MIT Uses AI to Keep RNA Vaccines Stable for 1 Year at Room Temperature
Updated
Updated · MIT News · Sep 28
MIT Uses AI to Keep RNA Vaccines Stable for 1 Year at Room Temperature
1 articles · Updated · MIT News · Sep 28
Summary
Room-temperature storage for up to one year—and 37C for two months—was achieved by MIT researchers who reformulated mRNA vaccine lipid nanoparticles with AI-selected excipient mixes.
Nearly 50 FDA-approved excipients were screened, then a small-data algorithm narrowed the search to optimal ratios in a few weeks, replacing months of trial-and-error that had failed to reach full stability.
Mouse tests showed Covid-19 mRNA vaccines stored under those conditions produced immune responses comparable to a Moderna-like formulation, indicating heat resistance did not weaken performance.
The same approach also stabilized a Pfizer-like LNP system and enabled solid microneedle patches, pointing to wider vaccine distribution and broader RNA drug-delivery uses beyond Covid-19.