Fluorescent PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of carrier system for cell immunotherapy as treatment of infection.

 

Although periodontitis is an oral infection affecting teeth, it has been strongly associated with diseases of significantly higher morbidity and mortality such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Macrophages (immune cells) can be directed to control immune response as well as healing and other biological processes by attaching cellular backpacks to them. Researchers at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Niigata University used PLGA-rhodamine and PLGA-CY5 (AV011, AV034) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop particles which can control macrophage behavior. This research holds promise to treat a wide range of disease states. Read more: Nakajima, Mayuka, Neha Kapate, John R. Clegg, Mayumi Ikeda-Imafuku, Kyung Soo Park, Ninad Kumbhojkar, Vinny Chandran Suja et al. "Backpack-carrying macrophage immunotherapy for periodontitis." Journal of Controlled Release 377 (2025): 315-323. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016836592400782X

“Highlights: M2 macrophages can suppress inflammation in periodontitis. IL-4 loaded cellular backpacks (BPs) were engineered for maintaining macrophages in M2 phenotype. M2 cells carrying IL-4 BPs (BP-M2 cells) were injected into the inflamed gingiva. M2 cells remained in the injected tissue and their therapeutic efficacy was observed. BP-M2 cells offer a promising local therapy for treating periodontitis. Abstract: Cell immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic modality to combat unmet medical needs. Macrophages offer a prominent cell therapy modality since their phenotypic plasticity allows them to perform a variety of roles including defending against pathogens, inducing/suppressing adaptive immunity, and aiding in wound healing. At the same time, this plasticity is a major hurdle in implementation of macrophage therapy. This hurdle can be overcome by cellular backpacks (BPs), discoidal particles that adhere on the macrophage surface and regulate M1/M2 phenotypic shift in an environment-independent manner. In this study, we engineered IL-4 BPs for maintaining macrophages in the M2 phenotype to regulate excess inflammation in periodontitis, a major oral infectious disease. IL-4 BPs induced and maintained M2 phenotype in macrophages in vitro for several days. After injection of macrophages carrying IL-4 BPs into the gingiva, the cells stayed in the tissue for over 5 days and maintained the M2 phenotype in the disease sites. Furthermore, treatment with IL-4 BP-macrophages significantly suppressed the disease progression. Altogether, a treatment with BP-carrying macrophages offers a promising local therapy against periodontitis.”

PLGA-Rhodamine (Cat# AV011): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AV011#h

PLGA-Rhodamine (Cat# AV034): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AV034#h

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