Cancers cured more easily thanks to new developments in cell therapy

Photoporation, a new technique developed at Ghent University, could lead to a breakthrough in the use of cell therapy. This treatment method has been used to cure cancers for some time, but still has many shortcomings. A solution is now in the works and could help patients in a few years' time.

‘We are at the beginning of a revolution. Cell therapy, therapy based on genetically modified cells, is very promising for eradicating all kinds of diseases in the near future,’ says
UGent professor Kevin Braeckmans enthusiastically. ‘Not only cancers, but even diseases such as HIV should be curable.’ For years, he has been working on improving the genetic modification of therapeutic cells. With promising results. That is why he founded the spin-off company Trince, to bring the new technology to market. The process behind cell therapy is as follows: you manipulate the genetic material of patient cells in a laboratory in such a way that they can be used to combat the patient's disease. You then reintroduce them into the patient. It is a type of immunotherapy that is already being used for some blood cancers.

What is the challenge?

Professor Kevin Braeckmans, co-founder of Trince: ‘Until now, genetic manipulation of cells has been done in a rather brutal way, sometimes resulting in the cell no longer being in optimal condition. If the quality of the cells deteriorates, this is detrimental to the healing process.’

What is the solution?

"We have found a new way to modify cells without significantly compromising their quality. We do this through photoporation: we make small holes in the membrane around the cell using a laser and nanoparticles. This allows you to control what you are doing very well, without causing unnecessary damage. We are not the only ones doing this, but our technology is safer and gentler than the others. Because it allows for faster cell production, it is also more affordable and patients can be helped more quickly."

What are the next steps?

‘We founded Trince in 2022, after ten years of research at Ghent University. In the course of 2023, we want to sell the first devices and reagents to R&D laboratories. They can use them to genetically modify biological cells. Then we estimate another two years to get the technology ready for use in patients.’