Microengineered in vitro CAR T cell screens and assays

Established and emergent microengineered in vitro systems enable the evaluation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell product purity, avidity, and functionality. Here, we describe such systems and how they have been used to optimize CAR T cell products by selecting highly viable cells, eliminating off-target cells, and tailoring avidity to balance efficacy and safety. The future of CAR T cell therapy development and manufacturing is expected to be anchored in a cyclical process that integrates multiple high-throughput and patient-centered techniques for identifying, enriching, and evaluating T cell subtypes. This article explores several cutting-edge platforms and methodologies relevant to these processes. Kim et al. review advances in microengineered in vitro systems for assessing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell product purity, avidity, and functionality. These systems allow for the selection of viable cells and the elimination of off-target cells to enhance therapeutic safety and efficacy. The potential of these systems in the future development and manufacturing of CAR T cell therapies is discussed, emphasizing the importance of integrating high-throughput and patient-centered techniques for optimizing T cell subtypes.