Project Summary

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that are essential for the activation and proliferation of T cells. These cells can be used as a highly efficient anticancer treatment, but these treatments are extremely expensive. Current artificial DCs (aDCs) are not as efficient due to inefficient multivalent binding of the antigens presented on the aDC. Furthermore, poor flexibility of the aDC backbone limits cluster formation of the bound molecules, which is a very important process in T cell activation and proliferation. This process induces the signalling in T cells and it requires a large scale spatial reorganisation of the T cell receptors bound to effector molecules on the aDC. This project aims to develop a system that can induce the immune synapse and T cell proliferation in a controlled manner by manipulation of the multivalency and molarity of the effector molecules on the flexible aDC.

Immune Synapse Formation
Immune Synapse Formation

 

Project members

Lead Investigator


Professor Alan Rowan

Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure)
Executive Institute Director, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Senior Group Leader
Rowan Group

Researchers Involved


Dr Jan Lauko

Centre Manager
Advanced Spinifex Biofutures Materials Centre