Harvard's i3 Center Will Develop New Biomaterials-Based Approaches for Cancer Immunotherapy (IMAGE)

Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard

Harvard's i3 Center Will Develop New Biomaterials-Based Approaches for Cancer Immunotherapy

Caption

The materials are engineered to enhance tumor-specific activities of cytotoxic T cells, acting at different stages of their development. Implantable 'Bone Marrow-niche Mimicking Cryogels' (left) recreate key features of the bone marrow where hematopoietic stem cells produce T cell progenitor cells that can go on to differentiate into tumor-specific T cells during their passage through the thymus and tumor-draining lymph nodes. Implantable tumor "Antigen-presenting DNA Origami" (middle) present tumor-derived antigens and adjuvants with nanoscale precision to attract and activate dendritic cells (a type of antigen-presenting cell or APC), which then proceed to tumor-draining lymph nodes where they orchestrate a tumor-directed T cell response. "APC-Mimetic Scaffolds" (right) presenting tumor-specific antigens are used outside the body to amplify tumor antigen-specific T cells that can be infused back into patients in adoptive T cell therapies. Credit: David Zhang/Wyss Institute at Harvard University. Credit: David Zhang/Wyss Institute at Harvard University

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David Zhang/Wyss Institute at Harvard University

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