MIT CRISPR Gene Editing Tool Without Viruses

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has mostly depended on viral vectors to deliver the cutting enzyme and guide sequence, but that also involves a risk that an immune response will compromise the intent. MIT scientists have found that nanoparticle delivery works well without implicating immune action. “The [MIT] team chemically modified the RNA to keep it from being broken down by enzymes in the body, then loaded these enhanced sgRNA guides into lipid nanoparticles. These were injected into mice, along with other nanoparticles containing mRNA that encoded for the Cas9 enzyme.” That solves one problem, but this may not solve another—i.e. off targeting. MORE

Image Credit: MIT News