We harness protein design and directed evolution to engineer minimal mRNA nanocarriers for precise and efficient delivery. We start with candidate proteins that naturally assemble into capsids, then refine and evolve their properties to package and protect RNA, enable cell-specific targeting, drive endosomal escape, and support robust cytosolic translation. By integrating fundamental insights with advanced chemical biology methods, we aim to develop next-generation protein-based solutions for RNA therapeutics.
