| abstract |
The present invention relates generally to methods for stimulating cells,nand more particularly, to a novel method to concentrate and stimulate cells thatnmaximizes stimulation and/or proliferation of such cells. In the variousnembodiments, cells are stimulated and concentrated with a surface yieldingnenhanced proliferation, cell signal transduction, and/or cell surface moietynaggregation. In certain aspects methods for stimulating a population of cellsnsuch a T-cells, by simultaneous concentration and cell surface moiety ligationnare provided by contacting the population of cells with a surface, that hasnattached thereto one or more agents that ligate a cell surface moiety andnapplying a force that predominantly drives cell concentration and cell surfacenmoiety ligation, thereby inducing cell stimulation, cell surface moietynaggregation, and/or receptor signaling enhancement. Also provided arenmethods for producing phenotypically tailored cells, including T-cells for thenuse in diagnostics, drug discovery, and the treatment of a variety of indications,nincluding cancer, viral infections, and immune related disorders. Compositionsnof cells having specific phenotypic properties produced by these processes arenfurther provided. |