![\"Takara\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/takara-bio-inc-logo-vector-s.webp.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTop Image Credit:<\/p>\n
iiStock.com\/Jian Fan<\/p>\n
Is the form not loading? If you use an ad blocker or browser privacy features, try turning them off and refresh the page.<\/p>\n
SPONSORED<\/p>\n
CONTENT<\/p>\n
on drug delivery, especially using gels and<\/p>\n
openings between the pores. This creates<\/p>\n
While we continued to consult, the Takara Bio<\/p>\n
sponges. Then I met Gianpietro Dotti, an expert<\/p>\n
changes in flow speed and direction, which<\/p>\n
team did most of the development work indepen<\/p>\n
in CAR T-cell therapy, and we began collaborat<\/p>\n
forces them to collide tons of times.<\/p>\n
dently<\/p>\n
after that. I think they did a beautiful job.<\/p>\n
ing.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how I shifted into the cell therapy<\/p>\n
That seems to be the key. We\u2019re seeing<\/p>\n
What does a typical experiment look like<\/p>\n
space. Initially, we didn\u2019t plan to change how<\/p>\n
something like a 100-fold increase in collisions<\/p>\n
with the sponge? How does it simplify the<\/p>\n
viral transduction worked, but one postdoctoral<\/p>\n
compared to just mixing them in a tube. And<\/p>\n
workflow for researchers?<\/p>\n
researcher in my group, Pritha Agarwalla, made<\/p>\n
those collisions are what drive viral entry and<\/p>\n
How a<\/p>\n
a surprising observation that set us on this path.<\/p>\n
The usual workflow many researchers use is<\/p>\n
called spinoculation. This involves mixing cells<\/p>\n
How did that discovery happen?<\/p>\n
with virus and centrifuging them for several<\/p>\n
Simple Sponge<\/p>\n
It was almost accidental. Agarwalla was run<\/p>\n
hours. After that, cells need to be added to the<\/p>\n
ning<\/p>\n
a control experiment where she combined<\/p>\n
plates and centrifuged again. The entire process<\/p>\n
cells and viruses on a dry sponge \u2014 one of the<\/p>\n
takes about six hours, and there\u2019s a lot of spin<\/p>\n
sponges we were using for drug delivery. She<\/p>\n
ning<\/p>\n
and handling involved. With the sponge, it\u2019s<\/p>\n
Supercharges<\/p>\n
came back with incredible results: 90 percent of<\/p>\n
completely different. It just needs researchers<\/p>\n
the cells were successfully transduced. Outside<\/p>\n
to pipette the virus and cells together onto the<\/p>\n
the sponge, the same mix only achieved about<\/p>\n
sponge, which absorbs the mix. After incubation,<\/p>\n
Cell Therapy<\/p>\n
10 percent transduction. That made us sit up. We<\/p>\n
a second solution dissolves the sponge, and the<\/p>\n
followed up with more experiments and shared<\/p>\n
transduced cells are ready to go.<\/p>\n
our results with Dotti, who was creating CAR T<\/p>\n
Workflow<\/p>\n
Have you seen researchers use the<\/p>\n
cells for clinical use at UNC. He got incredibly<\/p>\n
sponge in their work yet?<\/p>\n
excited. That\u2019s when we knew we had something<\/p>\n
really special and exciting.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve heard from a few researchers who have used<\/p>\n
it. One researcher at UNC started using the prod<\/p>\n
What exactly is the sponge made of?<\/p>\n
uct<\/p>\n
and later realized it was based on our work<\/p>\n
Yevgeny Brudno led the research that uncovered the<\/p>\n
A seaweed-derived<\/p>\n
These sponges are made out of alginate, which<\/p>\n
after attending one of my talks. Most people<\/p>\n
lentiviral transduction-enhancing properties of<\/p>\n
alginate sponges.<\/p>\n
literally comes from algae \u2014 seaweed that<\/p>\n
are using them for cell therapy applications,<\/p>\n
biomaterial enhances<\/p>\n
JUST AS P ENICI L L IN WAS<\/p>\n
discovered in a speck of mold and<\/p>\n
grows in the ocean. Scientists have figured out<\/p>\n
such as engineering T cells, natural killer cells,<\/p>\n
lentiviral transduction and<\/p>\n
of developing technologies like RetroNec<\/p>\n
how to purify it and make it biocompatible; it\u2019s<\/p>\n
gene transfer. People have tried to engineer<\/p>\n
and macrophages. We\u2019re looking into applying<\/p>\n
