The human immune system is a robust first line of defence against disease. In fact, scientists are now recognising even greater potential in this system, and are developing methods that will see it play roles in tissue regeneration, inflammation control, and even cancer treatment.
To this end, Assistant Professor Andy Tay from NUS Biomedical Engineering is modulating the immune system with biomolecules and novel materials to enhance drug delivery. His work explores the biomolecular and biophysical properties of senescent cells such as cellular size and stiffness, and how they can be exploited for targeted therapeutics delivery.
It is known that the accumulation of senescent cells is a hallmark of ageing, and Asst Prof Tay’s research will impact the treatment of agerelated illnesses such as cancer, osteoarthritis and diabetes. The team is also exploring new methods for targeted drug delivery to solid tumours using nanoparticles and soft robotics that can precisely deliver biologics and drugs.
As a Principal Investigator at the NUS Institute of Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech) and NUS Tissue Engineering Programme, Asst Prof Tay is also developing materials and tools to engineer the immune system to fight cancer, specifically through cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
Cancer cell immunotherapy uses genetically modified immune cells to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. However, the process of generating genetically engineered immune cells in the laboratory has poor efficiency. In addressing this issue, Asst Prof Tay has invented a novel method to deliver DNA into immune cells with minimal stress on these cells, improving the overall efficiency of immune cell generation. This technology has been licensed for commercialisation.
Through the variety of projects in his lab, he aims to better understand the immune system and harness its potential to fight ageing-related diseases like cancer.
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Le, Z., Yu, J., Quek, Y. J., Bai, B., Li, X., Shou, Y., ... & Tay, A. (2022). Design principles of microneedles for drug delivery and sampling applications. Materials Today.
Shou, Y., Johnson, S. C., Quek, Y. J., Li, X., & Tay, A. (2022). Integrative lymph node-mimicking models created with biomaterials and computational tools to study the immune system. Materials Today Bio, 14, 100269.
Low, J., Chan, B., & Tay, A. (2022). Targeted therapeutics delivery by exploiting biophysical properties of senescent cells. Advanced Functional Materials, 32 (2), 2107990.
Tay, A., & Melosh, N. (2021). Mechanical Stimulation after Centrifuge‐Free Nano‐Electroporative Transfection Is Efficient and Maintains Long‐Term T Cell Functionalities. Small, 17 (38), 2103198.
Kumar, A. R., Shou, Y., Chan, B., & Tay, A. (2021). Materials for improving immune cell transfection. Advanced Materials, 33 (21), 2007421.
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