1. Multifunctional nanoprobe for real-time in vivo monitoring of T cell activation.
- Author
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Betzer O, Gao Y, Shamul A, Motiei M, Sadan T, Yehuda R, Atkins A, Cohen CJ, Shen M, Shi X, and Popovtzer R
- Subjects
- Humans, Mice, Animals, Gold, Calcium, T-Lymphocytes, Metal Nanoparticles, Melanoma
- Abstract
Genetically engineered T cells are a powerful new modality for cancer immunotherapy. However, their clinical application for solid tumors is challenging, and crucial knowledge on cell functionality in vivo is lacking. Here, we fabricated a nanoprobe composed of dendrimers incorporating a calcium sensor and gold nanoparticles, for dual-modal monitoring of engineered T cells within a solid tumor. T cells engineered to express a melanoma-specific T-cell receptor and loaded with the nanoprobe were longitudinally monitored within melanoma xenografts in mice. Fluorescent imaging of the nanoprobe's calcium sensor revealed increased intra-tumoral activation of the T cells over time, up to 24 h. Computed tomography imaging of the nanoprobe's gold nanoparticles revealed the cells' intra-tumoral distribution pattern. Quantitative analysis revealed the intra-tumoral T cell quantities. Thus, this nanoprobe reveals intra-tumoral persistence, penetration and functional status of genetically engineered T cells, which can advance T cell-based immunotherapy and promote next-generation live cell imaging., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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