Immunotherapy is transforming cancer care by mobilising the body’s own immune system to eliminate tumours. Among the most promising advances is CAR T-cell therapy, which involves genetically engineering a patient’s T-cells to recognise and destroy cancer cells. However, for this approach to succeed, scientists must first grow large numbers of healthy T-cells in the laboratory and then retrieve them without compromising their function.
A new study from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay addresses this critical challenge. Published in Biomaterials Science and featured in the European Society for Biomaterials conference collection, the research presents a gentler and more effective method to recover lab-grown T-cells—one that preserves their viability and immune behaviour. Led by Professor Prakriti Tayalia, the study highlights how small technical improvements can strengthen the reliability of advanced cancer therapies and potentially reduce their high costs.
Understanding the role of T-cells
T-cells are a vital component of the immune system. As specialised white blood cells, they constantly patrol the body, identifying infections and abnormal cells such as cancer. Once they detect a threat, T-cells either kill the diseased cells directly or signal other immune cells to respond. Because of this precise targeting ability, T-cells form the backbone of many immunotherapy strategies.
How CAR T-cell therapy works
CAR T-cell therapy takes the natural power of T-cells and enhances it. Doctors collect T-cells from a patient’s blood and genetically modify them in the laboratory to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These receptors act like molecular guidance systems, enabling the cells to locate and bind to cancer cells with greater accuracy. After scientists multiply these engineered cells in large numbers, doctors infuse them back into the patient to attack the tumour.
Globally, regulators in the US and Europe have approved CAR T-cell therapy for certain blood cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma. Many patients who did not respond to conventional treatments have shown dramatic improvement. Despite this success, the therapy remains extremely expensive—often costing Rs 3–4 crore abroad—and researchers are still testing its effectiveness against solid tumours.
The challenge of recovering lab-grown immune cells
While scientists have made progress in engineering and expanding T-cells, retrieving them safely remains a major bottleneck. Traditional cell culture relies on flat plastic dishes, which poorly replicate conditions inside the human body. To overcome this limitation, researchers increasingly use three-dimensional fibrous scaffolds that resemble a dense mesh or fishing net. These structures allow T-cells to grow more actively and multiply faster.
However, this advantage introduces a new problem. T-cells burrow deep into the fibrous network and attach themselves tightly to the scaffold, making them difficult to extract. Professor Tayalia explains that although cell recovery sounds straightforward, it often becomes one of the biggest practical challenges. Without enough healthy cells, scientists cannot adequately test or deploy these therapies.
As reported by The Indian Express, Dr. Jaydeep Das, the study’s first author, adds that although T-cells are considered “suspension cells” in theory, they behave very differently inside dense fibrous environments. The problem becomes even more pronounced when researchers coat scaffolds with stimulatory molecules such as anti-CD3 antibodies, which activate T-cells but also strengthen their adhesion.
Comparing recovery methods
To address this issue, the IIT Bombay team compared three different cell recovery techniques. First, they tried manually flushing the scaffold with growth medium. Second, they used TrypLE, a commonly used but relatively harsh enzyme. Finally, they tested Accutase, a gentler enzyme solution developed in the 1990s.
The researchers evaluated each method based on three parameters: the number of cells recovered, the survival rate of those cells, and their ability to retain immune function. Although all three methods produced similar cell yields, the differences became clear when the team examined cell health and performance.
TrypLE-treated cells showed significantly higher death rates and lost key immune functions. In contrast, cells recovered using Accutase remained viable and functionally intact. They continued to form clusters—a crucial step before cell division—and demonstrated robust growth after recovery. According to Professor Tayalia, harsher enzymes can damage surface proteins essential for immune signalling, thereby reducing a cell’s therapeutic potential. Accutase, by comparison, proved mild enough to avoid this damage.
Implications for cancer treatment
These findings suggest that Accutase-based recovery can improve the consistency and reliability of preparing T-cells for therapy. While the IIT Bombay highlight focuses on CAR T-cell treatment, the published study places this work within the broader context of adoptive T-cell transfer therapies, which include several forms of engineered immune-cell treatments.
The research also revealed another advantage. T-cells grown on fibrous scaffolds killed cancer cells more effectively than those grown on flat plastic surfaces. This points to a dual benefit: scaffold-based growth enhances cell potency, while gentle recovery preserves immune function.
Next steps in the research
Building on these results, the researchers plan to test their approach in animal models. They are also exploring the possibility of implanting T-cell-loaded scaffolds directly into the body. If successful, this strategy could redefine how immune cells are delivered—moving beyond external preparation to innovative in-body deployment.
Why this matters for India
India is steadily advancing its own CAR T-cell ecosystem. IIT Bombay has already collaborated with Tata Memorial Centre on early trials, while start-ups such as ImmunoACT are working to make these therapies more affordable. Unlike international treatments that cost several crores, Indian initiatives aim to reduce prices dramatically, bringing life-saving immunotherapy within reach for more patients.
In this context, IIT Bombay’s study highlights how incremental technical improvements can have far-reaching clinical and economic implications. By refining how scientists recover immune cells, the research strengthens the foundation for more accessible and effective cancer care in India and beyond.