Glatiramer Acetate Complexes CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides into Nanoparticles and Boosts Their TLR9-Driven Immunity.

Unmethylated cytosine-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) have a storied history as agonists for Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). CpG ODNs have shown promising antitumor effects in preclinical studies by inducing potent proinflammatory immune responses. However, clinical success has been hindered by inconsistent efficacy and immune-related toxicities caused by systemic exposure to CpG ODNs. We previously identified that glatiramer acetate (GA), an FDA-approved, lysine-rich polypeptide, could complex class B CpG into cationic nanoparticles which persist at the intratumoral injection site while mitigating the induction of systemic proinflammatory cytokines in mouse tumor models. To extend GA applications across subtypes of CpG ODN (class A, B, and C), we evaluated physiochemical properties and identified the immunological signaling of GA and its complexes with different classes of CpG ODNs. We compared the physiochemical characteristics of three types of GA-CpG nanoparticles, followed by assessments of cell uptake efficiency and endolysosomal trafficking. We then performed successive in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate immunological discrepancies. Complexation with GA preserved the immunological activity of CpG ODN subtypes while encapsulating them into cationic spherical nanoparticles. GA improved the cellular uptake of CpG ODNs, generally increased retention in early endosomes, and amplified immunological responses. A subsequent in vivo experiment confirmed the achievement of potent tumor suppression while mitigating systemic immune-related toxicities. Together, these data help elucidate the noncanonical role of GA to serve as a nucleic acid delivery scaffold that can improve the efficacy and safety of CpG adjuvant for clinical cancer immunotherapy.

CD22L Conjugation to Insulin Attenuates Insulin-Specific B Cell Activation.

Pancreatic islet-reactive B lymphocytes promote Type 1 diabetes (T1D) by presenting an antigen to islet-destructive T cells. Teplizumab, an anti-CD3 monoclonal, delays T1D onset in patients at risk, but additional therapies are needed to prevent the disease entirely. Therefore, bifunctional molecules were designed to selectively inhibit T1D-promoting anti-insulin B cells by conjugating a ligand for the B cell inhibitory receptor CD22 (i.e., CD22L) to insulin, which permit these molecules to concomitantly bind to anti-insulin B cell receptors (BCRs) and CD22. Two prototypes were synthesized: 2:2 insulin-CD22L conjugate on a 4-arm PEG backbone, and 1:1 insulin-CD22L direct conjugate. Transgenic mice (125TgSD) expressing anti-insulin BCRs provided cells for in vitro testing. Cells were cultured with constructs for 3 days, then assessed by flow cytometry. Duplicate wells with anti-CD40 simulated T cell help. A 2-insulin 4-arm PEG control caused robust proliferation and activation-induced CD86 upregulation. Anti-CD40 further boosted these effects. This may indicate that BCR-cross-linking occurs when antigens are tethered by the PEG backbone as soluble insulin alone has no effect. Addition of CD22L via the 2:2 insulin-CD22L conjugate restored B cell properties to that of controls without an additional beneficial effect. In contrast, the 1:1 insulin-CD22L direct conjugate significantly reduced anti-insulin B cell proliferation in the presence of anti-CD40. CD22L alone had no effect, and the constructs did not affect the WT B cells. Thus, multivalent antigen constructs tend to activate anti-insulin B cells, while monomeric antigen-CD22L conjugates reduce B cell activation in response to simulated T cell help and reduce pathogenic B cell numbers without harming normal cells. Therefore, monomeric antigen-CD22L conjugates warrant futher study and may be promising candidates for preclinical trials to prevent T1D without inducing immunodeficiency.

Multivalent Scaffolds to Promote B cell Tolerance.

