Rznomics announced on the 30th that a joint study with Professor Hyun-jin Kim’s research team at Inha University has been published in an international academic journal. The research highlights a breakthrough RNA delivery strategy capable of directly targeting immune cells within the body.
By combining Rznomics’ circular RNA technology with Inha University’s poly(amino acid)-based polymer delivery carrier, the team confirmed that circular RNA can be delivered specifically to spleen tissue—an area rich in immune cells—using only a standard intravenous injection.
Overcoming the Hurdles of Conventional CAR-T
Current CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) therapies involve a complex process: extracting a patient’s immune cells, genetically re-engineering them in a lab, and then infusing them back into the body. While this has revolutionized blood cancer treatment, the approach is hindered by high costs and a difficult manufacturing and administration process.
In response, the "in-vivo CAR-T" approach—delivering CAR genes directly to immune cells inside the living body—is gaining significant attention. By simplifying the procedure and reducing costs, in-vivo CAR-T is emerging as a powerful strategy for treating intractable conditions, including solid tumors and autoimmune diseases.
Superior Stability and Targeted Efficiency
Rznomics’ circular RNA is characterized by its lack of unnecessary exogenous sequences, which provides excellent stability and sustained expression. When paired with Professor Kim’s cationic polymer delivery carrier—which enhances endosomal escape and particle stability—the efficiency of intracellular RNA delivery is maximized.
The research results showed several key advantages:
Targeted Delivery: Upon intravenous administration, the circular RNA was selectively delivered to the spleen. The delivery efficiency to the spleen was approximately 10 times higher than to the liver.
Enhanced Durability: Compared to conventional linear RNA, the circular RNA showed improved expression durability, with its half-life increasing approximately twofold.
T-Cell Precision: The delivery efficiency to T-cells within the spleen was about three times higher than that of linear RNA.
Next-Generation Gene Therapy
These findings demonstrate a viable path for next-generation CAR-T strategies that eliminate the need for ex-vivo (outside the body) cell manipulation.
“We have confirmed that our circular RNA technology can be effectively applied to in-vivo immune-cell-targeted gene therapy,” said Sung-wook Lee, CEO of Rznomics. “Moving forward, we plan to expand the scope of these applications, including CAR-T, through continued research.”
The study was published online on the 27th in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, a leading international journal in the fields of biomedicine and materials.
