The University of Macau (UM) announced in a statement yesterday that a research team has developed a novel engineered cell culture system based on the physicochemical principle of phase separation, significantly shortening the time required for activating immune cells.
Led by Prof. Wang Chunming from the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) and the State Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine, the team designed a system using two biocompatible polymers – polyethylene glycol (PEG)* and dextran (DEX)** - to form an aqueous two-phase system, the statement noted.
This method, according to the statement, enriches activating factors around cells at higher concentrations than conventional systems, rapidly inducing desired cell phenotypes. Tested on macrophages*** and T cells****, the approach reduced activation time by up to 80 percent and increased target gene expression tenfold, the statement said, as the study further showed that encapsulating cells in this phase-separation environment enhanced key protein processes in immune activation through clear and controllable mechanisms.
As the system is based on two inexpensive and safe biomaterials already approved by regulatory agencies in multiple countries, it holds strong potential for clinical translation, the statement said, adding that the findings, recently published in Cell Biomaterials, a sibling journal to the international journal Cell, have already prompted a collaboration with a clinical research centre in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)
The statement highlighted that the co-first authors are Li Yuwei, a master’s graduate from UM ICMS, and Wang Anheng, a postdoctoral researcher at ICMS, with significant contributions from Associate Prof. Massimiliano Galluzzi (Shenzhen University), Dr Jordi Esquena (Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spain), and Prof. Dong Lei (Nanjing University).
The statement added that the project was funded by Macau’s Science and Technology Development Fund and the public university.
The full version of the research article can be accessed at: https://www.cell.com/cell-biomaterials/fulltext/S3050-5623(25)00168-0.
* Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a common, harmless substance used to thicken, soften, or hold moisture in many medicines, cosmetics, and foods. – DeepSeek
** Dextran (DEX) is a sugar molecule made by bacteria, used in medicine as a volume expander to treat shock from blood loss. – DeepSeek
*** Macrophages are large white blood cells that act as the body’s “clean-up crew,” eating and digesting harmful bacteria, dead cells, and other foreign invaders. – DeepSeek
**** T cells are a type of white blood cells that act as the “managers” of the immune system, directly attacking infected cells and directing other immune cells to fight off threats. – DeepSeek
This undated handout image provided by the public university yesterday shows the development of a novel aqueous two-phase system for large-scale cultivation and rapid activation of therapeutic cells.
