ArTCell

Artificial cell with T-Cell cytotoxic functionalities

T cells are vital in anti-cancer defence, yet tumour evasion strategies limit their effectiveness. Decades of research have focused on developing T cell therapies from donor cells to treat chemoresistant cancers. However, various factors, such as economic considerations and life-threatening side effects, still hinder the potential of donor-derived T cells engineered against tumours. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the ArTCell project aims to overcome these limitations by developing artificial T cells that mimic the tumour-recognition and killing properties of T cells. Researchers will incorporate cytotoxic and tumour-recognising components of activated T cells into lipid-based vesicles to provide a safer, more efficient and cost-effective alternative, bypassing limitations hindering the wider use of current cell-based therapies.