Bionanomaterials for the Delivery of Cancer Immunotherapy

Prof. Bourquin and her group focus on novel bioinspired strategies for the targeting of the immune system to treat cancer. The group investigates how nanoparticles of different types can be used to mimic bacteria or viruses in order to trigger immunity in cancer patients. The nanoparticles are first screened for potential toxicity or functional effects on immune cells. They are then loaded with immune-modulating drugs and selected for their capacity to trigger immune responses. Finally, their potential to block tumor growth is examined. This article describes how bioengineered particles made from spider silk can serve as vaccine, how gold nanoparticles coated with an amphiphilic ligand shell can transport highly effective immunomodulatory molecules to the tumor-draining lymph nodes, and how to screen particle interactions with immune cells in a standardized manner.