Naive state of T cells can be unstable and limited in efficacy
From cancer to infectious diseases, engineered immune cells have the potential to treat a wide range of maladies. T cells are a fundamental part of cellular immunology, but the technology currently available makes it difficult to maintain the naive state of T cells while still being able to enhance their efficacy. Current ex vivo engineering methods necessitate pre-activating T cells, leading to the loss of their naïve characteristics. T cells that have been activated have a limited ability to adapt to new challenges, are likely to become short-lived effector T cells instead of canonical memory T cells, and are prone to exhaustion.
Innovation allows for methods without the activation of T-cells and preserves cell viability
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing a specialized nanowire to deliver genetic material to primary naive T cells without having to pre-activate them. This technology allows for the delivery of large, whole lentiviral particles with potential for long-term integration. Additionally, this method preserves the cells’ viability and increases the potential to respond effectively to a wide range of new infections or threats.
This invention involves the use of needle-like nanostructures, or nanowires, that are functionalized to deliver crucial genetic materials, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and CRISPR, directly to primary, naive T cells. Unlike existing methods which require pre-activation of T cells, compromising their effectiveness in adoptive cell therapy, this approach maintains the cells' naive state, enhancing their therapeutic potential. The nanowires permit the dual delivery of miRNAs, enabling precise control over T cell differentiation and function, and opening new avenues for treating a wide range of diseases including infections and cancer.
• Direct delivery of genetic material to naive T cells without the need for pre-activation.
• Enhanced viability and functionality of programmed T cells.
• Ability to deliver both small and large biomolecules, including miRNAs and lentiviral particles.
• Significant reduction in T cell exhaustion compared to traditional methods.
• Potential for broad application across different species, ages, and T cell subtypes.
• Adoptive T cell therapy for infectious diseases, cancer, and other maladies.
• Delivery of small and large biomolecules to primary immune cells for therapeutic purposes.
• Research tool for manipulating immune cell fate for scientific studies.