Artificial Immune Synapses; Nanoscale Control of Immune Cell Activation

摘要

Here, we demonstrate that functionalised gold nanoparticle arrays can be used to form artificial immune synapses. Furthermore, we show that the stimulation of immune cells is sensitive to, and can be controlled by, the nano-scale arrangement of stimulatory ligands at the cellular-material interface, with a sub 110nm inter-ligand spacing being key to activation. This technology offers the potential to direct immunotherapy towards new biomaterials that can controllably activate immune cells.