A UCLA-led team has developed an implantable device that acts as a charging station to recharge CAR-iNKT immune cells near tumors, enhancing their durability and anti-cancer activity.

The platform uses biomimetic microparticles that provide activation signals via TCR antigen and deliver IL-15 to support CAR-iNKT cell proliferation, enabling reactivated cells to circulate systemically and attack cancers beyond the implantation site.

In preclinical studies, this approach improved the durability and anti-tumor activity of CAR-iNKT cells in solid tumors and systemic blood cancers, concentrating signals at the implant to reduce systemic toxicities.

Biocompatibility was demonstrated with minimal adverse effects in animals, and signaling is localized to avoid cytokine release syndrome, suggesting potential for combination with other therapies.

Key researchers include Song Li and Lili Yang at UCLA, with Yan-Ruide Li as first author, along with Haochen Nan, Zeyang Liu, Youcheng Yang, Xinyuan Shen, Ying Fang, Yichen Zhu, Yuning Chen, Zibai Lyu, Zhengyao Shao, Bo Zhang, Tzung Hsiai, and Enbo Zhu.

The work is affiliated with UCLA’s Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center.

The research outlines a broader vision for modular, localized immunotherapy platforms that could be adapted to other cell therapies and cancer types, with ongoing work to optimize efficacy, durability, and safety.

Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the study underscores biocompatibility, optimized signal strength, growth-supporting protein release, and maintaining localized signaling to minimize systemic toxicity.

The approach aims to maintain localized immune stimulation to minimize systemic side effects while sustaining immune cell activity, potency, and long-term memory formation.

Researchers emphasize balancing stimulation to avoid immune cell exhaustion and focusing signals locally to broaden applicability across cancers.

Funding comes from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, NIH, DoD, and UCLA, highlighting strong public and academic support for this immunotherapy direction.

Nature Biomedical Engineering published the study, noting validations in human melanoma and lymphoma samples and mouse models, underscoring translational potential for solid and blood cancers.