X-ray as Irradiation Alternative for K562 Feeder Cell Inactivation in Human Natural Killer Cell Expansion.

BACKGROUND/AIM: γ-Irradiation has been proven to be the most effective method to inactivate K562 cells, but γ-irradiators are not available in some institutes. This study was designed to compare the effects of X-ray and γ-irradiation on K562 cells in natural killer (NK) cell expansion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To expand NK cells, isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were co-cultured with γ-irradiated or X-ray-treated K562 cells plus IL-2 and IL-15. Characteristics of expanded NK cells were identified by flow cytometry. RESULTS: NK cell expansion rate tended be to lower in the X-ray-treated group (68.9±32.6) than the γ-irradiated group (78±28.7), but the difference was not significant (p=0.39). Furthermore, NK cell functions or receptor expression were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that X-ray treatment can be used as an alternative to γ-irradiation for K562 cells inactivation in human NK cell expansion.

Pt-Decorated Magnetic Nanozymes for Facile and Sensitive Point-of-Care Bioassay.

Development of facile and sensitive bioassays is important for many point-of-care applications. In this study, we fulfilled such demand by synthesizing Pt-decorated magnetic nanozymes and developing a bioassay based on unique properties of the newly synthesized nanozymes. Fe3O4-Pt/core-shell nanoparticles (MPt/CS NPs) with various compositions were synthesized and characterized. Fe3O4 NP itself is a good nanozyme with catalytic activity superior to that of natural enzymes, but catalytic activity can be further improved by incorporating Pt to the outer layers of the Fe3O4 NPs and building heterogeneous nanostructures. Magnetic properties of MPt/CS NPs enable magnetic enrichment of liquid samples, whereas catalytic properties of MPt/CS NPs allow signal amplification by enzyme-like reactions. By integrating MPt/CS NPs in lateral flow immunoassay strips, one of the widely used point-of-care bioassay devices, and harnessing magnetic and enzyme-like properties of MPt/CS NPs, an increase in sensitivity of two orders of magnitude was achieved compared to the sensitivity of conventional lateral flow immunoassay based on Au nanoparticles.

Simple and Sensitive Point-of-Care Bioassay System Based on Hierarchically Structured Enzyme-Mimetic Nanoparticles.

An enzyme-mimetic nanoparticle-based point of care bioassay device is developed for rapid and sensitive detection of analytes. Digital images acquired by smart cellular phones allow quantifying the amounts of analytes. Using this new device, quantitative analysis of liquid sample is performed within 15 min with an order of magnitude enhancement of sensitivity compared with conventional Au nanoparticle-based devices.