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PreprintCC BYChemRxiv

Photocatalytic synthesis of functionalized polymers on primary human T cells

  • Olivia Mann-Delany1
  • Fauzia N. Izzati2
  • Richard Fuku1
  • Jon Babi1
  • Qingyu Shi1
  • Vanessa Affe2
  • Haissi Cui1
  • Mitchell A. Winnik1,3
  • Helen Tran1,3
  • Landon J. Edgar1,2,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St George St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3H6
  2. 2Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Cir Rm 4207, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3K9
  3. 3Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 12 College St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3E5
  4. 4Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Cir Rm 7207, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3K9
Open at sourceDOICite

Abstract

Polymers can be designed to impart new functions to the surfaces of tissues and cells, making them valuable tools for bioengineering applications. Existing grafting-to methods suffer from low polymer grafting efficiencies – due in part to challenging-to-control lipid anchoring strategies. One solution to these limitations is to adopt a grafting-from approach, where polymers are synthesized at defined initiation sites on the cell surface. Previous studies have highlighted the value of cytocompatible photocatalyzed grafting-from polymer chemistries or site-specific covalent anchoring of initiation sites; however, unification of these features remains unexplored. Further, no grafting-from technologies have been applied to surface engineering of primary human cells. To address this gap, we have combined Photo-Induced Electron-Transfer Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain-Transfer (PET-RAFT) chemistry with site selective surface anchoring of a custom traceable oligomeric polymer initiation site. We show that our approach enabled efficient grafting-from chain extension of functionally diverse polymers anchored on cell surface carbohydrates (glycans). The approach was compatible with both an immortalized human cell line and primary human immune cells (T cells). This technology provides a framework for site-selective modification of primary cell surfaces without genetic manipulation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{manndelany2026photocatalytic,
  title = {{Photocatalytic synthesis of functionalized polymers on primary human T cells}},
  author = {Olivia Mann-Delany and Fauzia N. Izzati and Richard Fuku and Jon Babi and Qingyu Shi and Vanessa Affe and Haissi Cui and Mitchell A. Winnik and Helen Tran and Landon J. Edgar},
  howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15008846/v1},
  url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008846/v1},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - Photocatalytic synthesis of functionalized polymers on primary human T cells
AU  - Olivia Mann-Delany
AU  - Fauzia N. Izzati
AU  - Richard Fuku
AU  - Jon Babi
AU  - Qingyu Shi
AU  - Vanessa Affe
AU  - Haissi Cui
AU  - Mitchell A. Winnik
AU  - Helen Tran
AU  - Landon J. Edgar
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/15
PB  - ChemRxiv
DO  - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15008846/v1
UR  - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008846/v1
AB  - Polymers can be designed to impart new functions to the surfaces of tissues and cells, making them valuable tools for bioengineering applications. Existing grafting-to methods suffer from low polymer grafting efficiencies – due in part to challenging-to-control lipid anchoring strategies. One solution to these limitations is to adopt a grafting-from approach, where polymers are synthesized at defined initiation sites on the cell surface. Previous studies have highlighted the value of cytocompatible photocatalyzed grafting-from polymer chemistries or site-specific covalent anchoring of initiation sites; however, unification of these features remains unexplored. Further, no grafting-from technologies have been applied to surface engineering of primary human cells. To address this gap, we have combined Photo-Induced Electron-Transfer Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain-Transfer (PET-RAFT) chemistry with site selective surface anchoring of a custom traceable oligomeric polymer initiation site. We show that our approach enabled efficient grafting-from chain extension of functionally diverse polymers anchored on cell surface carbohydrates (glycans). The approach was compatible with both an immortalized human cell line and primary human immune cells (T cells). This technology provides a framework for site-selective modification of primary cell surfaces without genetic manipulation.
ER  -