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Synthetic Biology: Immunotherapy by Design

Jamie Brenner1, Jang Hwan Cho1, Nicole M L Wong1

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA;

Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering
|January 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Synthetic biology enhances cellular immunotherapies for safer, more effective treatments against cancer and autoimmune diseases. Future applications aim to shift focus from disease treatment to overall human wellness.

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
  • Immunology and Cancer Research
  • Synthetic Biology Applications

Background:

  • Cellular immunotherapy shows promise for treating human diseases, particularly cancers resistant to traditional treatments.
  • Adverse effects and fatalities necessitate improved control over T cell immunotherapies.
  • Growing synthetic biology research focuses on developing controllable, context-independent biological parts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review advancements in synthetic biology for enhancing cellular immunotherapies.
  • To identify approaches for developing an ideal therapy that is safe, efficient, and easily manufactured.
  • To explore the potential of synthetic biology in treating autoimmune diseases, HIV, and fungal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on synthetic biology tools and cellular immunotherapy.
  • Analysis of approaches for creating tightly controlled, context-independent biological parts.
  • Evaluation of methods for improving safety, efficiency, and manufacturability of immunotherapies.

Main Results:

  • Synthetic biology offers tools to enhance control and safety of cellular immunotherapies.
  • Researchers are adapting these tools for diverse applications beyond cancer treatment.
  • Progress is being made towards developing safer and more efficient therapeutic strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Synthetic biology is crucial for overcoming limitations in current immunotherapies.
  • The development of an ideal, safe, and efficient therapy is a key goal.
  • Synthetic biology can potentially shift healthcare towards a wellness-focused paradigm.
Keywords:
autoimmune diseasecancercellular immunotherapygenetic circuitsinfectious diseasesynthetic biology

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