Harnessing Biomaterials and the Lymphatic System for Immunomodulation

Abstract

The lymphatic system plays an integral part in regulating immune cells trafficking and the transport of macromolecules. However, its influence on disease progression and drug uptake is understood less than the vascular system. To bridge the knowledge gap, biomaterials can be used to investigate the lymphatic system and to provide novel understanding into complex disease states, including cancer metastasis and inflammatory diseases. Insight gained from these mechanistic studies, can be further used to design innovative biomaterials to modulate the immune system, improve drug delivery, and promote tissue regeneration. This review article focuses on recent progresses in (i) biomaterials used for lymphatic vessel formation, (ii) lymphatic models for studying lymphatic-immune cells interactions, (iii) pharmaceuticals and their interactions with the lymphatic system, (iv) drug screening, and (v) disease prediction. Finally, a number of challenges in adopting biomaterials for immunomodulation and future perspectives are discussed.