Lipid Nanoparticles for CRISPR-Based Cancer Therapies: Delivery, Epigenetic Modulation, and Emerging Applications

Over the past decade, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have become a cornerstone in the field of nucleic acid delivery, with applications extending from vaccines to gene therapy. Their ability to encapsulate and protect fragile genetic cargo, while facilitating efficient cellular uptake, has made them especially attractive for in vivo applications. At the same time, CRISPR-based technologies have transformed the way we think about genome editing, gene regulation, and epigenetic reprogramming. When combined, LNPs and CRISPR form a powerful platform with the potential to reshape cancer therapy.

Cancer is driven by a complex interplay of genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations. Traditional treatments often fall short of addressing this complexity, leading to recurrence or resistance. The delivery of CRISPR tools, such as Cas9 mRNA, guide RNAs, base editors, or dCas9 epigenetic regulators using LNPs allows for precise, programmable interventions that go beyond symptom management to target the root causes of malignancy. This approach opens new doors for silencing oncogenes, reactivating tumor suppressor genes, modifying the tumor microenvironment, or sensitizing tumors to immunotherapy.

Despite these advances, significant challenges remain in translating these technologies into clinically viable treatments. Issues such as off-target effects, limited tumor penetration, immune responses, and delivery to specific cell types need to be addressed through innovative chemistry, formulation science, and biological insight. This Research Topic aims to bring together work at the intersection of nanomedicine, cancer biology, and genome engineering to explore how LNP-CRISPR systems can be optimized and applied across diverse cancer types.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• New LNP formulations for delivering CRISPR components to tumor cells
• In vivo or in vitro studies using CRISPR to target oncogenes or tumor suppressors
• Epigenetic editing using dCas9 fusion proteins for cancer reprogramming
• Co-delivery strategies (e.g., CRISPR with small molecules, RNAi, or immune modulators)
• Tissue- or tumor-specific delivery approaches for LNP-based gene editing
• LNPs for base editing, prime editing, or transcriptional modulation in cancer models
• Delivery and therapeutic challenges in solid tumors and metastatic disease
• Integration of LNP-CRISPR with immunotherapy or chemotherapy
• Biomarker-guided strategies for personalized CRISPR-based cancer therapy
• Preclinical studies and translational insights on safety, efficacy, and biodistribution

We welcome contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including nanotechnology, drug delivery, molecular biology, oncology, epigenetics, and gene therapy. Submissions may report new experimental findings, technological advances, reviews of the field, or perspectives on current and future directions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: LipidNanoparticles, CRISPRRevolution, GeneTherapy, CancerResearch, Nanomedicine, GeneDelivery, BiomedicalResearch, GenomeEditing

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.