Modular mRNA lipid nanoparticle platform rescues diverse genetic male infertility

Jiang, Q. K.; Su, K.; Luo, H.; Wang, H.; Luo, J.; Zhong, Y. J.; Li, Q.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, H.; He, B.; Zhang, L.; Ma, L. X.; Cui, H.; Ma, J.; Yang, X.; Li, L.; Yuan, Z.; Liu, S.; Li, X. Z.

doi:10.1101/2025.11.13.688269

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.11.13.688269

Modular mRNA lipid nanoparticle platform rescues diverse genetic male infertility

Jiang, Q. K.·Su, K.·Luo, H.·Wang, H.·Luo, J.·Zhong, Y. J.·Li, Q.·Zhang, Z.·Zhang, H.·He, B.·Zhang, L.·Ma, L. X.·Cui, H.·Ma, J.·Yang, X.·Li, L.·Yuan, Z.·Liu, S.·Li, X. Z.

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Abstract

Genetic male infertility arises from diverse mutations that disrupt spermatogenesis, yet therapeutic strategies capable of restoring germ-cell function remain limited. Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics offer a programmable and non-integrating approach, but their functional compatibility in structured and immune-privileged tissues remains unclear. Here we identify a temporal mismatch between mRNA delivery kinetics and the progression of spermatogenesis as a key barrier to functional rescue. We show that delivery efficiency does not predict outcome: formulations with high peak expression but short duration fail to support spermiogenesis, whereas sustained expression aligned with developmental timing enables recovery. Guided by this principle, we establish a testis-targeted mRNA delivery platform that restores spermatogenesis across multiple genetic models and generates functional sperm capable of supporting embryo development and multigenerational inheritance. The approach is modular, extends to human seminiferous tubules ex vivo, and is supported by comprehensive safety analyses. Together, these findings define a design constraint for RNA therapeutics in structured tissues: functional rescue requires temporal alignment between delivery kinetics and the therapeutic window defined by tissue-specific biological programs.

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Jiang, Q. K., Su, K., Luo, H., Wang, H., Luo, J., Zhong, Y. J., Li, Q., Zhang, Z., Zhang, H., He, B., Zhang, L., Ma, L. X., Cui, H., Ma, J., Yang, X., Li, L., Yuan, Z., Liu, S., Li, X. Z.. 2025-11-14. Modular mRNA lipid nanoparticle platform rescues diverse genetic male infertility. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.13.688269

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