B Cell Engineering and Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Induction via Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy

Projektinformationen

BeaT-IT

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101040996

DOI

10.3030/101040996

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 11 Februar 2022

Startdatum 1 Juli 2022

Enddatum 30 Juni 2027

Finanziert unter

• European Research Council (ERC)

Gesamtkosten

€ 1 488 762,50

EU-Beitrag

€ 1 488 762,50

Koordiniert durch

UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM AACHEN
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BeaT-IT (B Cell Engineering and Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Induction via Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy)

Berichtszeitraum: 2022-07-01 bis 2024-12-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

B lymphocytes exhibit diverse immunological functions, including antibody production and antigen presentation. Emerging evidence indicates that these cells also create niches known as B cell-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) that sustain an immune response. The role of TLS in cancer is only beginning to emerge, and understanding it requires further insight into cellular and spatial composition. Funded by the European Research Council, the BeaT-IT project aims to determine the factors that stimulate B cells and induce TLS. Researchers will employ novel polymeric biomaterials and test different agents and cells for their capacity to stimulate TLS formation. The materials can be further combined with immunotherapy or chemotherapy as a synergistic anticancer strategy. We have successfully managed to develop and establish multiscale biomaterials to stimulate B cells via their intracellular and extracellular receptors to engineer their immunological functions such as antigen presentation and antibody production.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

In the BeaT-IT project (101040996), a series of biomaterials ranging from the nano- to macroscale have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. These biomaterials have been utilized to engineer B cells and induce tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

During the project, new phenomena regarding how B cells interact with nano- to macroscale biomaterials, as well as their response to clinically used modalities, have been observed. Currently, the mechanisms underlying these stimulation effects are under investigation.