Researchers at UCLA announced on Mar. 17 the development of an implantable device designed to support engineered immune cells in fighting cancer more effectively. The study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, demonstrates that the platform can help immune cells remain active and attack tumors in human melanoma and lymphoma samples as well as laboratory cultures.
The new device addresses a key challenge in immunotherapy: many engineered immune cells lose their strength after entering the body, especially within tumors that suppress immune activity. By acting as a support hub for these cells, the device helps them stay active and continue targeting cancer.
The technology centers on chimeric antigen receptor-invariant natural killer T cells (CAR-iNKT), which have shown promise against solid tumors but often lose potency after delivery. The UCLA team created a system that functions like a charging station for these immune cells. Once implanted near a tumor, it attracts CAR-iNKT cells engineered to recognize cancer. "These engineered microparticles are where CAR-iNKT cells recharge and switch back into attack mode," said Song Li, chancellor's professor of bioengineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. "Instead of delivering a one-time boost, the device provides sustained signals that help the cells stay active, multiply and form long-term memory."
The microparticles use TCR antigen molecules to reactivate immune cells and are coated with capsules containing IL-15 protein to support cell proliferation. Yan-Ruide "Charlie" Li, first author and postdoctoral scholar at UCLA, said: "It's similar in concept to plugging your phone into a charging cable. In this case, the CAR-iNKT cells connect to the TCR antigen, which sets off a series of molecular signals that activate them, sending them back out to destroy cancer cells." Experiments showed that recharged immune cells circulated throughout the body and killed cancer elsewhere.
Lili Yang, co-leader of the study and professor at UCLA, said: "This approach significantly improves the durability and effectiveness of CAR-iNKT cell responses in both solid tumor and systemic blood cancer models, offering a new strategy to strengthen cell-based cancer therapies and expand their clinical potential." The research team optimized activation signal strength and growth-supporting protein release while ensuring localized effects to avoid harmful side effects from widespread stimulation.
The preclinical study found promising biocompatibility for the platform. Researchers plan further refinements and will explore its use with other immunotherapies.
