PODS®

An easier way to model biological gradients

An easier way to model biological gradients

Protein gradients, especially of cytokines and chemokines, are essential in biology for guiding cell migration, activating immunity, and orchestrating development. Traditional methods often struggle with unstable delivery, burst release, or limited spatial control. Here, we review common approaches and highlight the befits of PODS as a powerful, next-generation tool for engineering reliable protein gradients.

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Why is CAR-T therapy so expensive?

Why is CAR-T therapy so expensive?

Despite its promise and success in treating otherwise resistant blood cancers, CAR-T therapy comes with a hefty price tag, often exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient. Understanding why CAR-T therapy is so expensive requires a closer look at the complex processes and factors involved in its development and administration.

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Simple, efficient reprogramming of immune cells

Simple, efficient reprogramming of immune cells

Immune cell reprogramming is widely used to enhance immune cell function for disease treatment. This approach is successful for some types of immune cell, such as T-cells, but reprogramming of monocytes, macrophages and other phagocytic cells has historically been difficult. At Cell Guidance Systems, we have simplified the engineering of monocytes and other mononuclear phagocytes by using PODS, sub-micron scale sustained-release protein crystals that durably alter the cell's proteome. This simple technique is opening new research avenues and has the potential to enable cost-effective autologous immune cell therapies to treat a range of diseases.

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