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by aberrant immune responses toward self-antigens. Current treatments lack specificity, promoting adverse effects by broadly suppressing the immune system. Therapies that specifically target the immune cells responsible for disease are a compelling strategy to mitigate adverse effects. Multivalent formats that display numerous binding epitopes off a single scaffold may enable selective immunomodulation by eliciting signals through pathways unique to the targeted immune cells. However, the architecture of multivalent immunotherapies can vary widely, and there is limited clinical data with which to evaluate their efficacy. Here, we set forth to review the architectural properties and functional mechanisms afforded by multivalent ligands and evaluate four multivalent scaffolds that address autoimmunity by altering B cell signaling pathways. First, we address both synthetic and natural polymer backbones functionalized with a variety of small molecule, peptide, and protein ligands for probing the effects of valency and costimulation. Then, we review nanoparticles composed entirely from immune signals which have been shown to be efficacious. Lastly, we outline multivalent liposomal nanoparticles capable of displaying high numbers of protein antigens. Taken together, these examples highlight the versatility and desirability of multivalent ligands for immunomodulation and illuminate strengths and weaknesses of multivalent scaffolds for treating autoimmunity.

Design of a Tumor Binding GMCSF as Intratumoral Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors.

Next-generation cancer immunotherapies may utilize immunostimulants to selectively activate the host immune system against tumor cells. Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) like anti-PD1/PDL-1 that inhibit immunosuppression have shown unprecedented success but are only effective in the 20-30% of patients that possess an already "hot" (immunogenic) tumor. In this regard, intratumoral (IT) injection of immunostimulants is a promising approach since they can work synergistically with CPIs to overcome the resistance to immunotherapies by inducing immune stimulation in the tumor. One such immunostimulant is granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) that functions by recruiting and activating antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells) in the tumor, thereby initiating anti-tumor immune responses. However, key problems with GMCSF are lack of efficacy and the risk of systemic toxicity caused by the leakage of GMCSF from the tumor tissue. We have designed tumor-retentive versions of GMCSF that are safe yet potent immunostimulants for the local treatment of solid tumors. The engineered GMCSFs (eGMCSF) were synthesized by recombinantly fusing tumor-ECM (extracellular matrix) binding peptides to GMCSF. The eGMCSFs exhibited enhanced tumor binding and potent immunological activity in vitro and in vivo. Upon IT administration, the tumor-retentive eGMCSFs persisted in the tumor, thereby alleviating systemic toxicity, and elicited localized immune activation to effectively turn an unresponsive immunologically "cold" tumor "hot".

Novel 3D Force Sensors for a Cost-Effective 3D Force Plate for Biomechanical Analysis.

Three-dimensional force plates are important tools for biomechanics discovery and sports performance practice. However, currently, available 3D force plates lack portability and are often cost-prohibitive. To address this, a recently discovered 3D force sensor technology was used in the fabrication of a prototype force plate. Thirteen participants performed bodyweight and weighted lunges and squats on the prototype force plate and a standard 3D force plate positioned in series to compare forces measured by both force plates and validate the technology. For the lunges, there was excellent agreement between the experimental force plate and the standard force plate in the X-, Y-, and Z-axes (r = 0.950-0.999, p < 0.001). For the squats, there was excellent agreement between the force plates in the Z-axis (r = 0.996, p < 0.001). Across axes and movements, root mean square error (RMSE) ranged from 1.17% to 5.36% between force plates. Although the current prototype force plate is limited in sampling rate, the low RMSEs and extremely high agreement in peak forces provide confidence the novel force sensors have utility in constructing cost-effective and versatile use-case 3D force plates.

Glatiramer Acetate Complexed with CpG as Intratumoral Immunotherapy in Combination with Anti-PD-1.