UST<\/p>\n
AS<\/p>\n
P ENICI L L IN<\/p>\n
WAS<\/p>\n
discovered in a speck of mold and<\/p>\n
tin<\/p>\n
\u00ae reagent, a gold-standard transduction<\/p>\n
in yogurt and medical implants.<\/p>\n
this kind of forced contact with microfluidi<\/p>\n
this approach beyond viral transduction. We\u2019ve<\/p>\n
makes a key step in cell<\/p>\n
CRISPR in the immune system of<\/p>\n
enhancer for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)<\/p>\n
Alginate has a unique property: it gels easily<\/p>\n
chips, but those systems are expensive and<\/p>\n
started exploring how the sponge might enhance<\/p>\n
bacteria, scientific breakthroughs<\/p>\n
T-cell therapy. They parterned with Brudno<\/p>\n
when mixed with calcium, forming a Jello-like<\/p>\n
complicated. What makes this sponge spe<\/p>\n
gene delivery with lipid nanoparticles. We\u2019re also<\/p>\n
therapy faster and easier.<\/p>\n
often arise from unexpected<\/p>\n
to develop a scalable, easy-to-use reagent<\/p>\n
substance. That\u2019s how we make our cryogels.<\/p>\n
cial<\/p>\n
is its simplicity. It\u2019s easy to make, easy to<\/p>\n
excited about trying new cell types and target<\/p>\n
JUST AS P ENICI L L IN WAS<\/p>\n
discovered in a speck of mold and<\/p>\n
CRISPR in the immune system of<\/p>\n
bacteria, scientific breakthroughs<\/p>\n
often arise from unexpected<\/p>\n
corners of nature. For Yevgeny Brudno, a<\/p>\n
called the Lenti-X\u2122 Transduction Sponge. Now<\/p>\n
First, we mix alginate with calcium and water,<\/p>\n
use, and it just works.<\/p>\n
ing<\/p>\n
different tumors.<\/p>\n
bioengineer at the University of North Caro<\/p>\n
available to researchers around the world, this<\/p>\n
and it becomes a paste. When we freeze that<\/p>\n
How did the collaboration with Takara<\/p>\n
What has it been like for you to see this<\/p>\n
lina<\/p>\n
(UNC) at Chapel Hill and North Carolina<\/p>\n
deceptively simple innovation offers a new way<\/p>\n
paste, ice crystals form, and the alginate wraps<\/p>\n
Bio come about, and how did that<\/p>\n
technology move from a lab discovery to a<\/p>\n
IMAGE THIS PAGE:<\/p>\n
State University (NC State), one such discov<\/p>\n
to streamline cell engineering and accelerate<\/p>\n
around them. Then we lyophilize the gel, a pro<\/p>\n
The porous alginate sponge improves<\/p>\n
collaboration shape the technology?<\/p>\n
commercial product?<\/p>\n
ery<\/p>\n
began with seaweed.<\/p>\n
the development of advanced cell therapies.<\/p>\n
cess<\/p>\n
that turns the ice directly into vapor without<\/p>\n
viral gene transfer by increasing cell-virus<\/p>\n
Brudno\u2019s lab had been working with algi<\/p>\n
melting. This leaves behind a dry, porous struc<\/p>\n
Once we knew the sponge worked, Agarwalla<\/p>\n
It\u2019s super exciting. I got into bioengineering<\/p>\n
interactions during transduction.<\/p>\n
Can you tell us about your background<\/p>\n
nate,<\/p>\n
an algae-derived substance commonly<\/p>\n
ture,<\/p>\n
essentially a sponge, where each pore cor<\/p>\n
encouraged me to reach out to companies that<\/p>\n
because I wanted to work on problems that<\/p>\n
and what drew you to working on<\/p>\n
used in everything from yogurt to wound<\/p>\n
responds<\/p>\n
to a former ice crystal. Once it\u2019s dry, we<\/p>\n
might be interested. I sent a few emails, and the<\/p>\n
have real-world impact. Seeing something we<\/p>\n
biomaterials for cell therapy?<\/p>\n
dressings, to create sponge-like drug deliv<\/p>\n
can just keep it at room temperature or in the<\/p>\n
Takara Bio team wrote back almost immediately.<\/p>\n
created in the lab go out of the lab and have a<\/p>\n
ery<\/p>\n
materials. During an experiment, his team<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a chemist by training and got my PhD in chem<\/p>\n
fridge. It\u2019s stable and ready to use.<\/p>\n
They already provided reagents for retroviral<\/p>\n
real impact is very rewarding.<\/p>\n
unexpectedly observed that these sponges<\/p>\n
istry<\/p>\n
working with David Liu, who\u2019s now well<\/p>\n
transduction and were looking for solutions to<\/p>\n
Why does the sponge make transduction<\/p>\n
