Glycolipid nanoparticles target the spleen and detarget the liver without charge

K Kara Gentry (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) L Liming Lian (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) H Hyejin Kim (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) O Ozgenur Celik (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) C Camille Jones (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) A Ananda R. Podilapu (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) A Avraham Shakked (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) D David Loughrey (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) R Ryan Zenhausern (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) B Bora Jang (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) J Jessie Doan (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) S Sebastian Rudden (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine) J James E. Dahlman (Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine)

Abstract

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) formulated with a neutral helper lipid can deliver RNA to the liver in humans. However, clinically relevant delivery to other tissues has remained challenging. To avoid the liver, scientists often add antibodies or helper lipids with a permanent charge. Here, we report an alternative approach: antibody- and charge-independent liver detargeting. Using DNA barcoding to test 109 chemically distinct LNPs in vivo, we found that replacing a neutral helper lipid with a neutral glycolipid reduced liver delivery and increased splenic delivery. Consistent with this differential tropism, these glycolipid nanoparticles caused differences in downstream cellular signaling in vivo compared to traditional LNPs. These data suggest that extrahepatic LNPs can be designed without the imposition of a net negative or positive charge.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 45
Published November 11, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (13)

K

Kara Gentry

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

L

Liming Lian

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

H

Hyejin Kim

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

O

Ozgenur Celik

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

C

Camille Jones

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

A

Ananda R. Podilapu

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

A

Avraham Shakked

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

D

David Loughrey

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

R

Ryan Zenhausern

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

B

Bora Jang

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

J

Jessie Doan

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

S

Sebastian Rudden

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine

J

James E. Dahlman

Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine