Carbon nanotube compositions and methods of use thereof
Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based compositions for activating cellular immune responses are provided. The CNTs function as high surface area scaffolds for the attachment of T cell ligands and/or antigens. The CNT compositions function as artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) or as modular vaccines. The disclosed CNT aAPCs are efficient at activating T cells and may be used to activate T cells ex vivo or in vivo for adoptive or active immunotherapy.
1. A carbon nanotube bundle comprising
acid washed carbon nanotubes, the nanotubes having bound to or present on the surface
one or more T cell receptor activators selected from the group consisting of antigens bound to WIC molecules and antibodies or fragments thereof that crosslink the T cell receptor/CD3 complex,
one or more T cell costimulatory or T cell adhesion molecules, and
polymeric nanoparticles comprising a cytokine encapsulated therein.
2. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are single-walled carbon nanotubes.
3. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more T cell receptor activators are non-covalently bound to the carbon nanotubes by adsorption.
4. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are treated with acid prior to adsorption of the one or more T cell receptor activators, and further treated with lithium borohydride.
5. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , wherein the T cell receptor activator is a polyclonal T cell activator.
6. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , wherein the T cell receptor activator comprises WIC molecules bound to peptide antigens.
7. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , wherein the cytokine is IL-2.
8. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 7 , wherein the nanoparticle further comprises ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic materials.
9. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 7 , wherein the polymer is polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, or polylactide-co-glycolide.
10. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic particle.
11. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic particle is bound to or present on the nanotube.
12. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particle is magnetite.
13. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic particle is selected from the group consisting of ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic materials.
14. The carbon nanotube bundle of claim 1 , wherein the polymer of the nanoparticles is biodegradable.