could dramatically improve the efficiency of<\/p>\n
known for his CRISPR work. Over time, I realized<\/p>\n
improve lentiviral transduction.<\/p>\n
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.<\/p>\n
so much more efficien<\/p>\n
viral transduction. This process \u2014 introducing<\/p>\n
I wanted to do something with a real and imme<\/p>\n
We sent them some sponges, and it worked<\/p>\n
new genes into cells using retroviruses or len<\/p>\n
diate<\/p>\n
impact \u2014 something I could explain to my<\/p>\n
That\u2019s still a bit of a mystery, and as a scientist,<\/p>\n
on the first try. They said, \u201cThis worked right<\/p>\n
REFERENCE<\/p>\n
tiviruses<\/p>\n
\u2014 is a critical and challenging step<\/p>\n
grandmother. That led me to biomaterials, drug<\/p>\n
I love that. But here\u2019s what we know: when<\/p>\n
out of the box.\u201d From there, they took the lead,<\/p>\n
Agarwalla, P. et al. Scaffold-Mediated Static<\/p>\n
in cell therapy workflows, where scientists<\/p>\n
delivery, and cell therapies. I wanted to work<\/p>\n
we pipette a droplet of cells and virus onto the<\/p>\n
scaling up manufacturing, making sure it was<\/p>\n
Transduction of T Cells for CAR-T Cell Therapy.<\/p>\n
reprogram cells to target diseases like cancer.<\/p>\n
on solutions that could directly benefit patients.<\/p>\n
sponge, it gets absorbed into all these pores.<\/p>\n
reproducible, and working through all the quality<\/p>\n
9,<\/p>\n
Advanced Healthcare Materials<\/p>\n
2000275 (2020).<\/p>\n
The finding caught the attention of<\/p>\n
When I started my lab at UNC Chapel Hill<\/p>\n
The virus and the cells move through this<\/p>\n
control steps. Our lab stayed involved during<\/p>\n
the<\/p>\n
the Takara Bio team, who has a history<\/p>\n
and NC State University, we were focusing<\/p>\n
network together, squeezing through narrow<\/p>\n
early stages to help troubleshoot a few issues.<\/p>\n
CREDIT: YEVGENY BRUDNO<\/p>\n
CREDIT: YEVGENY BRUDNO<\/p>\n
SPONSORED<\/p>\n
CONTENT<\/p>\n
on drug delivery, especially using gels and<\/p>\n
openings between the pores. This creates<\/p>\n
While we continued to consult, the Takara Bio<\/p>\n
sponges. Then I met Gianpietro Dotti, an expert<\/p>\n
changes in flow speed and direction, which<\/p>\n
team did most of the development work indepen<\/p>\n
in CAR T-cell therapy, and we began collaborat<\/p>\n
forces them to collide tons of times.<\/p>\n
dently<\/p>\n
after that. I think they did a beautiful job.<\/p>\n
ing.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how I shifted into the cell therapy<\/p>\n
That seems to be the key. We\u2019re seeing<\/p>\n
What does a typical experiment look like<\/p>\n
space. Initially, we didn\u2019t plan to change how<\/p>\n
something like a 100-fold increase in collisions<\/p>\n
with the sponge? How does it simplify the<\/p>\n
viral transduction worked, but one postdoctoral<\/p>\n
compared to just mixing them in a tube. And<\/p>\n
workflow for researchers?<\/p>\n
researcher in my group, Pritha Agarwalla, made<\/p>\n
those collisions are what drive viral entry and<\/p>\n
How a<\/p>\n
a surprising observation that set us on this path.<\/p>\n
The usual workflow many researchers use is<\/p>\n
called spinoculation. This involves mixing cells<\/p>\n
How did that discovery happen?<\/p>\n
with virus and centrifuging them for several<\/p>\n
Simple Sponge<\/p>\n
It was almost accidental. Agarwalla was run<\/p>\n
hours. After that, cells need to be added to the<\/p>\n
ning<\/p>\n
a control experiment where she combined<\/p>\n
plates and centrifuged again. The entire process<\/p>\n
cells and viruses on a dry sponge \u2014 one of the<\/p>\n
takes about six hours, and there\u2019s a lot of spin<\/p>\n
sponges we were using for drug delivery. She<\/p>\n
ning<\/p>\n
and handling involved. With the sponge, it\u2019s<\/p>\n
Supercharges<\/p>\n
came back with incredible results: 90 percent of<\/p>\n
completely different. It just needs researchers<\/p>\n
the cells were successfully transduced. Outside<\/p>\n
to pipette the virus and cells together onto the<\/p>\n
the sponge, the same mix only achieved about<\/p>\n
sponge, which absorbs the mix. After incubation,<\/p>\n
