Hydrogel particles as feeder cells and as synthetic antigen presenting cells

Inventors

Nguyen, Anh Tuan • Kim, Jeffrey • Ahn, Keunho • Zhang, Daixuan

Assignees

Slingshot Biosciences Inc

Abstract

The present disclosure provides feeder hydrogel particles that can function to support the growth, proliferation, and/or activation of a target cell in culture. The present disclosure also provides methods of culturing target cells with feeder hydrogel particles.

Core Innovation

Synthetic hydrogel particles are provided as feeder cell systems and as antigen-presenting cell (APC) mimics to support proliferation and activation of target cells in culture. Feeder hydrogel particles incorporate growth factors and/or cytokines such as IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21 and/or extracellular matrix (ECM) components to provide cell-supporting signals. Delivery of these signals is controlled by how the bioactive components are presented relative to the hydrogel structure, including surface attachment versus matrix encapsulation and the use of degradable matrices.

The hydrogel feeder particles include degradable matrix formats, including disulfide crosslinks and multilayer particles with different degradation rates, to tune temporal presentation of the incorporated signals. The disclosure describes fabrication and tuning features for the cell-mimic properties, including monodisperse particles and adjustable elasticity and water content. Optional magnetic functionalization is included for immunomagnetic separation, cell capture, and magnetic manipulation.

Synthetic hydrogel particles are also described as APC mimics that present activation and costimulatory molecules to mimic T-cell activation events. The APC hydrogels present activation and costimulatory molecules such as anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 and can present other costimulatory receptors, including CD137 (4-1BB) and CD137L. These APC-mimic hydrogels are described in the context of inducing T-cell responses, including CAR T contexts, and may be used for T-cell expansion.

Claims Coverage

Not explicitly described in patent. No relevant claims were provided for analysis.

Not explicitly described in patent. No independent claims were provided for analysis.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications