SIMULTANEOUS STIMULATION AND CONCENTRATION OF CELLS

摘要

The present invention relates generally to methods for stimulating cells, an d more particularly, to a novel method to concentrate and stimulate cells that maximizes stimulation and/or proliferation of such cells. In the various embodiments, cells are stimulated and concentrated with a surface yielding enhanced proliferation, cell signal transduction, and/or cell surface moiety aggregation. In certain aspects methods for stimulating a population of cell s such as T-cells, by simultaneous concentration and cell surface moiety ligation are provided by contacting the population of cells with a surface, that has attached thereto one or more agents that ligate a cell surface moie ty and applying a force that predominantly drives cell concentration and cell surface moiety ligation, thereby inducing cell stimulation, cell surface moiety aggregation, and/or receptor signaling enhancement. Also provided are methods for producing phenotypically tailored cells, including T-cells for t he use in diagnostics, drug discovery, and the treatment of a variety of indications, including cancer, viral infections, and immune related disorder s. Compositions of cells having specific phenotypic properties produced by thes e processes are further provided.