Materials for Cell Surface Engineering

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 36; no. 43; pp. e2210059 - n/a
• Main Authors: Adebowale, Kolade, Liao, Rick, Suja, Vineeth Chandran, Kapate, Neha, Lu, Andrew, Gao, Yongsheng, Mitragotri, Samir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Cell Engineering - methods; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Cell Membrane - metabolism; cell surface coatings; cell therapy; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy - methods; cellular engineering; drug delivery; Effectiveness; Engineering; Humans; In vivo methods and tests; Microparticles; nanomedicine; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Pharmacology; Polymer coatings; Polymers - chemistry; Surface Properties; Target masking; Tissue Engineering - methods; cell surface coatings; microparticles; nanomedicine; cellular engineering; drug delivery; cell therapy
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210059

Cell therapies are emerging as a promising new therapeutic modality in medicine, generating effective treatments for previously incurable diseases. Clinical success of cell therapies has energized the field of cellular engineering, spurring further exploration of novel approaches to improve their therapeutic performance. Engineering of cell surfaces using natural and synthetic materials has emerged as a valuable tool in this endeavor. This review summarizes recent advances in the development of technologies for decorating cell surfaces with various materials including nanoparticles, microparticles, and polymeric coatings, focusing on the ways in which surface decorations enhance carrier cells and therapeutic effects. Key benefits of surface‐modified cells include protecting the carrier cell, reducing particle clearance, enhancing cell trafficking, masking cell‐surface antigens, modulating inflammatory phenotype of carrier cells, and delivering therapeutic agents to target tissues. While most of these technologies are still in the proof‐of‐concept stage, the promising therapeutic efficacy of these constructs from in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies has laid a strong foundation for eventual clinical translation. Cell surface engineering with materials can imbue a diverse range of advantages for cell therapy, creating opportunities for innovative functionalities, for improved therapeutic efficacy, and transforming the fundamental and translational landscape of cell therapies. Cell‐surface‐associated materials (e.g., nanoparticles, microparticles, and polymeric coatings) can prevent cell damage or loss, control cell transport and biodistribution, mask cell‐surface antigens, regulate cell phenotypes, and deliver therapeutic agents to target tissues.