Engineered tumor-specific T cells using immunostimulatory photothermal nanoparticles

PBNP-PTT–mediated tumor-specific T cell expansion scheme. The workflow for the novel T cell development platform is illustrated, where (i) Dendritic cells (DCs) are isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), (ii) Prussian blue nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy (PBNP-PTT) is administered to tumor cells (glioblastoma [GBM] in this study) in vitro, (iii) PBNP-PTT–treated tumor cells are added to DCs, (iv) primed DCs stimulate autologous T cells, [steps 1-4 are repeated], (v) tumor-specific T cells are expanded, and (vi) T cells are characterized for phenotype and function via flow cytometry, ELISpot and cytotoxicity assays.Image, graphical abstract