MIT scientists have developed an innovative in vivo technique using targeted lipid nanoparticles to reprogram natural killer (NK) cells directly inside the body. Published on October 23, 2026, in Nature Biotechnology, this method eliminates the complex and expensive laboratory manufacturing steps traditionally required for CAR-cell therapies. Led by senior author Daniel Anderson and coauthors including Robert Langer and Yuang Chen, the research team successfully engineered about 80 percent of targeted NK cells in experimental mice. The nanoparticles deliver messenger RNA encoding chimeric antigen receptors, directing the immune cells to target and destroy specific malignant or autoreactive cells. This breakthrough addresses major challenges associated with conventional CAR T-cell therapies, such as T-cell fratricide where engineered T cells attack one another. By utilizing NK cells, the system safely targets T-cell malignancies and autoimmune conditions without causing self-destruction among the therapeutic cells. Experimental results in mouse models demonstrated complete tumor eradication in T-cell lymphoma, healing of liver damage in autoimmune hepatitis, and complete remission in three out of five mice with aggressive melanoma. Future applications may extend to treating other autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
