New ‘smart’ nanoparticles help the immune system better attack tumors

Adelaide University researchers have developed a new way to use mRNA technology to reprogram tumor-supporting immune cells and strengthen the body's anticancer immune response.

The scientific team, spanning engineering, biomedical, oncology and immunology experts, has developed tiny, targeted particles that could help the immune system fight cancer by reprogramming immune cells within the tumor environment.

The findings have been published in Science Advances today.

Turning macrophages inside tumors

The new approach uses lipid nanoparticles—the same delivery technology used to deliver mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines—to target a type of immune cell that can help tumors evade the body’s defenses.

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