Nanofibrous MultiDomain Peptide Hydrogels Provide T Cells a 3D, Cytocompatible Environment for Cell Expansion and Antigen-Specific Killing.

T cells have the ability to recognize and kill specific target cells, giving therapies based on their potential for treating infection, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. However, the advancement of T cell-based treatments has been hindered by difficulties in their ex vivo activation and expansion, the number of cells required for sustained in vivo levels, and preferential localization following systemic delivery. Biomaterials may help to overcome many of these challenges by providing a combined means of proliferation, antigen presentation, and cell localization upon delivery.