Synthetic Organ for Study of Cancer and Infectious Disease Therapies

Scientific research on B cells, which control the immune response by producing antibodies, has traditionally relied on the use of animals. Engineers at Cornell University have recently created a functional, synthetic immune B cell organ, resembling lymphoid tissue. This artificial organ, composed of active B cells producing antibodies and nanocomposite biomaterials, can be applied to study how the body produces antibodies to fight infections, and also to design novel immune therapies in relation to blood cancer.