Enhancing the physiological characteristics of chimeric antigen receptor natural killer cells by synthetic biology.
Ji, Shuochao; Jin, Cheng; Cui, Xinjiang
Frontiers in immunology2025Vol. 16pp. 1592121
34
ji2025enhancing
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor natural Killer (CAR-NK) cells therapy represents a next-generation immunotherapeutic approach following CAR-T cells therapy, offering inherent "off-the-shelf" compatibility and mitigated off-tumor toxicity. Despite these advantages, clinical translation remains constrained by poor persistence and functional exhaustion in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME). This review examines recent advancements in synthetic biology aimed at enhancing the physiological characteristics of CAR-NK cells. By delineating the synergy between NK cells and synthetic biology toolkits, this work provides a roadmap for developing next-generation CAR-NK therapies capable of addressing solid tumor challenges while maintaining favorable safety profiles.