Lipid Nanoparticles & Liposomal Systems

Lipid nanoparticles and liposomes provide versatile platforms for transporting nucleic acids, small molecules and other therapeutic cargoes. Their behaviour depends on lipid composition, particle architecture, cargo interactions, formulation conditions and interactions with biological environments.

At Peptide Intelligence Consulting, we help researchers evaluate the molecular and formulation factors that influence lipid-based delivery systems and develop informed strategies for their investigation and optimization.

The scientific challenge 

A formulation that encapsulates cargo efficiently may not necessarily remain stable during storage, interact appropriately with biological systems or deliver its cargo to the intended intracellular location.

Changes in lipid composition, charge, particle structure and cargo properties can affect encapsulation, colloidal stability, membrane interactions and biological performance. These properties need to be considered together.

What we can help with 

Lipid composition and molecular design

• Assess the potential roles of ionizable lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol and functional lipid components.

• Explore how lipid composition may influence particle structure and biological interactions.

• Compare formulation concepts against the intended delivery objective.

Cargo encapsulation and carrier interactions

• Examine relevant factors governing lipid–cargo interactions.

• Consider how nucleic acid properties and formulation conditions may influence encapsulation.

• Identify questions to address when evaluating cargo retention and release.

Formulation and stability considerations

• Develop strategies for comparing formulation variables.

• Consider particle size, size distribution, surface properties and colloidal stability.

• Identify appropriate measurements for assessing formulation consistency.

Delivery performance assessment

• Define key questions for evaluating cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking and cargo delivery.

• Help interpret available physicochemical and biological data.

• Identify possible causes of a gap between particle uptake and functional cargo delivery.

Our approach

We begin with the cargo, delivery objective and existing formulation information. We then assess the relevant molecular and formulation variables and identify the measurements needed to evaluate the system.

Depending on the project, this may involve reviewing particle characterization, cargo encapsulation data, stability measurements, microscopy or functional delivery assays.

Formulation properties and biological performance are evaluated separately so that particle quality is not mistaken for successful intracellular delivery.

Potential applications

• RNA and mRNA delivery research

• Liposomal drug delivery

• Nucleic acid nanomedicine

• Peptide-functionalized lipid systems

• Formulation comparison and early-stage optimization

What you can expect

Project outputs may include a formulation assessment, a comparison of lipid design concepts, a characterization plan, interpretation of available results and recommendations for the next experiments.