The disclosure provides nanoemulsion compositions and methods of making and using thereof to deliver a bioactive agent such as a nucleic acid to a subject. Compositions of the disclosure include RNA-lipid nanoparticle complexes encoding for viral RNA polymerase region and protein antigen. Compositions are further described where the lipid nanoparticles are characterized as having a z-average diameter particle size measurement of 20 nm to 80 nm when measured using dynamic light scattering. The nanoemulsion compositions of the disclosure comprises a hydrophobic core, optionally including inorganic nanoparticles, in a lipid nanoparticle that allows imaging as well as delivering nucleic acids. Methods of using these particles for treatment and vaccination are also provided.