The paths toward non-viral CAR-T cell manufacturing: A comprehensive review of state-of-the-art methods

Although CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as a game-changer in cancer immunotherapy several bottlenecks limit its widespread use as a front-line therapy. Current protocols for the production of CAR-T cells rely mainly on the use of lentiviral/retroviral vectors. Nevertheless, according to the safety concerns around the use of viral vectors, there are several regulatory hurdles to their clinical use. Large-scale production of viral vectors under "Current Good Manufacturing Practice" (cGMP) involves rigorous quality control assessments and regulatory requirements that impose exorbitant costs on suppliers and as a result, lead to a significant increase in the cost of treatment. Pursuing an efficient non-viral method for genetic modification of immune cells is a hot topic in cell-based gene therapy. This study aims to investigate the current state-of-the-art in non-viral methods of CAR-T cell manufacturing. In the first part of this study, after reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of the clinical use of viral vectors, different non-viral vectors and the path of their clinical translation are discussed. These vectors include transposons (sleeping beauty, piggyBac, Tol2, and Tc Buster), programmable nucleases (ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR/Cas9), mRNA, plasmids, minicircles, and nanoplasmids. Afterward, various methods for efficient delivery of non-viral vectors into the cells are reviewed.

Evaluating the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera leaf capsules in controlling glycemic and hypertension levels in type 2 diabetes patients

Moringa oleifera (MO) phytochemicals and therapeutic properties improve hyperglycemia and treat type 2 diabetes. Thus, this study examined the effects of MO leaf capsules on blood glucose management in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension and their safety. A prospective placebo-controlled experiment randomly assigned 24 patients to receive 3g and 6g of MO leaf capsules twice a day or a placebo for three months. Pre- and post-study lab and clinical outcomes were assessed. The placebo control group and 3g MO leaf showed a minor change, whereas 6g and control placebo showed a considerable drop in examined features. MO usage was safe. In T2DM patients, MO leaves lowered blood pressure, requiring further study. MO leaves may help T2DM patients manage blood pressure and blood sugar, according to the study. MO's therapeutic components need more research.