The first paper from our Sinergia project has just been published!
DNA nuclear import © 2026 EPFL/Alessandra Cavegn
We are very pleased to share that the recent study led by Alessandra Cavegn in the group of Prof. Jörg Huwyler at the University of Basel on the enhancement of plasmid DNA (pDNA) nuclear import has just been published in the Journal of Controlled Release. In our group, Pauline Skigin contributed to the design of conjugation strategies to functionalize the pDNA nanocarriers with targeting nuclear localization signaling (NLS) peptides.
This study demonstrated a 2.5-fold increase in transfection efficiency, in vitro, when pDNA was co-encapsulated with NLS peptides in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Mechanistic investigations and in vivo experiments highlighted a NLS-dependent enhancement in gene expression, up to a 10-fold increase after 72 h in mice.
Swiss National Science Foundation - Sinergia Grant CRSII-222794
Cavegn, A.; Baumann, K. N.; Wang, D.; Stierli, M. A.; Detampel, P.; Herbster, L.; Beckert, L.; Kapinos, L. E.; Späne, P. M.; Felsch, J.; Kuzucu, E. Ü.; Skigin, P.; Ricklin, D.; Lim, R. Y. H.; Gerber-Lemaire, S.; Huwyler, J. Enhanced Nuclear Import of DNA-Lipid Nanoparticles by Peptide Co-Encapsulation. J. Control. Rel. 2026, 399, 115317.