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RNA therapy with polymer nanoparticles is considered a promising approach for the treatment of various illnesses. It involves the use of polymers as "nanocarriers" to transport RNA drugs precisely to the correct target cells. Manufacturing such polymers, however, has proven to be complex and difficult.

In a published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces by the research group of Olivia Merkel, Professor of Drug Delivery in the Department of Pharmacy at LMU, scientists focused on so-called spermine-modified poly(beta-amino esters) (PBAEs), a polymer type that is frequently used for the formulation and delivery of nucleic acids.

"We synthesized and characterized a library of 27 different polymers, taking into account various factors such as the ratios of starting materials, the temperature, and the reaction time," explains Merkel.

A design-of-experiment approach, whereby the significant factors of experiments are identified by means of statistical analyses, enabled the researchers to derive a wealth of information out of just a few experiments. The polymers were chemically analyzed to understand their composition and molecular properties.

In addition, a computer-based protocol was developed to better capture the complex process of polymerization and predict it for future syntheses. "Our research helps to improve the quality, efficiency, and precision of RNA drugs," says Merkel.