UCD Discovers Cell Courier for Gene Therapy
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- University College Dublin researchers identified a 'condensate corona' coating that forms on certain nanoparticles inside cells, carrying functional RNA and proteins between cells, as published in Nature Materials (2026)
- Associate Professor Yan Yan stated the courier system uses natural cellular gateways to deliver corrective biomolecular 'toolkits' into hard-to-reach areas, improving the precision and safety of RNA- and gene-based therapies
- Professor Kenneth Dawson explained the team captured these messaging droplets mid-transit using embedded magnets, enabling direct observation of intact biological message transfer between cells
- The UCD Center for BioNano Interactions (CBNI) team showed the condensate corona efficiently escapes cellular degradation after delivery, allowing transferred molecules to remain active and influence recipient cell function
- The study demonstrated that this natural intercellular messaging system, when hijacked, could be used to send custom therapeutic signals to locations currently inaccessible by conventional delivery methods
Why it matters: This discovery gives drug developers a functional blueprint to target diseases at the cellular level with greater precision, using the body’s own delivery infrastructure. By leveraging a system that already evades degradation and crosses biological barriers, therapies could become more effective and safer—potentially transforming treatment for conditions like cancer and genetic disorders where delivery has been a major obstacle.
