Table 2.

Advantages and disadvantages of selected carrier systems for mRNA delivery.

Carrier System	Advantages	Disadvantages
Lipid –based vehicles	–most advanced platform –fast and easy mRNA encapsulation –highly permeable to cellular membranes –low cytotoxicity and optimal intracellular trafficking –long time storage –high level of modification	–high complexity –difficulty to predict molecular composition –stability under colloidal state (fusion) –prone to oxidative reaction –relatively low loading capacity
Peptid-based vehicles	–high transfection efficiency –moderate mRNA encapsulation –low charge densities	–cost-intensive production –lack of toxicity data –limited targeting properties –low stability –lower mRNA translation –short circulation half life
Polymer-based vehicles	–controllable chemical diversity –chemical flexibility (modification) –high stability	–increased risk of toxicity –high molecular weight –polydispersity