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Tiny cell messengers show big promise for safer protein and gene delivery

Researchers have discovered that vesicles generated from cell-surface protrusions can deliver active proteins and genome-editing enzymes far more efficiently than conventional extracellular vesicles. This natural delivery system may enable the development of safer and more precise strategies for genome editing, regenerative medicine, a...

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Researchers find key to stopping deadly infection

New research from Washington University School of Medicine identifies a key step in rotavirus infection and shows that disabling this process can prevent infection. The discovery opens up new avenues for therapeutic intervention, potentially treating not only rotavirus but also other pathogens with similar infection mechanisms.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2025

New way to improve the efficacy of innovative RNA therapies

Researchers discovered that slowing down intracellular transport of RNA-based drugs increases their effectiveness in treating genetic diseases. The study identified key genes involved in endosomal transport and found that selectively switching off a specific gene can prolong ASO residence time, boosting therapeutic efficacy.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 30, 2025

Innovative phospholipids enhance mRNA delivery

A new class of zwitterionic phospholipids, DOPE-Cx, enhances the functional delivery of mRNA via lipid nanoparticles, overcoming endosomal escape and improving mRNA expression. This breakthrough paves the way for advanced therapeutic applications, including mRNA vaccines, cancer treatment, and protein replacement therapy.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2025

Nanocarrier with escape reflex

A new nanocarrier has been developed that can selectively release drugs in cancer cells through controlled endosomal escape. The approach exploits the unique enzymatic activity of cancer cells, allowing for targeted delivery and reduced harm to healthy cells.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 28, 2024

Faulty DNA disposal system causes inflammation

Scientists discovered a novel mechanism for removing mtDNA from mitochondria, which can initiate an immune response promoting inflammation. The discovery reveals new targets for therapeutics to disrupt the inflammatory pathway and mitigate inflammation during aging and diseases.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateFeb 8, 2024

Researchers modify drug to enter cells and treat pain

A team of researchers at NYU College of Dentistry has successfully modified an existing anti-nausea drug to target the endosomes within cells, thereby providing a more prolonged analgesic effect. The modified netupitant showed improved pain-relieving properties compared to its original form and other drugs targeting similar receptors.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 22, 2023

Scientists have created a mathematical model for the dynamics of nanoparticles and viruses in cells

A team of scientists from Ural Federal University has developed a complex mathematical model to understand the dynamics of nanoparticles and viruses in cells. The model reveals how viruses cluster inside endosomes and interact with cellular proteins, shedding light on their behavior and replication mechanisms. This breakthrough can hel...

SourceUral Federal University·JournalCrystals·DateSep 13, 2022

Novel supramolecular CRISPR–Cas9 carrier enables more efficient genome editing

A team of researchers from Kumamoto University has developed a transformable polyrotaxane carrier that can facilitate genome editing using Cas9RNP with high efficiency. The carrier, called amino-PRX, is multi-step transformable and has low cytotoxicity, making it an enormously promising candidate for safe and efficient delivery.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalApplied Materials Today·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 2022

First 3D structure of regulator protein revealed

Scientists at the University of Münster and Max Planck Institute have clarified the molecular basis for cellular degradation processes by elucidating the 3D structure of Mon1/Ccz1. The complex determines which vesicles deliver their content to the lysosome, a key step in protein regulation.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2022

Smoking HIV out of dormancy

Researchers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology have found a previously unknown way for the immune system to detect and respond to HIV infection. This discovery may hold the key to allowing the 'shock-and-kill' approach to work, where the virus is activated to be visible to the immune system and then killed.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 9, 2020

What the hair of a fly tells us about cancer

Scientists at the University of Geneva found that a protein called Sara plays a crucial role in guiding endosomes to differentiate between cells, a process essential for fly hair development. Mutant flies without Sara have naked backs, highlighting the significance of this mechanism in cancer tumour formation.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 6, 2017

It's all about polarity

Asymmetric cell division occurs when endosomes, containing signalling molecules, are distributed unevenly between daughter cells. The central spindle, a scaffold structure composed of microtubules, plays a crucial role in dispatching this information.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·DateDec 9, 2015

A fingerprint for genes

Researchers applied a new strategy to investigate the effects of thousands of genes on endocytosis, revealing precise definitions of what cells need when and where. This understanding could lead to preventing infections and developing treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateMar 5, 2010