Cell Therapy<\/p>\n
10 percent transduction. That made us sit up. We<\/p>\n
a second solution dissolves the sponge, and the<\/p>\n
followed up with more experiments and shared<\/p>\n
transduced cells are ready to go.<\/p>\n
our results with Dotti, who was creating CAR T<\/p>\n
Workflow<\/p>\n
Have you seen researchers use the<\/p>\n
cells for clinical use at UNC. He got incredibly<\/p>\n
sponge in their work yet?<\/p>\n
excited. That\u2019s when we knew we had something<\/p>\n
really special and exciting.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve heard from a few researchers who have used<\/p>\n
it. One researcher at UNC started using the prod<\/p>\n
What exactly is the sponge made of?<\/p>\n
uct<\/p>\n
and later realized it was based on our work<\/p>\n
Yevgeny Brudno led the research that uncovered the<\/p>\n
A seaweed-derived<\/p>\n
These sponges are made out of alginate, which<\/p>\n
after attending one of my talks. Most people<\/p>\n
lentiviral transduction-enhancing properties of<\/p>\n
alginate sponges.<\/p>\n
literally comes from algae \u2014 seaweed that<\/p>\n
are using them for cell therapy applications,<\/p>\n
biomaterial enhances<\/p>\n
JUST AS P ENICI L L IN WAS<\/p>\n
discovered in a speck of mold and<\/p>\n
grows in the ocean. Scientists have figured out<\/p>\n
such as engineering T cells, natural killer cells,<\/p>\n
lentiviral transduction and<\/p>\n
of developing technologies like RetroNec<\/p>\n
how to purify it and make it biocompatible; it\u2019s<\/p>\n
gene transfer. People have tried to engineer<\/p>\n
and macrophages. We\u2019re looking into applying<\/p>\n
UST<\/p>\n
AS<\/p>\n
P ENICI L L IN<\/p>\n
WAS<\/p>\n
discovered in a speck of mold and<\/p>\n
tin<\/p>\n
\u00ae reagent, a gold-standard transduction<\/p>\n
in yogurt and medical implants.<\/p>\n
this kind of forced contact with microfluidi<\/p>\n
this approach beyond viral transduction. We\u2019ve<\/p>\n
makes a key step in cell<\/p>\n
CRISPR in the immune system of<\/p>\n
enhancer for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)<\/p>\n
Alginate has a unique property: it gels easily<\/p>\n
chips, but those systems are expensive and<\/p>\n
started exploring how the sponge might enhance<\/p>\n
bacteria, scientific breakthroughs<\/p>\n
T-cell therapy. They parterned with Brudno<\/p>\n
when mixed with calcium, forming a Jello-like<\/p>\n
complicated. What makes this sponge spe<\/p>\n
gene delivery with lipid nanoparticles. We\u2019re also<\/p>\n
therapy faster and easier.<\/p>\n
often arise from unexpected<\/p>\n
to develop a scalable, easy-to-use reagent<\/p>\n
substance. That\u2019s how we make our cryogels.<\/p>\n
cial<\/p>\n
is its simplicity. It\u2019s easy to make, easy to<\/p>\n
excited about trying new cell types and target<\/p>\n
JUST AS P ENICI L L IN WAS<\/p>\n
discovered in a speck of mold and<\/p>\n
CRISPR in the immune system of<\/p>\n
bacteria, scientific breakthroughs<\/p>\n
often arise from unexpected<\/p>\n
corners of nature. For Yevgeny Brudno, a<\/p>\n
called the Lenti-X\u2122 Transduction Sponge. Now<\/p>\n
First, we mix alginate with calcium and water,<\/p>\n
use, and it just works.<\/p>\n
ing<\/p>\n
different tumors.<\/p>\n
bioengineer at the University of North Caro<\/p>\n
available to researchers around the world, this<\/p>\n
and it becomes a paste. When we freeze that<\/p>\n
How did the collaboration with Takara<\/p>\n
What has it been like for you to see this<\/p>\n
lina<\/p>\n
(UNC) at Chapel Hill and North Carolina<\/p>\n
deceptively simple innovation offers a new way<\/p>\n
paste, ice crystals form, and the alginate wraps<\/p>\n
Bio come about, and how did that<\/p>\n
technology move from a lab discovery to a<\/p>\n
IMAGE THIS PAGE:<\/p>\n
State University (NC State), one such discov<\/p>\n
to streamline cell engineering and accelerate<\/p>\n
around them. Then we lyophilize the gel, a pro<\/p>\n
The porous alginate sponge improves<\/p>\n
collaboration shape the technology?<\/p>\n
commercial product?<\/p>\n
ery<\/p>\n
began with seaweed.<\/p>\n
the development of advanced cell therapies.<\/p>\n
cess<\/p>\n
that turns the ice directly into vapor without<\/p>\n
