Small circular RNA vaccines delivered to the lungs for flu prevention

Pulmonary delivery of lipid nanoparticles loaded with a small circRNA vaccine protected mice from lethal influenza challenge.

• Intratracheal administration of circRNA LNPs resulted in efficient retention of circRNA in the lungs.
• CircRNA was successfully delivered to antigen-presenting cells in the lung.
• The small circRNA-M2e vaccine encoded a conserved influenza A antigen that is typically poorly immunogenic.
• Robust anti-M2e immune responses were observed in both young adult and aged mice following administration.
• No significant adverse side effects were reported with the pulmonary delivery of the circRNA vaccine.

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