA vaccines. This review will summarize the many varieties of novel NP formulations for DNA and mRNA vaccine delivery as well as give the reader a brief synopsis of NP vaccine clinical trials. Finally, the future perspectives and challenges for NP‐mediated nucleic acid vaccines will be explored.