Engineered Biomaterials-Based Approaches For Probing and Directing Immune Cell Responses

Biomaterials are increasingly utilized for modulating immune cell responses in both studies of and treatment strategies for a range of maladies. For example, in vivo, implanted biomaterials are being engineered to control the foreign body response in regenerative medicine applications and to promote desired cell phenotypes for immunotherapies with local and systemic effects. Further, particles are being designed to target and direct immune cell activities. In vitro and ex vivo, biomaterials are being used to control the microenvironment of immune cells and thereby their function (e.g., activation, phenotype, proliferation, uptake/killing) for mechanistic studies and for the production of cell therapies.

Inspired by native microenvironments in the human body, biomaterials are at the forefront of approaches for understanding and directing immune cells, from in vitro probing of mechanisms to ex vivo engineering and production of cell therapies to in vivo targeting. Both bottom-up and top-down design strategies provide opportunities for continued innovation and the creation of biomaterials for probing and directing immune responses in a range of applications and for an array of indications. This special issue aims to capture the latest advances in this growing subfield of biomaterials for probing and directing immune cells and to highlight opportunities for further advancements toward improving human health.

We invite authors from diverse backgrounds to contribute relevant manuscripts in this arena with a focus on biomaterial-based approaches for probing and directing immune cell responses, presenting original research, reviews, opinions, and case reports. Innovative methods, findings, and perspectives that advance the field and inform views on both obstacles and opportunities are welcomed. Authors will have the opportunity to share their expertise and enthusiasm for biomaterial-based approaches and tools to probe and direct immune cells in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. This collection of articles will emphasize the growing area of biomaterials approaches in immunoengineering and related applications, including production of cell therapies, bioinspired model systems with immune integration, and immune cell targeting and modulation.