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This research aims to compare how different 3D culture hydrogels influence CAR-T cell activation and function.

July 30, 2025iScience4 citationsOpen Access

Impact of 3D cell culture hydrogels derived from basement membrane extracts or nanofibrillar cellulose on CAR-T cell activation

SRSonia Aristín RevillaUtrecht University ACAlessandro CutilliHeidelberg University ECEugenia CambiasoUniversity Medical Center Utrecht

Key Points

This research aims to compare how different 3D culture hydrogels influence CAR-T cell activation and function.
Compared T cell responses in hydrogels derived from Matrigel, basement membrane extract (BME), and nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC).
Evaluated T cell regulatory phenotypes and CAR-T cell function in each hydrogel condition.
T cells acquired a regulatory phenotype in Matrigel and BME, but not in NFC.
CAR-T cell function was reduced in Matrigel and BME, while NFC maintained T cell activity.

Abstract

T cells acquired a regulatory phenotype in Matrigel and BME but not in NFC. Similarly, CAR-T cell function was reduced in Matrigel and BME but maintained in NFC. These findings underscore how matrix composition can shape T cell responses in 3D culture. NFC provides a chemically defined alternative that preserves T cell activity, supporting its use in more accurate preclinical testing of immunotherapies.

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