Methods for preparing T-cells for cell therapy

A method for generating T-cells with enhanced immunostimulatory capabilities for use in cell therapy treatment protocols, the method comprising:

• providing an universal crosslinking agent comprising a device with a support coated with a first material wherein the first material is capable of cross-linking more than one second material, the second materials capable of binding moieties on the surface of T-cells;
• mixing the universal crosslinking agent with a first array comprising at least one of the second materials and the T-cells sufficiently so that the first and second material cross-link and the second material binds with the T-cell surface moieties and delivers a signal to the T-cells;
• and
• adding a second array comprising one or more additional second materials to the universal crosslinking agent and the T-cells at a later time in the T-cell response, wherein at least one of the second materials added in the second array is different than at least one of the second materials added in the first array of the mixing step.