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides are toll-like receptor 9 agonists capable of inducing potent pro-inflammatory immune responses. Although CpG oligodeoxynucleotides have shown promising antitumor effects, their systemic activity can trigger immune-related toxicity, limiting therapeutic application. We previously identified glatiramer acetate (GA), a cationic polypeptide approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, as an intratumoral delivery agent capable of complexing with CpG, thereby pinning it to the injection site and limiting systemic exposure. Here, we investigated whether the combination of CpG or GA-CpG polyplexes and intraperitoneal anti-PD-1 therapy would result in synergistic efficacy in AT84 and CT26 murine syngeneic models of head and neck and colon cancers, respectively. In both AT84 and CT26 tumor models, intratumoral CpG or GA-CpG treatment similarly suppressed tumor growth, but the efficacy was not amplified with anti-PD-1. Nevertheless, combination treatment increased cytotoxic T cell, helper T cell, and natural killer cell infiltration into AT84 tumors. Surprisingly, the combination of intratumoral GA and intraperitoneal anti-PD-1 treatment resulted in elevated systemic GM-CSF and IL-2 cytokine levels and demonstrated synergistic antitumor effects in the CT26 mouse tumor model. Moreover, tumors that responded most significantly to anti-PD-1 plus GA treatment showed increased markers of infiltration of CD4+ T cells and natural killer cells. Combinations of intratumoral GA or GA-CpG polyplexes with anti-PD-1 treatment warrant further investigation as combination cancer immunotherapy strategies.

Co-Treatments of Edible Curcumin from Turmeric Rhizomes and Chemotherapeutic Drugs on Cytotoxicity and FLT3 Protein Expression in Leukemic Stem Cells.

This study aims to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity of the combination treatment of a drug and curcumin (Cur) on leukemic stem cell and leukemic cell lines, including KG-1a and KG-1 (FLT3+ LSCs), EoL-1 (FLT3+ LCs), and U937 (FLT3- LCs). The cytotoxicity of co-treatments of doxorubicin (Dox) or idarubicin (Ida) at concentrations of the IC10-IC80 values and each concentration of Cur at the IC20, IC30, IC40, and IC50 values (conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4) was determined by MTT assays. Dox-Cur increased cytotoxicity in leukemic cells. Dox-Cur co-treatment showed additive and synergistic effects in several conditions. The effect of this co-treatment on FLT3 expression in KG-1a, KG-1, and EoL-1 cells was examined by Western blotting. Dox-Cur decreased FLT3 protein levels and total cell numbers in all the cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, this study exhibits a novel report of Dox-Cur co-treatment in both enhancing cytotoxicity of Dox and inhibiting cell proliferation via FLT3 protein expression in leukemia stem cells and leukemic cells. This is the option of leukemia treatment with reducing side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs to leukemia patients.

Autoantigen Tetramer Silences Autoreactive B Cell Populations.

Many autoimmune therapies focus on immune suppression to reduce symptom severity and halt disease progression; however, currently approved treatments lack specificity for the autoantigen and rely on more global immune suppression. Multivalent antigen arrays can disarm pathogenic autoimmune B cell populations that specifically recognize the antigen of interest via their B cell receptor (BCR). Disarmament may be achieved by BCR engagement, cross-linking, and sustained receptor occupancy as a result of multivalent, high avidity BCR binding. To engage and explore this mechanism, a tetramer display of the encephalogenic proteolipid peptide (PLP139-151), referred to as 4-arm PLP139-151, was synthesized by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition chemistry. Subcutaneous administration of 4-arm PLP139-151 completely ameliorated symptoms of paralysis in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Competitive binding of 4-arm PLP139-151 to PLP139-151-specific IgG in the mouse serum demonstrated the enhanced avidity associated with the multivalent array compared to the free peptide. Furthermore, key PLP139-151-reactive B cells were depleted following 4-arm PLP139-151 treatment, resulting in significant reduction of proinflammatory cytokines. Together, these data demonstrate the potential of 4-arm PLP139-151 to silence autoreactive B cell populations and limit the downstream activation of effector cells.

Intratumoral Cancer Chemotherapy with a Carrier-Based Immunogenic Cell-Death Eliciting Platinum (IV) Agent.

A carrier-based, immunogenic cell death (ICD)-eliciting platinum(IV) chemotherapeutic agent was synthesized via complexation between an axially derivatized Pt(IV)-tocopherol and hyaluronan (HA)-tocopherol nanocarrier. The resultant HA-Pt(IV) complex demonstrated antiproliferative activity and induced calreticulin translocation, an indicator of ICD, in murine and human head and neck cancer (HNC) cells. The intratumorally administered HA-Pt(IV) treatments were tolerable and efficacious in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice with HNC, partially because of the direct cytotoxicity. Superior efficacy and survival were observed in the immunocompetent group, suggesting a possible Pt(IV)-induced immunological response, which would only manifest in animals with an intact immune system. Subsequent imaging of tumor tissues demonstrated increased macrophage infiltration in the HA-Pt(IV)-treated tumors compared to the nontreated controls and the cisplatin-treated tumors, suggesting favorable inflammatory activation. RNA sequencing of HA-Pt(IV)-treated tumors indicated that carbohydrate and vitamin metabolisms were the most important Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, and molecular function, biological process, and cellular component were highly enriched gene ontology categories.

Manifestations of Apprehension and Anxiety in a Sprague Dawley Cranial Defect Model.

BACKGROUND: Syndrome of the trephined is a neurologic condition that commonly arises in patients who undergo craniectomy and have a prolonged cranial defect. Symptoms of this condition include headache, difficulties concentrating, diminished fine motor/dexterity skills, mood changes, and anxiety/apprehension. The authors hypothesize that an animal model demonstrating anxiety/apprehension in rats who undergo craniectomy is feasible utilizing standardized animal behavioral testing. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were the stratified to 1 of 2 groups for comparison of neurobehavioral outcomes. Group #1 (closed cranial group) had their cranial trephination immediately closed with acrylic to restore normal cranial anatomy and Group #2 (open cranial group) had their cranial trephination enlarged to represent a decompressive hemicraniectomy immediately. Anxiety/apprehension was studied using a standardized rodent open field test. Statistical comparison of differences among the 2 groups was performed. RESULTS: Ten rats were studied with 5 rats in each group. Standard rodent open field testing of anxiety demonstrated no difference among the 2 groups at 1 week. Rats in the "Open cranial group" demonstrated progressively more anxiety over the following 3-month period. Rats in the "Open cranial group" demonstrated increasing anxiety levels as compared with rats in the "Closed cranial group." At week 16, the "Open cranial group" anxiety levels were significantly greater than week 4 (t = 2.24, P = 0.04) demonstrating a significant linear trend over time (R = 0.99; P = 0.002). The "Closed cranial group" did not show this trend (R = 07; P = 0.74). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that anxiety and apprehension are more prevalent in rats with an open, prolonged cranial defect in comparison to those with a closed cranium. This correlates with similar finds in humans with syndrome of the trephined.

Flow Behavior Prior to Crosslinking: The Need for Precursor Rheology for Placement of Hydrogels in Medical Applications and for 3D Bioprinting.

Hydrogels - water swollen cross-linked networks - have demonstrated considerable promise in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. However, ambiguity over which rheological properties are needed to characterize these gels before crosslinking still exists. Most hydrogel research focuses on the performance of the hydrogel construct after implantation, but for clinical practice, and for related applications such as bioinks for 3D bioprinting, the behavior of the pre-gelled state is also critical. Therefore, the goal of this review is to emphasize the need for better rheological characterization of hydrogel precursor formulations, and standardized testing for surgical placement or 3D bioprinting. In particular, we consider engineering paste or putty precursor solutions (i.e., suspensions with a yield stress), and distinguish between these differences to ease the path to clinical translation. The connection between rheology and surgical application as well as how the use of paste and putty nomenclature can help to qualitatively identify material properties are explained. Quantitative rheological properties for defining materials as either pastes or putties are proposed to enable easier adoption to current methods. Specifically, the three-parameter Herschel-Bulkley model is proposed as a suitable model to correlate experimental data and provide a basis for meaningful comparison between different materials. This model combines a yield stress, the critical parameter distinguishing solutions from pastes (100-2000 Pa) and from putties (>2000 Pa), with power law fluid behavior once the yield stress is exceeded. Overall, successful implementation of paste or putty handling properties to the hydrogel precursor may minimize the surgeon-technology learning time and ultimately ease incorporation into current practice. Furthermore, improved understanding and reporting of rheological properties will lead to better theoretical explanations of how materials affect rheological performances, to better predict and design the next generation of biomaterials.

Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone) is a Promising Gene Delivery Vector.

Glatiramer acetate (GA) is the active substance of Teva's Copaxone drug, which contains random polypeptides used to treat multiple sclerosis. Glatiramer acetate was originally developed to emulate human myelin basic protein, which contains four different residues [alanine (A), glutamic acid (E), tyrosine (T), and lysine (K)]. We found that GA can complex, condense, and transfect plasmid DNA. Mixing the positively charged GA and the negatively charged genetic material in correct proportions produced small, stable, and highly positively charged nanoparticles. This simple GA-pDNA formulation produced high levels of transfection efficiency with low toxicity in HeLa and A549 cells (lung and cervical cancer cells). Additionally, we studied and compared the nanoparticle properties, gene expression, and cytotoxicity of K100-pDNA (high-molecular-weight polylysine) and K9-pDNA (low-molecular-weight polylysine) nanoparticles to those of GA-pDNA nanoparticles. We also studied the effect of calcium, which was previously reported to reduce the size and enhance gene expression resulting from similar polyelectrolyte complexes. Adding calcium did not reduce particle size, nor improve the transfection efficiency of GA-pDNA nanoparticles as it did for polylysine-pDNA nanoparticles. GA-pDNA nanoparticles may be prepared by mixing a genetic payload with approved GA therapeutics (e.g., Copaxone), thus offering intriguing possibilities for translational gene therapy studies.

Soluble Antigen Arrays for Selective Desensitization of Insulin-Reactive B Cells.

Autoimmune diseases are believed to be highly dependent on loss of immune tolerance to self-antigens. Currently, no treatments have been successful clinically in inducing autoantigen-specific tolerance, including efforts to utilize antigen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) to selectively correct the aberrant autoimmunity. Soluble antigen arrays (SAgAs) represent a novel autoantigen delivery system composed of a linear polymer, hyaluronic acid (HA), displaying multiple copies of conjugated autoantigen. We have previously reported that soluble antigen arrays displaying proteolipid peptide (SAgAPLP) induced tolerance to this specific multiple sclerosis (MS) autoantigen. Utilizing SAgA technology, we have developed a new ASIT as a possible type 1 diabetes (T1D) therapeutic by conjugating human insulin to HA, known as soluble antigen array insulin (SAgAIns). Three types were synthesized, low valency lvSAgAIns (2 insulins per HA), medium valency mvSAgAIns (4 insulins per HA), and, high valency hvSAgAIns (9 insulins per HA), to determine if valency differentially modulates the ex vivo activity of insulin-binding B cells (IBCs). Extensive biophysical characterization was performed for the SAgA molecules. SAgAIns molecules were successfully used to affect the biologic activity of IBCs by inducing desensitization of the B cell antigen receptors (BCR). SAgAIns bound specifically to insulin-reactive B cells without blocking epitopes recognized by antibodies against the Fc regions of membrane immunoglobulin or CD79 transducer components of the BCR. Preincubation of IBCs (125Tg) with SAgAIns, but not HA alone, rendered the IBCs refractory to restimulation. SAgAIns induced a decrease in BCR expression and IP3R-mediated intracellular calcium release. Surprisingly, SAgAIns binding to BCR on the surface of IBCs induced the observed effects at both high and low SAgAIns valency. Future studies aim to test the effects of SAgAIns on disease progression in the VH125.NOD mouse model of T1D.

Antigen-Drug Conjugates as a Novel Therapeutic Class for the Treatment of Antigen-Specific Autoimmune Disorders.

