On December 8, 2022, Dr. Peixuan Guo, pioneer of RNA nanotechnology, discoverer of revolution motor, Sylvan G. Frank Endowed Chair Professor in Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery in the College of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University is elected as a member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his outstanding scientific innovation spirit and his innovative inventions to improve people’s lives, promote the development of the medical economy, and the overall well-being of mankind important influence and substantial contribution.
Being NAI Fellow is the highest honor bestowed on academically innovative inventors. The NAI is a non-profit membership organization composed of U.S. and international universities, government and non-profit research institutions. Disclosure of intellectual property, education and mentoring of creative students, and transformation of members’ inventions for the benefit of society.
Prof. Guo is the founder of RNA nanotechnology and the discoverer of revolution motors and is known as one of the three most famous scientists in the world in the field of nanobiology. Currently, he is focusing on RNA nanotechnology in cancer treatment, and the third-generation detection and cancer treatment drugs are important directions for his research.
Prof. Guo received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1987. He studied at NIH under Bernard Moss (a member of the American Academy of Sciences and the founder of the vaccinia virus vaccine vector). In 1990, Prof. Guo joined Purdue University. In 1998 was named the Outstanding Young Scholar of Purdue University. From 2006 to 2011, he served as the director of the Nanomedicine Development Center (NDC) of the National Institutes of Health. From 2012 to 2017, he served as the director of the NCI Cancer Nanotechnology Development Platform Partnership Program.
Prof. Guo has held the position of Endowed Chair in three famous universities and is now the Sylvan G. Frank Chair Professor of The Ohio State University, Director of the Center for RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine, concurrently serves as President of the International Society for RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN). He is also a member of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Translational Therapeutics Program.
Prof. Guo has received many honors such as the Pfizer Distinguished Professor Award, the Purdue University Scholar Award, the Lions Club Cancer Research Award, the Purdue Seed Award (three times), and the University of Cincinnati Research Award. He was awarded the Outstanding Alumni of the University of Minnesota and the Outstanding Chinese Alumni of the 100th Anniversary of the University of Minnesota. In 2021, he was awarded the “Innovator of the Year” by Ohio State University.
Prof. Guo has received many TV reports such as ABC and NBC, as well as special reports by media organizations such as NIH, NSF, MSNBC, NCI and ScienceNow. He has been a member of the program committees of prestigious institutions such as NSF, NIH, and the National Nanotechnology Council; he has also served as a member of the NIH Steering Committee in the field of NDC and extracellular RNA; he has twice served as a member of the NCI Intramural Research Site Review Committee; (AACR) 2019-2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Selection Committee Member.
Prof. Guo’s contributions to the RNA field date back to the 80s, when he proposed that short segments of non-coding RNAs have important undiscovered functions and published his findings (he called them “small RNAs”) in the journal Science. Prof. Guo Peixuan first confirmed the concept of RNA nanotechnology in 1998. In 2014, he pointed out that RNA drugs or drugs targeting RNA will become the third milestone in drug development. Since Prof. Guo held many international conferences on RNA nanotechnology, he promoted RNA nanotechnology has made this technology more and more socially valued.
Prof. Guo’s discoveries involve a number of complex RNA structures and cellular processes, many of which open the door to the development of treatments, especially for several different types of cancer. In 2020, his lab showed in animal studies that RNA nanoparticles have rubbery and amoeba properties, which help explain why they target cancer tumors so effectively and how they maintain low toxicity by leaving the body quickly. In 2021 he reported on a promising liver cancer therapy: RNA nanoparticles designed to carry chemotherapy drugs and targeting molecules to prevent the drugs from being pumped out of liver cells. In animal studies, these nanoparticles effectively targeted tumor cells and inhibited tumor growth. “RNA can be therapeutic, but it will take some time for the field to develop drugs,” he said. “The mRNA vaccine opened the public’s understanding of RNA. Once upon a time, people didn’t believe it was possible — but now we know it’s possible.”
Prof. Guo constructed a functional viral DNA packaging motor in vitro for the first time and discovered a third type of biomotors: it uses a revolution mechanism instead of a rotation mechanism to transport lengthy dsDNA genomes. A “Biomotor” is a biologically driven machine that uses rotation to help proteins and other molecules move in and out of cells and is responsible for the transport of energy within cells, which is critical for many cellular functions. Previous studies have identified two types of biological motors: linear motors and autorotating rotary motors. Rotation is the rotation of matter around its own axis, just like the earth rotates once every 24 hours. A revolution is when one object revolves around a second object, just like the earth revolves around the sun. Dr. Guo proved the existence of revolving motors. Nature has evolved a novel and perfect mechanism that uses revolution instead of rotation to avoid coiling or entanglement during the tedious transport of dsDNA genomes.
The viral DNA packaging motor constructed by Prof. Guo in vitro and the discovery of its novel mechanism eventually led to the application of the motor channel to “single channel sequencing”, including the detection of single DNA, RNA and polypeptide (short protein chain), to advance the research of diseases and cancers. diagnosis.
Prof. Guo also took on new projects at the start of the pandemic, including the development of an early simple and rapid home diagnostic test for COVID-19 infection that combines RNA and antibodies. An invention he made more than 30 years ago led to an mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: a new method for producing the vaccinia virus mRNA capping enzyme molecule. The mRNA capping enzyme of vaccinia virus prevents mRNA degradation and ensures the correct translation of mRNA into viral antigens in vivo. mRNA capping is an integral part of the current COVID-19 mRNA vaccine development.
In addition, his team invented a method to count RNA single fluorescent molecules using the TIRF system; he applied RNA nanotechnology to modify exosomes with ligands to achieve cancer targeting; he invented a method using RNA as a carrier to carry Chemo-pharmaceutical technology to improve drug solubility and eliminate drug toxicity in cancer therapy; his team invented exosomes for simple one-step purification of exosomes combined with area gradients and density gradients.
Prof. Guo has published 239 high-impact papers and submitted 70 patent applications, of which 13 have been authorized and others are pending. Most of these technologies have been licensed for commercialization.
“Of all the recognitions I have received, this is the highest honor in the field of innovation,” Guo said. “I am happy to be recognized as an NAI fellow.”
News from the Ohio State University: Ohio State fellows – National Academy of Inventors (osu.edu)
2022 Class of NAI Fellows list：12.8.22 Fellows List 2022 (academyofinventors.org)