Biomaterials to Boost Cancer Immunotherapy, from Bench to Bedside

Host: Prof. Zhao Yanli

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has attracted tremendous attention in recent years. In our recent studies, by employing rationally designed biomaterials as well as nanoscale delivery systems, we are able to enhance cancer immunotherapy via developing novel nano-vaccines, modulating tumor microenvironment, and achieving combinational immunotherapy, as evidenced by various animal model experiments. In this presentation, I would introduce our latest efforts in this exciting research direction. In particular, we have tried to combine various types of local tumor treatment methods with immunotherapy using biomaterials as the bridge. Stimulated by the tumor antigens released after local tumor ablation, the triggered immunological responses if in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy could result in effective inhibition of tumor cells remaining in the body, promising for treatment of cancer metastasis. A strong immune-memory effect could also be observed after such treatment. Beyond that, we are also working on biomaterials that are capable of modulating tumor microenvironment for enhanced immunotherapy. A start-up company has been founded based on the technologies from our laboratory. Several pipelines are now being tested in clinical trials.

Biography

Dr. Zhuang Liu is a Changjiang Distinguished professor at Soochow University in China. He received his BS degree from Peking University in 2004 and PhD degree from Stanford University in 2008. In 2009, Dr. Liu joined Institute Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) at Soochow University. Dr. Liu is now working in the field of biomaterials and nanomedicine, to develop smart materials and nanotechnology for biomedical imaging and cancer therapy. Dr. Liu has authored over 400 peer-reviewed papers, with a total citation of >100,000 times and an H-index at 170. He has been listed as one of ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ (Materials, Chemistry) by Thomson Reuters since 2015. He was invited to be the Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 2015, and elected to be the Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) in 2019. The awards he received include the Xplorer Prize, Periodic Table of Younger Chemists by IUPAC, Biomaterials Science Lectureship by RSC, National Distinguished Young Scholar Award (Fund) by NSFC, etc. Now he is serving as the associate editor for Biomaterials and EngMedicine. He has founded a start-up company, InnoBM, which is focused on the development of novel therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy.