Effects of cell culture plastics on dendritic cells activated using ImmunyrTM

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. A promising new way to treat cancer is through the administration of immune cells that target the cancer – an approach called cancer immunotherapy. The goal of this project is to engineer better culture vessels to produce dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are the “gatekeepers” of our immune system. They can have the capacity to activate other immune cells to attack cancers. The project involves two industrial partners: Kanyr Pharma, Inc. and Saint- Gobain, Inc. Kanyr Pharma has developed a technology called Immunyr(TM) that can improve the function of the dendritic cells in culture prior to reinjection into the patients. Saint-Gobain is a multinational company that manufactures glass, ceramics and advanced materials, among others. Saint-Gobain also manufactures cell culture bags that can be used to culture dendritic cells. Kanyr Pharma currently produces these dendritic cells in plastic containers that are not functionally closed. Liquids are introduced into the containers manually through caps or lids. For clinical production of the dendritic cells, it would be safer to culture the cells in closed plastic vessels such as bags filled through tubing.

Faculty Supervisor:

Corinne A Hoesli;Pierre-Luc Girard-Lauriault

Student:

Olivia Bowden;Nabil Zeidan

Partner:

Kanyr

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

McGill University