A groundbreaking study published in Nature Biotechnology has unveiled a cutting-edge technique to track the distribution of nanocarriers used in drug delivery throughout entire mouse bodies at single-cell resolution.
The research, titled Nanocarrier imaging at single-cell resolution across entire mouse bodies with deep learning, presents the Single Cell Precision Nanocarrier Identification (SCP-Nano), a method that could revolutionise the development of precise and safer nanocarrier-based therapeutics.
Researchers demonstrated that SCP-Nano can detect the spread of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) carrying SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA even at doses as low as 0.0005 mg/kg – levels far below the detection thresholds of conventional imaging tools.
The study observed that intramuscular injections of LNPs reached the heart, leading to detectable proteome changes associated with immune activation and potential vascular damage.
Beyond LNPs, SCP-Nano proved effective in visualising other nanocarrier types, such as DNA origami, liposomes, and adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), offering a three-dimensional map of their distribution in mouse tissues.
Epidemiologist Nicholas Hulscher responded critically to the findings, pointing to potential implications for current mRNA vaccine platforms, such as the Covid jab.
“Spike protein expression was observed in critical organs, including the liver, spleen, lungs, heart, and kidneys,” Hulscher stated. “Even at extremely low doses, the systemic circulation of lipid nanoparticles and translated mRNA was measurable. This shows body-wide distribution and raises concerns about toxicity.”
Hulscher argued that comprehensive biodistribution studies should have been conducted before the global rollout of mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines, calling for their immediate withdrawal from the market due to what he described as the “invasive” nature of these therapies.
The SCP-Nano technology offers researchers a powerful tool to understand how nanocarriers behave within the body, which could lead to safer and more efficient drug delivery systems. However, the findings also underscore the need for deeper investigations into the unintended impacts of nanocarriers, particularly those used in existing vaccine technologies.
The study’s revelations may reignite debates about the long-term safety of mRNA therapeutics and prompt regulators and researchers to conduct further studies on biodistribution and potential adverse effects in human trials.
This article was originally published by the Daily Telegraph New Zealand.
