title: Nanoengineering of Immune Cell Function.
abstract: T lymphocytes are a key regulatory component of the adaptive immune system. Understanding how the micro- and nano-scale details of the extracellular environment influence T cell activation may have wide impact on the use of T cells for therapeutic purposes. In this article, we examine how the micro- and nano-scale presentation of ligands to cell surface receptors, including microscale organization and nanoscale mobility, influences the activation of T cells. We extend these studies to include the role of cell-generated forces, and the rigidity of the microenvironment, on T cell activation. These approaches enable delivery of defined signals to T cells, a step toward understanding the cell-cell communication in the immune system, and developing micro/nano- and material- engineered systems for tailoring immune responses for adoptive T cell therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Keyue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Milone
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dustin
authors.forename: Lance C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kam