Journal of materials chemistry. BAug 3, 2026

Delivering anti-inflammatory mRNA to the pancreas using lipid nanoparticles reduces acute pancreatitis

mRNA Technology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Aug 4, 2026

Abstract

Administration of IL-10 mRNA via a sulfonium lipid nanoparticle system significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and pancreatic tissue damage in acute pancreatitis.

The study focused on developing a delivery system for IL-10 mRNA specifically targeting the pancreas.
Formulation optimization resulted in DHSEA-based lipid nanoparticles showing excellent efficiency in delivering mRNA to the pancreas.
Treatment with IL-10 mRNA/DHSEA during acute pancreatitis led to a decrease in serum amylase levels, indicating reduced pancreatic injury.
A notable reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was observed, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect of the treatment.

Simplified

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the leading gastrointestinal conditions requiring hospitalization. Current management relies mainly on supportive care, and no specific pharmacological treatment is available. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a well-studied cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial roles of both endogenous and exogenous IL-10 in mitigating pancreatic and systemic injury during AP. However, clinical translation of IL-10 recombinant protein therapy has been limited. Here, we report the development of a sulfonium lipid nanoparticle (sLNP) system for pancreas-specific IL-10 mRNA delivery in AP. Through formulation optimization, we identified DHSEA-based sLNPs with excellent pancreas-specific mRNA delivery efficiency, high specificity, and good biocompatibility. Administration of IL-10 mRNA/DHSEA during the development and progression of cerulein-induced AP significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, serum amylase levels, and pancreatic tissue damage.

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Delivering anti-inflammatory mRNA to the pancreas using lipid nanoparticles reduces acute pancreatitis

Abstract

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