Confocal Raman Microscopy for Exploring LipidNanoparticle Intracellular Trafficking in Cancer Cells (Conference Abstract)

Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) based delivery systems hold the promise of significantly improving the efficacy of mRNA delivery. In addition to facilitating target delivery, LNPs act as a protective shield for mRNA molecules, increasing bioavailability and preserving mRNA integrity and stability until they reach their intended targets. However, the success and safety of these delivery systems largely depend on their intracellular trafficking. Therefore, it is essential to observe how LNPs behave inside individual cells. Confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) can provide a means to achieve this goal. By combining the capabilities of Raman spectroscopy and confocal microscopy, CRM provides insight into the unique spectral fingerprint of samples with subcellular resolution. In this preliminary study, we explore the potential of CRM to monitor LNPs within live cancer cells.