Biomaterial strategies for generating therapeutic immune responses

Abstract

Biomaterials employed to raise therapeutic immune responses have become a complex and active field. Historically, vaccines have been developed primarily to fight infectious diseases, but recent years have seen the development of immunologically active biomaterials towards an expanding list of non-infectious diseases and conditions including inflammation, autoimmunity, wounds, cancer, and others. This review structures its discussion of these approaches around a progression from single-target strategies to those that engage increasingly complex and multifactorial immune responses. First the targeting of specific individual cytokines is discussed, both in terms of delivering the cytokines or blocking agents, and in terms of active immunotherapies that raise neutralizing immune responses against such single cytokine targets. Next, non-biological complex drugs such as randomized polyamino acid copolymers are discussed in terms of their ability to raise multiple different therapeutic immune responses, particularly in the context of autoimmunity. Last, biologically derived matrices and materials are discussed in terms of their ability to raise complex immune responses in the context of tissue repair. Collectively, these examples reflect the tremendous diversity of existing approaches and the breadth of opportunities that remain for generating therapeutic immune responses using biomaterials.

Direct Microscopic Observation of Human Neutrophil-Staphylococcus aureus Interaction In Vitro Suggests a Potential Mechanism for Initiation of Biofilm Infection on an Implanted Medical Device

“…Improved understanding of how innate immune cell function at biomaterial surfaces is compromised and what mechanisms limit leukocyte efficacy on the surface of a foreign body may someday lead to alternative strategies for preventing device-related infections (24,(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59). The work presented here provides insight into the pathogenesis of foreign body infections and a previously unexplored mechanism of immune evasion.…”

Emerging Nano/Micro-Structured Degradable Polymeric Meshes for Pelvic Floor Reconstruction

“…Irrespective of the choice of material, new-generation meshes need to apply fabrication strategies to proactively boost the immune system rather than display inert properties. Design parameters and the ultimate cues presented by biomaterials play a crucial role in modulating the response of host cells [ 115 ]. Of these, physical properties such as substrate stiffness, topography, pore size, and size of wear debris, and chemical properties including surface chemistry, ligand presentation and release of growth factors can be modified ( Figure 10 ) to influence the behaviour of macrophages [ 116 , 117 ], the key cell involved in FBR.…”

Mesenchymal stem cell-based bioengineered constructs: foreign body response, cross-talk with macrophages and impact of biomaterial design strategies for pelvic floor disorders

“…Recent evidence suggests that promoting specific interactions between cells and the implant can boost immune acceptance and integration of materials with a reduction in the FBR [129]. This has sparked significant interest in developing degradable polymeric meshes including electrospun nanofibre mats and natural decellularized ECM-based meshes [33,130,131].…”

“…The bioengineered immunomodulatory design of materials is likely to modulate the FBR in a more favourable and controlled manner [132]. Design parameters and the ultimate cues presented by biomaterials play a crucial role in modulating the response of host cells [129]. Of these, physical properties such as substrate stiffness, topography, pore size and size of wear debris, and chemical properties including surface chemistry, ligand presentation and release of growth factors can be modified (figure 6) to influence the behaviour of macrophages [49,133].…”