Multiple sclerosis represents the world's most common cause of neurological disability in young people and is attributed to a loss of immune tolerance toward proteins of the myelin sheath. Typical treatment options for MS patients involve immunomodulatory drugs, which act nonspecifically, resulting in global immunosuppression. The study discussed herein aims to demonstrate the efficacy of antigen-specific immunotherapies involving the conjugation of disease causing autoantigen, PLP139-151, and a potent immunosuppressant, dexamethasone. Antigen-drug conjugates (AgDCs) were formed using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition chemistry with the inclusion of a hydrolyzable linker to maintain the activity of released dexamethasone. Subcutaneous administration of this antigen-drug conjugates to SJL mice induced with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, protected the mice from a symptom onset throughout the 25 day study, demonstrating enhanced efficacy in comparison to dexamethasone treatment. These results highlight the benefits of co-delivery of autoantigens with immunosuppressant drugs as AgDCs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Tocopherol Emulsions as Functional Autoantigen Delivery Vehicles Evoke Therapeutic Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

Contemporary approaches to treating autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis broadly modulate the immune system and leave patients susceptible to severe adverse effects. Antigen-specific immunotherapies (ASIT) offer a unique opportunity to selectively suppress autoreactive cell populations but have suffered from marginal efficacy even when employing traditional adjuvants to improve delivery. The development of immunologically active antigen delivery vehicles could potentially increase the clinical success of antigen-specific immunotherapies. An emulsion of the antioxidant tocopherol delivering an epitope of proteolipid protein autoantigen (PLP139-151) yielded significant efficacy in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In vitro studies indicated tocopherol emulsions reduced oxidative stress in antigen-presenting cells. Ex vivo analysis revealed that tocopherol emulsions shifted cytokine responses in EAE splenocytes. In addition, IgG responses against PLP139-151 were increased in mice treated with tocopherol emulsions delivering the antigen, suggesting a possible skew in immunity. Overall, tocopherol emulsions provide a functional delivery vehicle for ASIT capable of ameliorating autoimmunity in a murine model.

Acute B-Cell Inhibition by Soluble Antigen Arrays Is Valency-Dependent and Predicts Immunomodulation in Splenocytes.

Antigen valency plays a fundamental role in directing the nature of an immune response to be stimulatory or tolerogenic. Soluble antigen arrays (SAgAs) are an antigen-specific immunotherapy that combats autoimmunity through the multivalent display of autoantigen. Although mechanistic studies have shown SAgAs to induce T- and B-cell anergy, the effect of SAgA valency has never been experimentally tested. Here, SAgAs of discrete antigen valencies were synthesized by click chemistry and evaluated for acute B-cell signaling inhibition as well as downstream immunomodulatory effects in splenocytes. Initial studies using the Raji B-cell line demonstrated SAgA valency dictated the extent of calcium flux. Lower valency constructs elicited the largest reductions in B-cell activation. In splenocytes from mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the same valency-dependent effects were evident in the downregulation of the costimulatory marker CD86. The reduction of calcium flux observed in Raji B-cells correlated strongly with downregulation in splenocyte CD86 expression after 72 h. Here, a thorough analysis of SAgA antigenic valency illustrates that low, but not monovalent, presentation of autoantigen was ideal for eliciting the most potent immunomodulatory effects.

FLT3-specific curcumin micelles enhance activity of curcumin on FLT3-ITD overexpressing MV4-11 leukemic cells.

Curcumin, a major active compound in the turmeric rhizome, has many biological properties, especially anti-leukemia activity. The overexpression of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 protein with internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) mutation protein was related to the poor prognosis and disease progression of leukemia. In this study, the cytotoxicity and inhibitory effect of curcumin on cell cycle of FLT3-ITD overexpressing MV4-11 leukemic cells were evaluated. Moreover, curcumin polymeric micelles conjugated with FLT3-specific peptide (FLT3-Cur-micelles) were prepared using a film hydration method to increase curcumin solubility and the inhibitory effect on MV4-11 cells was evaluated. Cytotoxicity and cell cycle analysis were performed using an MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Physical properties of FLT3-Cur-micelles, including particle size, size distribution, morphology, and entrapment efficiency (EE), were evaluated. Cellular uptake of the micelles on MV4-11 cells was determined by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. FLT3-Cur-micelles were observed with size less than 50 nm and high EE of >75%. In addition, FLT3-Cur-micelles demonstrated excellent internalization and increased curcumin accumulation in leukemic cells when compared to free curcumin. Furthermore, FLT3-Cur-micelles exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect on MV4-11 cells with IC50 value of 1.1 µM, whereas the blank micelles showed no effect. Furthermore, FLT3-Cur-micelles showed no significant effect on normal human PBMCs with IC50 value >25 µM. In summary, FLT3-Cur-micelles are a promising nanocarrier system for enhancing anti-leukemic activity of curcumin and suitable for further preclinical studies.

Microsphere-Based Scaffolds in Regenerative Engineering.

Microspheres have long been used in drug delivery applications because of their controlled release capabilities. They have increasingly served as the fundamental building block for fabricating scaffolds for regenerative engineering because of their ability to provide a porous network, offer high-resolution control over spatial organization, and deliver growth factors/drugs and/or nanophase materials. Because they provide physicochemical gradients via spatiotemporal release of bioactive factors and nanophase ceramics, microspheres are a desirable tool for engineering complex tissues and biological interfaces. In this review we describe various methods for microsphere fabrication and sintering, and elucidate how these methods influence both micro- and macroscopic scaffold properties, with a special focus on the nature of sintering. Furthermore, we review key applications of microsphere-based scaffolds in regenerating various tissues. We hope to inspire researchers to join a growing community of investigators using microspheres as tissue engineering scaffolds so that their full potential in regenerative engineering may be realized.

Soluble antigen arrays disarm antigen-specific B cells to promote lasting immune tolerance in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Autoreactive lymphocytes that escape central immune tolerance may be silenced via an endogenous peripheral tolerance mechanism known as anergy. Antigen-specific therapies capable of inducing anergy may restore patients with autoimmune diseases to a healthy phenotype while avoiding deleterious side effects associated with global immunosuppression. Inducing anergy in B cells may be a particularly potent intervention, as B cells can contribute to autoimmune diseases through multiple mechanisms and offer the potential for direct antigen-specific targeting through the B cell receptor (BCR). Our previous results suggested autoreactive B cells may be silenced by multivalent 'soluble antigen arrays' (SAgAs), which are polymer conjugates displaying multiple copies of autoantigen with or without a secondary peptide that blocks intracellular cell-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Here, key therapeutic molecular properties of SAgAs were identified and linked to the immunological mechanism through comprehensive cellular and in vivo analyses. We determined non-hydrolyzable 'cSAgAs' displaying multivalent 'click'-conjugated antigen more potently suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) compared to hydrolyzable SAgAs capable of releasing conjugated antigen. cSAgAs restored a healthy phenotype in disease-specific antigen presenting cells (APCs) by inducing an anergic response in B cells and a subset of B cells called autoimmune-associated B cells (ABCs) that act as potent APCs in autoimmune disease. Accompanied by a cytokine response skewed towards a Th2/regulatory phenotype, this generated an environment of autoantigenic tolerance. By identifying key therapeutic molecular properties and an immunological mechanism that drives SAgA efficacy, this work guides the design of antigen-specific immunotherapies capable of inducing anergy.

Practical Considerations, Challenges, and Limitations of Bioconjugation via Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition.

Interrogating biological systems is often limited by access to biological probes. The emergence of "click chemistry" has revolutionized bioconjugate chemistry by providing facile reaction conditions amenable to both biologic molecules and small molecule probes such as fluorophores, toxins, or therapeutics. One particularly popular version is the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (AAC) reaction, which has spawned new alternatives such as the strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, among others. This focused review highlights practical approaches to AAC reactions for the synthesis of peptide or protein bioconjugates and contrasts current challenges and limitations in light of recent advances in the field. The conical success of antibody drug conjugates has expanded the toolbox of linkers and payloads to facilitate practical applications of bioconjugation to create novel therapeutics and biologic probes. The AAC reaction in particular is poised to enable a large set of functionalized molecules as a combinatorial approach to high-throughput bioconjugate generation, screening, and honing of lead compounds.