Specialists from Novosibirsk State University, together with colleagues from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, have developed a reagent for detecting genetically modified immune cells (CAR-T cells).
The new reagent allows tracking the proliferation of CAR-T cells after drug administration and comparing their proportion in the blood at different stages of treatment. Previously, expensive foreign kits were used for these tasks, access to which became more difficult due to sanctions and logistical restrictions. The development shows comparable quality and stability at a significantly lower cost – according to scientists' estimates, this means a cost reduction of more than five times.
The technology is based on CAR-T therapy – a cellular treatment method in which T-cells are taken from the patient's blood, and a genetic code is introduced into them using pseudoviral particles, forcing them to produce a special receptor protein. This receptor recognizes a marker on the surface of diseased cells and triggers their destruction mechanism.
As noted at NSU, this is not about launching a separate development, but about forming an entire ecosystem of tools, reagents, and services for preclinical and clinical research in the field of CAR-T therapy. The work is funded within the framework of the strategic project "Biomedicine" of the "Priority-2030" program. For NSU, the construction of a world-class campus under this program is also nearing completion.
Read more on the topic:
- Microlaser the size of a human hair created in Russia
- Combined EEG results and genetic markers: neural network trained to diagnose depression with 93% accuracy
- Cancer-destroying virus created by NSU scientists