title: Linking form to function: Biophysical aspects of artificial antigen presenting cell design.
abstract: Artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) are engineered platforms for T cell activation and expansion, synthesized by coupling T cell activating proteins to the surface of cell lines or biocompatible particles. They can serve both as model systems to study the basic aspects of T cell signaling and translationally as novel approaches for either active or adoptive immunotherapy. Historically, these reductionist systems have not been designed to mimic the temporally and spatially complex interactions observed during endogenous T cell-APC contact, which include receptor organization at both micro- and nanoscales and dynamic changes in cell and membrane morphologies. Here, we review how particle size and shape, as well as heterogenous distribution of T cell activating proteins on the particle surface, are critical aspects of aAPC design. In doing so, we demonstrate how insights derived from endogenous T cell activation can be applied to optimize aAPC, and in turn how aAPC platforms can be used to better understand endogenous T cell stimulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nanoscale membrane organisation and signalling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Institute of Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Karlo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perica
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Institute of Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kosmides
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: jschnec1@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schneck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D058045:Artificial Cells; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D002450:Cell Communication; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology
keywords: Artificial antigen presenting cell; Immunotherapy; Microparticle; Microscale interaction; Nanoscale interaction