Scientists at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Ribeirão Preto have developed a nanotechnology platform that could transform the treatment of chronic skin diseases. The system uses liquid crystal nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic molecules directly to specific skin cells — targeting the genetic roots of inflammatory conditions with near-surgical precision.
The research, conducted by the NanoGeneSkin laboratory, was presented at FAPESP Week London, drawing significant attention from the international scientific community.
Targeting Disease at the Genetic Level
At the heart of the technology is RNA interference — a mechanism that can selectively silence genes responsible for driving inflammation. The approach marks a departure from conventional treatments, which typically manage symptoms rather than addressing their underlying molecular causes.
“It is precision nanomedicine. I have a specific target and a complementary RNA to silence the gene that is overexpressed in that disease,”
– Maria Vitória Bentley, the project’s lead researcher, during the FAPESP Week London presentation.
Bentley’s group has been developing this line of research for approximately two decades. The platform can carry not only traditional drugs but also interfering RNA molecules designed to switch off genes linked to chronic conditions.
Among the diseases in the researchers’ sights are psoriasis, skin cancer, and vitiligo — distinct conditions that share a common thread: inflammation or disruption in pigment production. In psoriasis, an excess of substances such as TNF-alpha fuels an overactive immune response. In vitiligo, the pigment-producing cells simply stop functioning. In both cases, the strategy is to act directly on the genes involved.
Overcoming the Skin’s Natural Defenses
Delivering RNA to skin cells is far from straightforward. The molecule is inherently unstable, degrades easily, and must cross the skin’s natural barrier — a defense system not designed to let such materials through.
To overcome this, the team engineered nanoparticles based on liquid crystals, which act as a protective shell for the genetic material and facilitate its entry into cells. In some experiments, the researchers also used light to trigger the release of RNA once inside the cell.
The key advantages of the approach, as outlined by the team, include: precise delivery of RNA directly to skin cells; silencing of inflammation-related genes; reduced reliance on systemic medications; a lower risk of side effects compared to conventional therapies; and potential application across multiple dermatological conditions.
Results so far come from tests on cells cultivated in laboratory settings and on animal models with lesions resembling the targeted diseases — an early-stage but consistent body of evidence that has kept the scientific field watching closely.
Beyond Skin Disease
The platform’s potential extends well beyond dermatology. The same technology is being explored for chronic wound healing and for experimental cancer vaccines. Using mRNA — the same principle behind some COVID-19 vaccines — the system can instruct the body to produce specific proteins. In animal models, the immune response triggered by this approach has, in some cases, been able to halt tumor growth.
The NanoGeneSkin team has already filed patents and is in discussions with pharmaceutical companies about potential partnerships. The immediate focus is on scaling up the technology industrially and moving toward broader clinical trials — a step that still lies ahead.
The researchers’ expectation is that the platform will ultimately offer a more precise and less aggressive alternative for treating inflammatory skin diseases, with fewer side effects and greater scope for personalized therapy.
Source: Olhar Digital, Fapesp
