Technology ID
TAB-4511
Programmable and Modular Nucleic Acid Nanoassemblies-based (NAN) Platforms to Regulate Mechanosensitive Activation of T-cells
E-Numbers
E-149-2020-0
Lead Inventor
Afonin, Kirill (University of North Carolina, Charlotte)
Co-Inventors
Tabdanov, Erdem (Pennsylvania State University (Penn State; PSU) [US])
Zhovmer, Alexander (NHLBI)
Applications
Research Materials
Development Stages
Pre-Clinical (in vitro)
Lead IC
NHLBI
ICs
NHLBI
This technology includes mechanobiological nucleic acid nanoassemblies-based platforms with dynamically controlled efficiency of T-cell activation. T-cells are the central players in adaptive immune response led by a T-cell receptor (TCR) centric machinery. Current T-cell activation strategy (e.g., micron-scale beads) focuses on 2D TCR-agonist biomimetic surfaces and biomimetic 2D immune synapses with planar traction, which requires non-physiological hyper-stimulatory cytokines levels (e.g., IL-2), and thus, is incompatible with clinical applications. This described technology is based on the programmability of nucleic acids, and is modular, user-friendly, and inexpensive platforms with spatiotemporal regulation of T-cell activation.
Commercial Applications
Diagnostic tests, T-cell expansion kits, and immunotherapeutic adjuvants
Competitive Advantages
The objective of this technology is to engineer customizable, modular, and biocompatible immunostimulatory platform based on nucleic acid nanoassemblies suitable for precise and efficient mechano-spatiotemporal programming of TCR and co-receptors. This nucleic acid nanoassemblies-based technology will allow for an unprecedented control over dynamics of T-cell activation setting a stepping stone towards clinically-relevant applications of self-assembling nucleic acid nanoparticles with controlled physicochemical and biological properties and dynamically programmable mechano-spatiotemporal immunostimulatory properties.
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