Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy utilizes immune cells and cytokines to enhance the body's innate defense mechanisms against cancer. Effective immunotherapy can facilitate the mobilization, infiltration, and activation of immune cells to eradicate tumors. Immunoengineering has emerged as a promising strategy, leveraging the body's immune system to combat cancer cells effectively. This interdisciplinary field focuses on developing engineered systems that modulate immune responses to enhance anti-tumor activities while minimizing adverse effects.

Our lab focuses on developing diverse forms of immunotherapy, including nano-immune modulators crafted from organic or inorganic materials, as well as stem cells. These immune modulators are designed to stimulate the anti-tumor immune response and have the potential to yield long-lasting effects through the adaptive immune system.

Representative research publications in this area

• Kang, M., Kim, H.Y. and Bhang, S.H., 2023. T-cell membrane coating for improving polymeric nanoparticle-based cancer therapy. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 119, pp.252-260. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1226086X22006566

• Kang, M., Lee, S.H., Kwon, M., Byun, J., Kim, D., Kim, C., Koo, S., Kwon, S.P., Moon, S., Jung, M. and Hong, J., 2021. Nanocomplex‐mediated in vivo programming to chimeric antigen receptor‐M1 macrophages for cancer therapy. Advanced materials, 33(43), p.2103258. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.202103258

• Kang, M., Hong, J., Jung, M., Kwon, S.P., Song, S.Y., Kim, H.Y., Lee, J.R., Kang, S., Han, J., Koo, J.H. and Ryu, J.H., 2020. T‐cell‐mimicking nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy. Advanced Materials, 32(39), p.2003368. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.202003368

• Koo, S., Sohn, H.S., Kim, T.H., Yang, S., Jang, S.Y., Ye, S., Choi, B., Kim, S.H., Park, K.S., Shin, H.M. and Park, O.K., 2023. Ceria-vesicle nanohybrid therapeutic for modulation of innate and adaptive immunity in a collagen-induced arthritis model. Nature Nanotechnology, 18(12), pp.1502-1514. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-023-01523-y 

• Kim, H.Y., Kang, M., Choo, Y.W., Go, S.H., Kwon, S.P., Song, S.Y., Sohn, H.S., Hong, J. and Kim, B.S., 2019. Immunomodulatory lipocomplex functionalized with photosensitizer-embedded cancer cell membrane inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. Nano Letters, 19(8), pp.5185-5193. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b01571

• Jung, M., Kang, M., Kim, B.S., Hong, J., Kim, C., Koh, C.H., Choi, G., Chung, Y. and Kim, B.S., 2022. Nanovesicle‐mediated targeted delivery of immune checkpoint blockades to potentiate therapeutic efficacy and prevent side effects. Advanced Materials, 34(9), p.2106516. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.202106516