Researchers develop synthetic T cells that mimic form, function of human version

[Indigophoton]

UCLA researchers have developed synthetic T lymphocytes, or T cells, that are near-perfect facsimiles of human T cells.

The ability to create the artificial cells could be a key step toward more effective drugs to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases and could lead to a better understanding of human immune cells' behavior. Such cells also could eventually be used to boost the immune system of people with cancer or immune deficiencies.

The research team comprised scientists from the UCLA School of Dentistry, the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and the department of chemistry and biochemistry in the UCLA College, and was led by Dr. Alireza Moshaverinia, an assistant professor of prosthodontics at the dental school. The findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials.

"The complex structure of T cells and their multifunctional nature have made it difficult for scientists to replicate them in the lab," Moshaverinia said. "With this breakthrough, we can use synthetic T cells to engineer more efficient drug carriers and understand the behavior of immune cells."

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-06-synthetic-cells-mimic-function-human.html

 

[Wonko]

Near perfect - what could go wrong?

 

[Melanie]

Near perfect - what could go wrong?

 

[Hutan]

The research team comprised scientists from the UCLA School of Dentistry, the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and the department of chemistry and biochemistry in the UCLA College, and was led by Dr. Alireza Moshaverinia, an assistant professor of prosthodontics at the dental school.

prosthodontics
ˌprɒsθəˈdɒntɪks/
noun

1. the branch of dentistry concerned with the design, manufacture, and fitting of artificial replacements for teeth and other parts of the mouth.

Near perfect - what could go wrong?

It's probably prejudiced and ignorant of me, but synthetic t-cell manufacture is not what I would have expected from someone focused on dentures and the like.

 

[Alvin]

Would this make ME/CFS better or worse?

Near perfect - what could go wrong?

Worst case kills the patient, best case they become zombies

 

[Forbin]

It sounds like these would be non-living, t-cell-sized, flexible capsules with a surface coating that makes them stick to infected cells. I guess the interior of the capsule would contain some sort of cytotoxic substance that would somehow get released when contact is made. Sounds like they've achieved the first step of making flexible, t-cell-sized capsules.