A novel non-viral delivery method that enables efficient engineering of primary human T cells for ex vivo cell therapy applications

Next-generation immune cell therapy products will require complex modifications using engineering technologies that can maintain high levels of cell functionality. Non-viral engineering

The Solupore system is a non-viral means of simply, rapidly and efficiently delivering cargos to primary human immune cells with retention of high cell viability and functionality.

The Solupore system was used to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) guide RNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) cargos to T cells, and efficiency was measured by flow cytometry. Cell perturbation was assessed by immune gene expression profiling, including an electroporation comparator. In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells generated using the Solupore system was evaluated using a real-time cellular impedance assay and a Raji-luciferase mouse tumor model, respectively.

Efficient transfection was demonstrated through delivery of mRNA and CRISPR CAS9 RNP cargos individually, simultaneously and sequentially using the Solupore system while consistently maintaining high levels of cell viability. Gene expression profiling revealed minimal alteration in immune gene expression, demonstrating the low level of perturbation experienced by the cells during this transfection process. By contrast, electroporation resulted in substantial changes in immune gene expression in T cells. CAR T cells generated using the Solupore system exhibited efficient cytotoxicity against target cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: The Solupore system is a non-viral means of simply, rapidly and efficiently delivering cargos to primary human immune cells with retention of high cell viability and functionality.