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Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Natural Killer NK and CAR-NK Cell Expansion Method using Membrane Bound-IL-21-Modified B Cell Line
Published on: February 8, 2022
Engineered nanoparticles to enhance natural killer cell activity towards onco-immunotherapy: a review
Cao Dai Phung1, Tuan Hiep Tran2,3, Jong Oh Kim4
1College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 280 Deahak-ro, Gyeongsan, 38541, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as a potent alternative immunotherapeutic approach to T cell therapy for cancer. Despite promising results from preclinical and clinical studies, numerous challenges have limited the application of NK cell-based therapy, including poor expansion of NK cells in vitro, their short in vivo life span, time-intensiveness, treatment complexities, and the cost burden of the treatment. Recent advancements in the development of immune cell-delivering nanosystems have led to promising strategies to overcome these limitations and enhance NK cell toxicity towards cancer cells. This review first summarizes the biological roles of NK cells and their tumoricidal mechanisms. NK cells, in the context of the immune system and the tumor microenvironment, have reportedly provided novel insights into specific therapeutic targets. Eventually, various strategies targeting NK cells using nanoplatforms to modulate the NK cell responses for effective cancer immunotherapy are described herein. Altogether, this review discusses the potential of nanotechnology in advancements in NK cell-based onco-immunotherapy.
Insights
Natural killer (NK) cells show promise for cancer immunotherapy but face challenges. Nanotechnology offers strategies to enhance NK cell therapy effectiveness and overcome limitations for better cancer treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are a potent immunotherapy alternative to T cell therapy for cancer.
- Current NK cell therapy faces limitations like poor in vitro expansion, short in vivo lifespan, complexity, and high cost.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biological roles and tumoricidal mechanisms of NK cells.
- To explore how nanoplatforms can overcome NK cell therapy limitations.
- To discuss nanotechnology's potential in advancing NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing biological roles and tumoricidal mechanisms of NK cells.
- Reviewing nanocarrier strategies for NK cell delivery and modulation.
- Analyzing NK cell responses within the tumor microenvironment.
Main Results:
- NK cells possess inherent tumoricidal mechanisms and offer therapeutic targets.
- Nanotechnology provides strategies to enhance NK cell expansion, lifespan, and tumor-targeting capabilities.
- Modulating NK cell responses via nanoplatforms can improve cancer immunotherapy efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology presents promising solutions to enhance NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
- Overcoming current limitations through nanodelivery systems can improve therapeutic outcomes.
- Further development of nanotech-enabled NK cell therapies holds significant potential for oncology.
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