Messenger RNA-based vaccines: Past, present, and future directions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

mRNA vaccines have received major attention in the fight against COVID-19. Formulations from compa-nies such as Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer have allowed us to slowly ease the social distancing measures, mask requirements, and lockdowns that have been prevalent since early 2020. This past year's focused work on mRNA vaccines has catapulted this technology to the forefront of public awareness and addi-tional research pursuits, thus leading to new potential for bionanotechnology principles to help drive fur-ther innovation using mRNA. In addition to alleviating the burden of COVID-19, mRNA vaccines could potentially provide long-term solutions all over the world for diseases ranging from influenza to AIDS. Herein, we provide a brief commentary based on the history and development of mRNA vaccines in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we address current research using the technology and future directions of mRNA vaccine research. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

mRNA vaccines have played a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19 and hold promise for long-term solutions to global diseases. The focused research on vaccines in the past year has propelled this technology to the forefront, providing new opportunities for innovation in the future.