Inefficient transport of biologics such as proteins and mRNA across biological barriers remains a challenge. Enhancing transport will broaden the scope of biologics applications in biomedical and chemical biology research. Therefore, we have designed and synthesized a library of choline geranate deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and tested their ability to enable the transfection of mRNA and cytosolic delivery of green fluorescence protein to a panel of difficult-to-transfect cells. Microscopic imaging and Western blot analyses indicate that increasing the molar ratio of the geranic acid in the DESs enhances transfection efficiency and cytosolic delivery. We also conducted mechanistic investigations to delineate the pathway mediating the cytosolic delivery of the protein. Overall, the studies show that choline geranate DESs are robust tools to enhance mRNA transfection and protein delivery.

Enabling biologics delivery to transfection-recalcitrant cells using bio-derived deep eutectic solvents

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.