1. Academic Validation
  2. Synergistic Chemo-Immunotherapy: Recombinant Fusion Protein-Based Surface Modification of NK Cell for Targeted Cancer Treatment

Synergistic Chemo-Immunotherapy: Recombinant Fusion Protein-Based Surface Modification of NK Cell for Targeted Cancer Treatment

  • Pharmaceutics. 2024 Sep 8;16(9):1189. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16091189.
Su Yeon Lim 1 Luna Kim 1 Hongbin Kim 1 Jeong-Ann Park 2 Jina Yun 3 Kwang Suk Lim 1 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
  • 2 Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
  • 3 Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea.
  • 4 Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
Abstract

While traditional combination Anticancer treatments have shown promising results, there remains significant interest in developing innovative methods to enhance and integrate chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This study introduces a recombinant fusion protein-based cell surface modification system that synergistically combines chemotherapy and immunotherapy into a single-targeted chemo-immunotherapy approach. A cell surface-modified protein composed of an antibody-specific binding domain and a cell-penetrating domain rapidly converts immune cells into chemo-immuno therapeutics by binding to antibodies on the surface of immune cells. Utilizing a non-invasive, non-toxic approach free of chemical modifications and binding, our system homogeneously transforms immune cells by transiently introducing targeted cytotoxic drugs into them. The surface-engineered immune cells loaded with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) significantly inhibit the growth of target tumors and enhance the targeted elimination of Cancer cells. Therefore, NK cells modified by the cell surface-modified protein to incorporate ADCs could be expected to achieve the combined effects of targeted Cancer cell recognition, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, thereby enhancing their therapeutic efficacy against Cancer. This strategy allows for the efficient and rapid preparation of advanced chemo-immuno therapeutics to treat various types of Cancer and provides significant potential to improve the efficacy of Cancer treatment.

Keywords

antibody binding; antibody–drug conjugates; cell surface engineering; recombinant fusion protein; targeted delivery.

Figures
Products