From saccharides to synthetics: exploring biomaterial scaffolds as cell transduction enhancers
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Dry, transduction biomaterial scaffolds (Drydux) represent a novel platform for enhancing viral transduction, achieving drastic improvements in transduction efficiency (from ∼10% to >80%) while simplifying production of potent genetically engineered cells. This technology addresses a critical bottleneck in cell therapy manufacturing, where conventional methods require complex protocols and often yield suboptimal results. However, the underlying material science driving Drydux-enhanced transduction remains unclear. Here, we comprehensively assess biomaterial properties that influence viral transduction enhancement through systematic testing of polysaccharides, proteins, elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), and synthetic polymers. Our findings reveal that surface porosity and liquid absorption are primary drivers of transduction enhancement, while polymer charge and flexibility play secondary roles. Negatively charged and flexible materials—particularly gelatin, hyaluronan, and alginate—demonstrated superior performance. Notably, despite promising material characteristics, synthetic polymers failed to enhance transduction, highlighting the unique advantages of specific biomaterial compositions. By elucidating these structure–function relationships, this work establishes design principles for optimizing biomaterial-enhanced transduction and expands the Drydux platform's potential for transforming cell therapy manufacturing, regenerative medicine, and beyond.Dry biomaterial scaffolds (Drydux) are a novel platform that enhances viral transduction ~10-fold while simplifying therapeutic cell production. Here, we systematically evaluate the biomaterial properties governing transduction enhancement.
Source: UNC Libraries
DOI: 10.17615/kebp-v703
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Institut des Neurosciences Cliniques de Rennes, Center for Cancer Research, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, GAVI Alliance, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation, Harvard University, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, ALS Society of Canada, Wellcome Trust, GHR Foundation, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, National Institute for Health and Care Research, European Commission, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grantová Agentura České Republiky, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Austrian Science Fund, Chungnam National University, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, Ministero della Salute, Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les Hépatites Virales, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, National Research Foundation of Korea, Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province, Iran National Science Foundation, Jinan University, Ligue Contre le Cancer, Narodowym Centrum Nauki, China Scholarship Council, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, International Society for Neurochemistry, Education Department of Jilin Province, Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province, Beijing Medical and Health Foundation, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Alzheimer’s Society, Special Fund for Henan Agriculture Research System, National Science and Technology Major Project, Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan, National Institutes of Health, Qatar National Library, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Beijing Nova Program, European Regional Development Fund, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Shenyang Young and Middle-aged Science and Technology Innovation Talent Support Program, Science and Technology Program of Hubei Province, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Division of Environmental Biology, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CIHR Skin Research Training Centre, NOAA Sea Grant, Intramural Research Program
OpenAlex ID: W7201969110