Nanoparticles Genetically Alter Human Cell Types

Protein-based nanoparticles could enable safer gene therapies for cancer and genetic diseases

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:12am

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Researchers from the University of Michigan have developed protein-based nanoparticles that can genetically modify human liver cancer, kidney, and immune cells grown in lab cultures. This approach aims to provide a safer alternative to using modified viruses for gene therapy, which can sometimes cause dangerous side effects like new forms of cancer or immune system reactions.

Why it matters

Gene therapy has been successful for treating blood disorders like sickle cell disease and leukemia, but the use of modified viruses as delivery vectors can create unwanted side effects. The nanoparticle approach developed at the University of Michigan seeks to provide a safer method for delivering gene therapies without the risks associated with viral vectors.

The details

The nanoparticles are made using a printing technique called electrohydrodynamic jetting, which encapsulates DNA or RNA within a protein shell, often using serum albumin. When the nanoparticles are taken up by cells, the positive charge of the polyethylenimine coating causes the endosome containing the nanoparticles to rupture, releasing the genetic material. This allows the cells to express new genes, such as those for green fluorescent protein, without permanently integrating the genetic material into the cell's DNA. The protein coating may also help prevent the inflammation, fever, and liver damage sometimes caused by lipid-based nanoparticles used in gene therapies and mRNA vaccines.

  • The research was published in the journal Advanced Materials on March 31, 2026.

The players

Joerg Lahann

The Wolfgang Pauli Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering, director of the U-M Biointerfaces Institute, and the corresponding author of the study.

Fjorela Xhyliu

A doctoral graduate of chemical engineering and a co-first author of the study.

Yao Yao

A doctoral graduate of health sciences from the U-M School of Dentistry and a co-first author of the study.

Yeongun Ko

A former U-M postdoctoral research fellow in chemical engineering and a co-author of the study.

Michael Triebwasser

A clinical instructor at the U-M Medical School and a co-author of the study.

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What they’re saying

“There are a lot of diseases where a protein is missing or dysfunctional due to a single mutation, and we can definitely correct for that by introducing a new gene.”

— Joerg Lahann, The Wolfgang Pauli Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering, director of the U-M Biointerfaces Institute

“Typically, this is done with viruses, but the viruses can be toxic and activate the immune cells. So there has been a push in the field to replace virus-based gene editing strategies.”

— Joerg Lahann, The Wolfgang Pauli Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering, director of the U-M Biointerfaces Institute

What’s next

In future studies, the researchers hope to test the nanoparticles' ability to modify human cells with therapeutic genes and identify potential side effects.

The takeaway

The protein-based nanoparticles developed at the University of Michigan offer a promising alternative to virus-based gene therapies, potentially providing a safer method for delivering genetic treatments for cancer, genetic diseases, and other conditions without the risks associated with modified viruses.