CAR T cell therapy has already transformed the treatment of blood cancers by equipping a patient’s own immune cells with the ability to recognize and destroy cancer. Yet one of the greatest challenges has been using CAR T cells against solid tumors. These tumors often hide behind a dense barrier that makes it extremely difficult for immune cells to penetrate.
A new approach is beginning to change that. Scientists have developed CAR T cells that carry tiny nanogel particles filled with enzymes designed to gently break down the tough outer layers of solid tumors. By softening these barriers, the engineered CAR T cells are able to move more freely into the tumor and attack the cancer cells inside.
The results from early laboratory studies are promising. Nanogel armed CAR T cells showed improved infiltration and greater ability to shrink solid tumors in experimental models. If this progress continues, it could significantly expand the reach of CAR T therapy beyond blood cancers, offering hope to patients facing some of the most difficult cancers to treat.
What does this mean for Immunaeon? Advances like these make it clear that tomorrow’s therapies will rely on strong, healthy immune cells collected before they are weakened by age or illness. The healthier the starting material, the more successful these therapies can be. Immunaeon preserves your immune cells at their peak so that when innovations like nanogel armed CAR T cells become available, you have the best possible foundation for treatment.
Zhao, Z., Li, Q., Qu, C. et al. A collagenase nanogel backpack improves CAR-T cell therapy outcomes in pancreatic cancer. Nat. Nanotechnol. 20, 1131–1141 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01924-1