RESEARCH｜sitename

Outline

Drug delivery systems (DDS) are pharmaceutical technologies designed to optimize the accumulation of drugs at the target site in terms of concentration and time. Our laboratory focuses on "nano-DDS," a DDS that utilizes nanotechnology such as nanoparticles. In simpler terms, we develop DDS technologies that can control the movement of drugs within the body by encapsulating them in nanoscale capsules. With a focus on cancer immunotherapy, we are synergistically driving both pharmaceutical research on "developing nano-DDS for controlling cancer immune responses" and oncoimmunological research on "elucidating cancer immune response mechanisms using nano-DDS" to create novel nano-immunotherapies.

Theme

01 Development of Nano-Drug Delivery System 02 Elucidation of Cancer Immune Response Mechanisms

THEME 01

Development of
Nano-Drug Delivery System

We are developing a nano-DDS to deliver functional molecules that can stimulate immune cells to fight cancer. Our research focuses on optimizing the loading of these molecules into nano-DDS, targeting specific immune cells with our nano-DDS, and enhancing the efficacy of these molecules once delivered.

Development of targeted technologies to discriminate between cell subsets

Specific cell subsets have been identified as the culprits behind certain diseases, and these subsets are now emerging as promising drug targets. By modifying ligands with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using our unique strategy, we have achieved precise identification of immune cell subsets. Our current research focuses on enhancing targeting precision, expanding the repertoire of target cell subsets, and translating our findings into disease models.
Development of nano-DDS to fine-tune natural killer (NK) cell responses

NK cells are potent cytotoxic cells that can eliminate cancer cells that have escaped T cell surveillance. We are developing novel nano-DDS based on cutting-edge tumor immunology to enhance NK cell function. Our research focuses on developing adjuvant-loaded nano-DDS and engineering NK cells using functional nucleic acid-loaded nano-DDS.
Development of nano-DDS enhancing immune cell-based cancer immunotherapy

Although current successful immune cell-based cancer immunotherapies rely on viral vectors for genetic modification, we are exploring the use of non-viral nano-DDS due to safety and cost considerations. We have developed highly efficient LNPs for delivering functional nucleic acids to immune cells, and we are leveraging this technology to develop novel cancer immunotherapies.
Development of a novel cancer therapy targeting tumor vasculature

Unexpectedly, we discovered that combining LNPs designed to modify tumor endothelial cells and activate innate immunity led to effective tumor vascular disruption and potent anti-cancer effects. This novel approach, which may be effective against a wide range of cancers, offers a promising new cancer therapy. We are now investigating the underlying mechanisms to optimize our nano-DDS formulations.

THEME 02

Elucidation of
Cancer Immune
Response Mechanisms

We are exploring the use of nano-DDS to uncover new mechanisms underlying cancer immunity. By manipulating immune cell functions, we aim to identify the optimal immune cell phenotype for maximizing anti-tumor responses, and then incorporate these findings into the design of novel nano-DDS for cancer immunotherapy.

Understanding how nano-DDS regulates cancer immunity

We are investigating the precise mechanisms by which our developed nano-DDS elicits anti-tumor immune responses. By incorporating these findings into the design of our nano-DDS, we aim to optimize their performance and generate new knowledge about cancer immunology.
Understanding the immune cell phenotype that best promotes anti-tumor immunity

We are developing nano-DDS that can target specific immune cell subsets to artificially modulate their functions. By analyzing the resulting cancer immune responses, we aim to identify the key immune cell phenotype that drives anti-tumor immunity. Our goal is to translate these findings into the development of novel cancer immunotherapies tailored to different tumor microenvironments.
Analysis of the immune status in the tumor microenvironment

Assessing the immune status in the tumor microenvironment, that is, understanding the state of immune responses within the tumor, is essential for developing effective cancer immunotherapies and designing nano-DDS. We have developed a straightforward method to evaluate the immune status of tumor microenvironments to guide the development of nano-DDS-based cancer immunotherapy. We are now working to enhance the precision of this method and explore its potential for other research applications.