G.J. Lu, E.P. Chung
Rice University,
United States
Keywords: cell therapy manufacturing, biologics manufacturing
Summary:
In vitro cell therapy manufacturing is a cornerstone of modern cancer treatment, yet it remains limited by complex, multi-step processes that drive up costs and failure rates. A key step is isolating T cells from patient blood, which often involves costly magnetic beads—a major driver of manufacturing expenses. To streamline this, we are developing a buoyancy-based approach using biogenic nanobubbles. These nanobubbles are genetically designed with selective binding moieties for T cells, produced entirely in bacterial hosts, and “self-purified” from cell lysates through flotation—offering a low-cost alternative to magnetic beads and enabling simplified, single-step T cell isolation directly from patient blood. Additionally, we are extending this platform to protein isolation, potentially useful for biologics manufacturing. This versatile, low-cost technology could transform both cell therapy and biologics manufacturing by reducing costs and shortening workflows.