Toolkit Items

Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cells represent a promising "off-the-shelf" alternative to CAR-T cells.

Next-generation CAR designs, such as cytokine-armed CAR-T cells, may enhance T cell infiltration and persistence despite the suppressive TME.

CARmacrophages (CAR-M) ... not only phagocytose tumor cells and present antigens but also remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Key innovations in engineered NK cell therapies-including CAR-NK, cytokine armoring (e.g., IL-15), and bispecific/trispecific NK cell engagers (NKCEs)-are critically evaluated.

Engineered cellular therapies include chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells

DNA nanostructures, such as DNA origami, provide nanoscale spatial precision for regulating receptor valency and oligomerization.

UNC10245092 is a previously identified linear peptide inhibitor that binds calcium and integrin binding protein 1 (CIB1). It has been used as a reference peptide in structural and in silico studies of CIB1-targeting decoy peptide design.

ReaChR is the light-sensitive opsin used in this study to evoke visual responses in the inner retina after photoreceptor degeneration. The paper compares its effects when expressed in ON bipolar cells versus retinal ganglion cells.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is an innovative and promising approach to treat cancer.

CAR-Tregs are presented as an emerging CAR-based cell therapy approach for autoimmune diseases. In the abstract's framing, CAR-based strategies can help restore immune homeostasis.

Key ACT modalities include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a novel form of adoptive cellular immunotherapy that involves modifying autologous T cells to recognize and target tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) on malignant cells, independent of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction.

Key methodological parameters such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype, actuator drug, dose, and application routes were investigated by measuring the food-intake-reducing effect of chemogenetic inhibition of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) by hM4D(Gi) designer receptor stimulation.

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are programmable site-specific nucleases used for genome editing. The supplied evidence describes them as artificial systems with customizable DNA-binding motifs that can be designed to target specific genomic loci, bind practically anywhere in the genome, and cleave double-stranded DNA.

Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are programmable site-specific nucleases that use customizable DNA-binding motifs to target specific genomic loci for genome manipulation. The supplied evidence also places ZFNs among molecular tools used to alter gene expression and documents their use for gene knockout in sea urchins.

Photoactivatable CRISPR-Cas9 is an optogenetic genome-editing construct pattern in which Cas9-mediated gene perturbation is controlled by light. It has been applied in mice to induce LIF knockdown under light-emitting diode illumination, enabling spatiotemporal perturbation of embryo implantation-associated biology and fertility.

The blue light-regulated synthetic genetic circuit for CheZ-controlled motility is a synthetic construct pattern developed in programmed Escherichia coli to control bacterial directional motility with blue light. In the cited study, blue light-regulated control of CheZ expression enabled movement away from blue light, consistent with negative phototaxis, and supported aggregation and pattern formation.

enzyme-based (PURE systems)

Despite the great success that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells have had in patients with B-cell malignancies and multiple myeloma, they continue to have limited efficacy against most solid tumors.

Specifically, we engineered immune cells with a CD19-targeted synNotch receptor... Jurkat T cells were engineered via sequential lentiviral transduction of two components: an anti-CD19 synNotch receptor and a synNotch response element encoding SEAP.

Jurkat T cells were engineered via sequential lentiviral transduction of two components: an anti-CD19 synNotch receptor and a synNotch response element encoding SEAP.

The review delves into ongoing efforts in preclinical models, translational advancements, and emerging approaches such as dual-targeting CARs, armored CARs, and alternative co-stimulatory domains.

The web research summary identifies CAR-T as explicitly supported by the anchor review figures/text and by multiple discovered reviews centered on synthetic-biology engineering of CAR-T cells.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking modality in cancer immunotherapy... By genetically reprogramming autologous T-cells to express synthetic receptors targeting tumor-specific antigens, CAR T-cells can mediate robust antitumor responses.

The review delves into ongoing efforts in preclinical models, translational advancements, and emerging approaches such as dual-targeting CARs, armored CARs, and alternative co-stimulatory domains.

Nanobody-based CAR-T cells further expand design versatility, offering improved stability, tumor penetration, and reduced immunogenicity compared with single-chain variable fragment constructs.

Emerging synthetic biology tools, such as CRISPR-based transcriptional control, high-throughput screening, and machine learning-assisted promoter design, are enabling the creation of tunable, orthogonal promoters suited for complex multigene expression.

Synthetic strategies are introduced that rewire enhancer-promoter communication through engineered chromatin loops, leveraging programmable DNA-binding platforms such as zinc fingers, transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), and CRISPR-Cas9.

