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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Biomaterials. 2021 Nov 30;280:121297. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121297

Figure 1: Targeting DC mediated cellular immunity utilizing biomaterial-based vaccine strategies.

Figure 1:

Initiation of cellular immunity via therapeutic cancer vaccines is dependent on a four-step process. 1) Implantation of biomaterial in intended site releases encapsulated immunostimulants (green) and tumor antigens (orange) according to material-specific manner. 2) Immunostimulant release generates a local concentration gradient necessary to recruit dendritic cells (DC, blue) to vaccine platform where they are presented dominant tumor antigens and become activated (red glow). 3) Activated DC (red glow) will traffic to local draining lymph nodes for antigen presentation to CD8+ T cell (green) to initiate cytotoxic immunity. 4) Cytotoxic T cells travel systemically to target cells with featured antigenic target, reducing primary and metastatic burden systemically.