viral gene transfer by increasing cell-virus<\/p>\n
Brudno\u2019s lab had been working with algi<\/p>\n
melting. This leaves behind a dry, porous struc<\/p>\n
Once we knew the sponge worked, Agarwalla<\/p>\n
It\u2019s super exciting. I got into bioengineering<\/p>\n
interactions during transduction.<\/p>\n
Can you tell us about your background<\/p>\n
nate,<\/p>\n
an algae-derived substance commonly<\/p>\n
ture,<\/p>\n
essentially a sponge, where each pore cor<\/p>\n
encouraged me to reach out to companies that<\/p>\n
because I wanted to work on problems that<\/p>\n
and what drew you to working on<\/p>\n
used in everything from yogurt to wound<\/p>\n
responds<\/p>\n
to a former ice crystal. Once it\u2019s dry, we<\/p>\n
might be interested. I sent a few emails, and the<\/p>\n
have real-world impact. Seeing something we<\/p>\n
biomaterials for cell therapy?<\/p>\n
dressings, to create sponge-like drug deliv<\/p>\n
can just keep it at room temperature or in the<\/p>\n
Takara Bio team wrote back almost immediately.<\/p>\n
created in the lab go out of the lab and have a<\/p>\n
ery<\/p>\n
materials. During an experiment, his team<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a chemist by training and got my PhD in chem<\/p>\n
fridge. It\u2019s stable and ready to use.<\/p>\n
They already provided reagents for retroviral<\/p>\n
real impact is very rewarding.<\/p>\n
unexpectedly observed that these sponges<\/p>\n
istry<\/p>\n
working with David Liu, who\u2019s now well<\/p>\n
transduction and were looking for solutions to<\/p>\n
Why does the sponge make transduction<\/p>\n
could dramatically improve the efficiency of<\/p>\n
known for his CRISPR work. Over time, I realized<\/p>\n
improve lentiviral transduction.<\/p>\n
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.<\/p>\n
so much more efficien<\/p>\n
viral transduction. This process \u2014 introducing<\/p>\n
I wanted to do something with a real and imme<\/p>\n
We sent them some sponges, and it worked<\/p>\n
new genes into cells using retroviruses or len<\/p>\n
diate<\/p>\n
impact \u2014 something I could explain to my<\/p>\n
That\u2019s still a bit of a mystery, and as a scientist,<\/p>\n
on the first try. They said, \u201cThis worked right<\/p>\n
REFERENCE<\/p>\n
tiviruses<\/p>\n
\u2014 is a critical and challenging step<\/p>\n
grandmother. That led me to biomaterials, drug<\/p>\n
I love that. But here\u2019s what we know: when<\/p>\n
out of the box.\u201d From there, they took the lead,<\/p>\n
Agarwalla, P. et al. Scaffold-Mediated Static<\/p>\n
in cell therapy workflows, where scientists<\/p>\n
delivery, and cell therapies. I wanted to work<\/p>\n
we pipette a droplet of cells and virus onto the<\/p>\n
scaling up manufacturing, making sure it was<\/p>\n
Transduction of T Cells for CAR-T Cell Therapy.<\/p>\n
reprogram cells to target diseases like cancer.<\/p>\n
on solutions that could directly benefit patients.<\/p>\n
sponge, it gets absorbed into all these pores.<\/p>\n
reproducible, and working through all the quality<\/p>\n
9,<\/p>\n
Advanced Healthcare Materials<\/p>\n
2000275 (2020).<\/p>\n
The finding caught the attention of<\/p>\n
When I started my lab at UNC Chapel Hill<\/p>\n
The virus and the cells move through this<\/p>\n
control steps. Our lab stayed involved during<\/p>\n
the<\/p>\n
the Takara Bio team, who has a history<\/p>\n
and NC State University, we were focusing<\/p>\n
network together, squeezing through narrow<\/p>\n
early stages to help troubleshoot a few issues.<\/p>\n
CREDIT: YEVGENY BRUDNO<\/p>\n
CREDIT: YEVGENY BRUDNO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Articles A seaweed-derived biomaterial enhances viral transduction and makes a key step in cell therapy faster and easier.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":168666,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[200,79],"class_list":["post-168665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-genetics","tag-genetics","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168665\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/istock-2162836171-1800x900-s.webp.webp\")
<\/p>\n