Bencherif, Sidi A.Sands, R. WarrenAli, Omar A.Li, Weiwei A.Lewin, Sarah A.Braschler, Thomas M.Shih, Ting-YuVerbeke, Catia S.Bhatta, DeenDranoff, GlennMooney, David J.2015-09-282015-09-282015-09-28201510.1038/ncomms8556https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/118818WOS:000360339700001A biomaterial-based vaccination system that uses minimal extracorporeal manipulation could provide in situ enhancement of dendritic cell (DC) numbers, a physical space where DCs interface with transplanted tumour cells, and an immunogenic context. Here we encapsulate GM-CSF, serving as a DC enhancement factor, and CpG ODN, serving as a DC activating factor, into sponge-like macroporous cryogels. These cryogels are injected subcutaneously into mice to localize transplanted tumour cells and deliver immunomodulatory factors in a controlled spatio-temporal manner. These vaccines elicit local infiltrates composed of conventional and plasmacytoid DCs, with the subsequent induction of potent, durable and specific anti-tumour T-cell responses in a melanoma model. These cryogels can be delivered in a minimally invasive manner, bypass the need for genetic modification of transplanted cancer cells and provide sustained release of immunomodulators. Altogether, these findings indicate the potential for cryogels to serve as a platform for cancer cell vaccinations.text::journal::journal article::research article