In Situ Reprogramming of Immune Cells Using Synthetic Nanomaterials.

In the past decade, adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, the complexity and high costs involved in manufacturing current adoptive cell therapy greatly inhibit its widespread availability and access. To address this, in situ cell therapy, which directly reprograms immune cells inside the body, has recently been developed as a promising alternative. Here, we provide an overview of the recent progress in the development of synthetic nanomaterials to deliver plasmid DNA or mRNA for in situ reprogramming of T cells and macrophages, focusing especially on in situ CAR therapies. Also, we discuss the main challenges for in situ immune cell reprogramming and propose some approaches to overcome these barriers to fulfill the clinical applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.