Biomaterials for enhancing anti-cancer immunity

Sandeep T Koshy; David J Mooney

doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2016.02.001

Biomaterials for enhancing anti-cancer immunity

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2016 Aug:40:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2016.02.001. Epub 2016 Feb 18.

Authors

Sandeep T Koshy¹, David J Mooney²

Affiliations

¹ John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
² John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: mooneyd@seas.harvard.edu.

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy is becoming a standard approach to treat many cancers. However, shortcomings of current methods limit therapeutic benefit in many patients. Rationally designed biomaterial strategies to deliver immune modulatory drugs can potentially show improved safety profiles, while providing multifunctional and spatiotemporally controlled signals to immune cells to improve their anti-cancer activity. This brief review describes biomaterials-based strategies that enhance immune cell function at various tissue sites to improve anti-cancer immunity. Continued collaboration between bioengineers, immunologists, industry, and clinicians is required for biomaterial-based immunotherapy strategies to continue moving to the clinic.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antigen-Presenting Cells / drug effects
Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
Humans
Immunomodulation / drug effects
Immunotherapy
Neoplasms / immunology*
Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects

Substances

Biocompatible Materials

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding