Establishment of a scalable engineered cell-line platform for direct, GMP-grade production of eVLP vectors enabling streamlined generation of gene-edited CAR-T/NK cells

Abstract

Introduction CRISPR–Cas9 has transformed the engineering of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells and chimeric antigen receptor NK (CAR-NK) cells; however, its clinical translation remains constrained by the high cost, batch-to-batch variability, and stringent regulatory requirements associated with current viral and electroporation-based manufacturing approaches. Methods We report an industrial-grade platform based on monoclonal producer cell lines that enables the continuous and scalable generation of engineered virus-like particles (eVLPs) co-packaging Cas9–gRNA ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). A progenitor cell line was established by stably integrating three core modules—Gag-Pol, Gag-Cas9, and the baboon endogenous virus (BaEV) envelope—into a single HEK293T clone. Introduction of a self-inactivating (SIN) retroviral vector encoding the gRNA cassette (exemplified here by CD7) converted this progenitor into a dedicated eVLP producer within 10 days. Results Using this platform, we generated CD7-knockout CAR-T/NK cells that retained robust in vitro cytotoxicity, confirming preserved functional activity. Owing to its modular architecture, the platform is readily extensible. For example, integration with Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus (rAAV) donor templates enables site-specific CAR insertion, while multiplexed eVLP cocktails allow simultaneous disruption of multiple genomic loci. Discussion It is worth noting that this workflow eliminates the need for electroporation, reduces serum dependency, and significantly lowers the cost of reagent consumables. Collectively, this system provides a GMP-compliant and broadly adaptable strategy for the streamlined manufacturing of next-generation autologous and allogeneic gene-edited CAR-T/NK therapies.