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REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. NK and Innate Lymphoid Cell Biology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1558701
This article is part of the Research Topic Novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Designs in engineering NK cells for Cancer View all articles
Nanomaterial Assisted Natural Killer Cell Therapy
Provisionally accepted- 1 The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
- 2 Clinical Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
The rising incidence of cancer has heightened interest in immune cell therapy, particularly the role of natural killer (NK) cells, which are essential components of the immune system. Their applications in tumor treatment have expanded significantly, especially with the incorporation of nanomaterials. This review comprehensively examines NK cell biology, encompassing aspects such as classification, distribution, receptor activation, and mechanisms of cytotoxicity. It also explores various NK cell therapies, including their sources, methods of acquisition, expansion techniques, Chimeric antigen receptor-Natural Killer cell (CAR-NK) technology, gene editing strategies, and combination therapies. Additionally, the review discusses the utilization of nanomaterials in NK cell therapy, focusing on nanoparticle-assisted immune regulation and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. While NK cell therapy holds promise, CAR-NK technology presents certain limitations. The integration of nanomaterials offers potential strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Future research should prioritize the optimization of NK cell therapy, address the limitations associated with CAR-NK technology, investigate the mechanisms of nanomaterials, and develop more effective nanomaterials to improve clinical outcomes.With the rising incidence of cancer-related deaths and newly diagnosed cases, there is renewed focus on immune cells. Natural killer (NK) cells, classified as Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs)(1), play a pivotal role in the human immune system(2).They exhibit potent anti-tumor and antiviral effects and also perform additional functions
Keywords: Natural Killer cells, NK cell therapy, CAR-NK, Nanometer material, Tumor immunotherapy
Received: 10 Jan 2025; Accepted: 24 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Yu, Chen, Tian, Yang, Jia and Tong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Xiaobo Chen, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.