From Plasmids To Cell-Free DNA Using Megabulb DNA: How Touchlight And ElevateBio Are Enabling Safer And More Effective Cell And Gene Therapies

The field of T cell engineering is rapidly shifting away from traditional viral transduction due to persistent challenges with cost, safety, and manufacturing scalability. Advances in CRISPR-based technologies and novel donor templates are creating faster, more precise alternatives for developing advanced therapies.

One such innovation is mbDNA™ (Megabulb DNA), a single-stranded circular DNA template designed for efficient, targeted genome editing. When combined with a proprietary RNA-guided nuclease, this non-viral system allows for stable integration of genetic material. For example, a recent study utilized this method to successfully knock out an endogenous T cell receptor (TCR) and insert an exogenous, anti-NYESO-1 targeting TCR. Comparative data revealed that using mbDNA™ as the donor template resulted in a two-fold increase in anti-NYESO-1 TCR T cells compared to a next-generation double-stranded plasmid. This nuclease-driven approach offers a scalable, versatile, and precise solution for next-generation T cell therapies. Explore the detailed data and application insights to understand how this non-viral solution can advance your T cell engineering projects.