Cancer Biomaterials Engineering

The Cancer Biomaterials Engineering Section is a multidisciplinary combination of biomaterials science, cancer immunology, and tissue engineering. The lab is led by Dr. Matthew Wolf, and investigates immunomodulatory biomaterials for use in next-generation cancer immunotherapies. Biomaterials are made from a diverse range of substances, from plastics to collagen, and are important tools in medicine. Examples include artificial joints, vascular stents, reconstructive surgery after car accidents, or even replacing entire tissues like heart valves. However, biomaterials also have the ability to initiate and regulate inflammation in ways that depend on its physical and chemical composition. We aim to integrate immunomodulatory biomaterials with immune oncology – the study of the immune system’s role in recognizing and fighting cancer. Decoding the cellular and molecular processes at the biomaterial-tissue interface enables us to control immunity for more effective cancer immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, and patient-specific tumor models in-a-dish. Understanding the reverse (how cancer hijacks the immune response to materials), will aid in developing regenerative medicine therapies for cancer patients who have impaired wound healing.

The Lab studies both tissue-derived and synthetic biomaterials as immune regulators during cancer defense in the following project areas: (1) Tumor extracellular matrix scaffolds for 3D organoid tumor modeling. (2) Biomaterial biophysical regulation of tumor antigen presentation. (3) The biomaterial foreign body response in cancer immune surveillance.