Antigen-Specific T Cell Induction via Cytokine Culture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy often cause significant harm to the body, and there is a need for a more targeted and effective approach to stimulate antigen-specific immune cells to combat cancer and viral infections.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to induce antigen-specific T cells by culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells in media containing antigenic peptides, IL-2, IL-15, and IFN-α, which are then expanded in subsequent cultures to produce therapeutically effective T cells for cancer or virus treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cancer treatments (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy) are used to treat cancer, then cancer cells can be eliminated, but significant harm is caused to the body including physical damage, wounds, and damage to normal cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecancer treatment effectivenessVSAvoiddamage to normal cells and physical harm
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses antigen-specific T cells as an intermediary agent to mediate the fight against cancer. Instead of directly attacking cancer cells with harmful treatments, the immune system is activated through antigen presentation, allowing T cells to specifically recognize and eliminate cancer cells while sparing normal cells. This resolves the contradiction by introducing a biological mediator that provides targeted destruction without the broad harm of conventional treatments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs the body's own immune system to fight cancer by inducing antigen-specific T cells from the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The immune system serves itself by generating the necessary combatants (T cells) internally rather than relying on external harmful interventions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for damaging surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy while maintaining effective cancer elimination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If passive immunotherapy is used to enhance endogenous anti-tumor immune responses, then target specificity is achieved with reduced off-target toxicity, but the potency and speed of response may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoff-target toxicityVSAvoidanticancer response potency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-activating and expanding antigen-specific T cells in vitro before administering them to the patient. The T cells are cultured with antigenic peptides and cytokines (IL-2, IL-15, IFN-α) to enhance their potency and numbers beforehand. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the T cells are introduced, they immediately possess high anticancer potency while maintaining target specificity, thus resolving the contradiction between response power and off-target toxicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters of the immune response by controlling cytokine concentrations (IL-2 at 1-500 ng/mL, IL-15 at 1-100 ng/mL, IFN-α at 1-100 ng/mL) and antigenic peptide concentrations (1 μg/mL to 1 mg/mL) during T cell culture. These parameter optimizations ensure the T cells achieve maximum potency and specificity, allowing potent anticancer responses without off-target toxicity when the cells are administered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If active immunotherapy is used to stimulate immune cells to fight cancer, then potent anticancer responses can be elicited, but efficient stimulation of antigen-specific immune cells is highly dependent on complex culture conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanticancer responseVSAvoidculture condition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a universal culture medium composition that can induce antigen-specific T cells for different cancer types and viral infections. The same combination of cytokines (IL-2, IL-15, IFN-α) and antigenic peptides works across multiple disease contexts, simplifying the overall process despite the need for potent T cell stimulation. This multi-functionality reduces complexity by eliminating the need for disease-specific culture protocols while maintaining high anticancer response potency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent defines specific parameter ranges for cytokine concentrations (IL-2: 1-500 ng/mL, IL-15: 1-100 ng/mL, IFN-α: 1-100 ng/mL) and culture duration (1-3 days per passage) that optimize T cell induction while simplifying the process. By establishing these standardized parameters, the complex task of stimulating antigen-specific immune cells becomes more manageable and reproducible, resolving the contradiction between response potency and cultural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If antigen-specific T cells are induced through culture methods, then targeted immune cells can be produced, but manufacturing cost and yield are significant concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment safety and effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and yield
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs continuous culture and expansion of T cells over multiple passages (first, second, and third culture media stages) to maximize yield. The T cells are continuously stimulated with antigenic peptides and cytokines throughout the culture process, ensuring efficient production of sufficient数量的 antigen-specific T cells for therapeutic use. This continuous action approach improves manufacturing efficiency and yield while maintaining treatment safety and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes culture parameters including cytokine concentrations (IL-2, IL-15, IFN-α), antigenic peptide concentrations (1 μg/mL to 1 mg/mL), and culture duration (1-3 days per passage) to achieve high T cell yield at reduced cost. By carefully controlling these parameters, the manufacturing process becomes more efficient and scalable, resolving the contradiction between producing reliable therapeutic cells and managing manufacturing costs and yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4299722A1Method for inducing antigen-specific t cell and use thereof in treating cancer or virus infection
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 FULLHOPE BIOMEDICAL
  • EP4299722A1 patent drawingFigure 1(1/4)
  • EP4299722A1 patent drawingFigure 1(2/4)
  • EP4299722A1 patent drawingFigure 1(3/4)

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a method for inducing antigen-specific T cell and the use thereof in treating cancer or virus infection. The method comprises culturing PBMCs with antigenic peptide, IL-2, IL-15 and IFN-α.