Letizia Nicoletti, PhD | Politecnico di Torino; Giovanni Paolo Stola, PhD Student; Valeria Chiono, Professor
Competition Sponsor: EIT Health
Awardee Year: 2025
PoliRNA is an innovative startup specialized in the development of customized nanocarriers for the next-generation of RNA therapies. With our cutting-edge polymer lipid hybrid nanocarriers, PoliRNA address key challenges in RNA therapies, such as limited in vivo stability, non-specific liver accumulation, and off-target effects, unlocking the full potential of RNA-based treatments. PoliRNA NPs have reached a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 for cardiac regenerative medicine applications, showing high RNA loading efficiency, biocompatibility, in vitro and in vivo stability, controlled and sustained RNA release, target cell internalization and transfection efficiency, and high therapeutic efficacy by in vitro and in vivo preclinical trials. PoliRNA NPs functionalized with a specific ligand for active targeting of cardiac fibroblasts showed accumulation and retention in murine heart, the targeted tissue, when loaded with a fluorescent siRNA and improvement in cardiac ejection fraction when encapsulating a set of reprogramming microRNAs, called “miRcombo”. The enhanced stability, safety and efficacy of PoliRNA NPs in preclinical trials pave the way towards novel RNA therapies in cardiac regenerative medicine and other fields. Indeed, for their versatility, we are currently exploring further applications, such as the treatment of muscle-related diseases and CAR T therapy. Our mission is to transform RNA-based therapeutics into safer and more effective solutions, to develop innovative therapies for diseases that are, so far, considered untreatable.