The RatInhalRNA project is progressing very well and is currently slightly ahead of schedule. So far, we have completed all planned milestones up to number seven. We successfully developed and tested a new set of materials designed to carry RNA into cells and created a precise method for producing nanoparticles using these materials. These nanoparticles were then tested after being turned into an inhalable mist, using standard lab-grown cells. We also used advanced computer simulations to better understand how the materials work on a molecular level, which helped us refine their performance. Additionally, we established a lung infection model using a common coronavirus and are now working with SARS-CoV-2, thanks to recently updated safety guidelines. The results of our experiments with lung infection and gene delivery are highly promising. At the same time, we developed two machine learning models that can predict which materials will work best for RNA delivery. Using these predictions, we created improved materials, tested them in the lab, and began initial studies in healthy animals.
Our team has made several important breakthroughs. We are the first to report a new RNA-delivery material based on spermine, a naturally occurring compound. We are also the first to establish a detailed laboratory model that mimics how common coronaviruses infect the lungs. Furthermore, we are leading the way in using molecular simulations to understand how our delivery systems function, and in using machine learning to design new materials for this purpose. Although the use of artificial intelligence in developing drug delivery systems has grown rapidly, our group is among the first to apply it specifically to polymer-based RNA carriers, positioning us at the forefront of this innovative field.
