Green Lipids - the next frontier for vaccine development
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Emeritus Professor, Patrick Arbuthnot, of the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU) at Wits University discusses the unit's breakthrough innovation
In a recent interview with the Wits Innovation Hub, Professor Patrick Arbuthnot, head of the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU), reflects on the unit’s pioneering work to develop green ionisable lipids for next-generation vaccines and gene therapies.
The conversation highlights AGTRU’s internationally recognised innovation: converting cashew nutshell liquid, an abundant agricultural by-product across Africa, into key ingredients used in mRNA vaccine delivery systems. This work recently received a prestigious international innovation award under the GIZ SAVax programme, securing R7 Million to support the large-scale development of the technology.
Ionisable lipids are a critical component of mRNA vaccines. They form part of the lipid nanoparticles that protect fragile genetic material and enable it to enter human cells safely, where it can trigger protective immune responses. However, most existing ionisable lipids are expensive, derived from petroleum, or locked behind restrictive patents, limiting access for low- and middle-income countries.
AGTRU’s approach offers a sustainable alternative. By transforming cashew shell waste into hydrogenated cardanol, the team has created a renewable building block for ionisable lipids that can be produced locally and at lower cost. Africa produces more than half of the world’s cashew nutshell liquid, much of which is currently discarded, making it a promising and accessible resource.
In the interview, Arbuthnot explains that the project is about more than a single chemical innovation. It represents a shift toward locally sourced, environmentally responsible inputs for advanced biomedical technologies. The work also aligns with the African Union’s goal of producing 60% of the continent’s vaccines locally by 2040.
The initiative is being developed in partnership with industry, with plans to scale up production of the lipids in South Africa. This is a critical step toward ensuring that the materials required for mRNA vaccines and therapeutics can be manufactured on the continent, rather than imported at high cost.
As Arbuthnot notes in the discussion, the innovation demonstrates how African scientific expertise and natural resources can be combined to address global health challenges, while building local manufacturing capacity and more sustainable supply chains.
Watch the full interview with Professor Patrick Arbuthnot on the Wits Innovation Hub to learn more about how green ionisable lipids could reshape the future of vaccines and gene therapies.