EGxxFP is a Cas9 reporter construct used in split-Cas9 synthetic circuits to convert successful Cas9 reconstitution into a fluorescent readout. In the cited 2023 Scientific Reports study, it reported cellular states and events including cancer epithelial origin, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cell-cell fusion.

eOPN3 is a targeting-enhanced mosquito homolog of vertebrate encephalopsin developed as an optogenetic silencing construct for presynaptic terminals. Brief illumination activates eOPN3 to suppress neurotransmitter release and synaptic transmission through the G_i/o signaling pathway, with spontaneous recovery within minutes in vitro and in vivo.

PB@BPNSs@CS is a PDGF-BB-loaded black phosphorus nanosheet chitosan microsphere fabricated as a drug-delivery construct. It provides sustained PDGF-BB release for more than five months and supports near-infrared light-controlled release, with reported therapeutic benefit after a single administration in a mouse osteoarthritis model.

We produced and verified a novel virus-like particle (VLP) by incorporating the neutralizing epitope 1134SVQSFDGKL1142 into a recombinant hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) scaffold.

CXCR4-GVs were constructed as targeted molecular probes, which can be proven to have good targeting properties to vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.

Subsequently, the m10@T-NVs were combined with functionalized MNPs via CD63 interactions to form m10@T-MNVs.

we synthesized statin-dye conjugates by attaching a fluorescent dye (Cy5.5) to two statins: simvastatin and pravastatin... Notably, in the PCC and CAF co-culture model, the pravastatin-Cy5.5 conjugate selectively killed KRASMUT PCCs without affecting the KRASWT CAFs.

Here we introduce R-eLACCO2.1, a red fluorescent extracellular L-lactate biosensor that is superior to previously reported green fluorescent biosensors in in vivo sensitivity to increases in extracellular L-lactate and spectral orthogonality.

incorporated into second-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructs that were termed sherpabody-guided CARs (SbCAR)

the molecular mechanism of bacteriorhodopsin, a light-driven H+ pump and the best studied microbial rhodopsin, is described.

Thermo-modulated CRISPR-Cas genome editors are engineered CRISPR-Cas constructs in mammalian systems whose genome-editing activity is directly modulated by subtle temperature changes within the physiological range. The reported work describes these as the first CRISPR-Cas genome editors with direct temperature responsiveness.

This tool comprises designer mammalian cells engineered to express human placental secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) under control of a benzoate-/vanillate-responsive mammalian gene switch. It functions as a small-molecule-regulated reporter system for monitoring inducible and repressible transgene expression in vitro and in implanted mice.

The engineered GEF-Pak1 interaction is a rewired Cdc42 positive-feedback construct in Schizosaccharomyces pombe in which a guanine nucleotide exchange factor is engineered to interact with the Cdc42 effector p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1). This engineered coupling supports scaffold-mediated positive feedback, promotes active Cdc42 zone formation, and enables rod-shape polarization.

Full-length guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) constructs were overexpressed in primary human endothelial cells and quantitatively profiled with single-cell FRET Rho GTPase biosensors to compare their ability to activate Cdc42 and Rac1. In this assay context, PLEKHG2, FGD1, PLEKHG1, and PREX1 produced the strongest Cdc42 activation, and FGD1 showed the highest selectivity.

GLP-1-Fc(mIgG)-Leptin is a bifunctional therapeutic peptide hormone construct that fuses glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and leptin through a mouse IgG Fc linker. In the cited designer-circuit study, its expression is controlled dose-dependently by guanabenz and linked to stimulated secretion of GLP-1 and leptin.

Orthogonal sgRNA-promoter NOT gate pairs are a set of 30 characterized CRISPR-based transcriptional repression elements for bacterial genetic circuit design. In the reported system, each gate uses an sgRNA matched to a cognate promoter target to implement NOT logic through engineered dCas9-based repression.

The generated system, called RIFES (RNAi-inducible fluorescence expression system), successfully imaged the expression of miR-30a-5p and miR-30a-3p in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis.

Synthetic GAP is a construct-level patterning tool in which GTPase-activating activity is coupled to plasma membrane flows. In the cited study, this coupling was sufficient to establish rod shape, consistent with a role in restricting the zone of Cdc42 activity.

This method primarily utilizes genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) or synthetic fluorescent dyes to detect physiologically relevant calcium dynamics.

NP-cIPTG, or 6-nitropiperonyl-caged IPTG, is a photocaged small-molecule inducer for light-regulated control of LacI-dependent bacterial gene expression. Illumination releases IPTG activity and enables optochemical induction, including in Rhodobacter capsulatus.

PMC text for the anchor paper explicitly states that intraneural AAV6-hSyn-SwiChR-eYFP expression enabled transdermal optogenetic inhibition and sustained post-light inhibition of pain behaviors.

lentiviral transduction was used to generate adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs) from DBA/2J (H-2d) mice which expressed an allogeneic class I MHC protein (H-2Kb).