Microsystem technologies for accelerating the discovery and translation of immunotherapies

Abstract

Immunotherapies have transformed the treatment of many cancers and autoimmune diseases. However, durable therapeutic benefits are achieved in only certain subsets of patients. Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of disease, it remains challenging to design effective immunotherapies and predict their effects. Microscale systems — including microfluidics, microelectronics and microscaffolds — are now being adapted to accelerate immunotherapy discovery and development, with the potential to address efficacy, toxicity, predictability and affordability challenges. These microsystems consist of miniaturized structures, sensors and actuators that can manipulate molecules and cells of the immune system with high accuracy and throughput. Advances facilitated by microsystem technologies relevant to the discovery and translation of key types of immunotherapy (monoclonal antibodies, cytokine-based drugs, engineered immune cells and therapeutic vaccines) include the development of high-throughput devices for functional selection, miniaturized bioreactors for biomanufacturing, engineered scaffolds for therapeutic administration and sensitive biosensors for immune surveillance post-administration. Challenges facing the clinical translation of microsystem-based immunotherapies include issues related to standardization and integration as well as the need for new regulatory guidance.