Vesicular Membrane with Structured Interstitial Water.

Self-assembled vesicles with structured (tetrahedral order with strong hydrogen bonds) interstitial water are reported. The vesicles, known as MCsome, are assembled from metal carbonyl compounds, FpR (Fp = (Cp)Fe(PPh3)(CO)(CO-), Cp = cyclopentadiene, R = C3Bithiophene, C6Pyrene or C6) with the Fp heads exposed to water. The R groups are surrounded by the interstitial water with the hydrogen bonding strength variable depending on the hydrophobicity of R groups. The structure of the interstitial water is responsible for the integrity of the membrane and swelling behavior of the vesicles. This constructional role of water opens new concepts for the creation of aqueous assemblies with water-mediated functions.

Immunomodulatory effects of dsRNA and its potential as vaccine adjuvant.

dsRNA can be detected by pattern recognition receptors, for example, TLR3, MDA-5, NLRP3 to induce proinflammatory cytokines responsible for innate/adaptive immunity. Recognized by endosomal TLR3 in myeloid DCs (mDCs), dsRNA can activate mDCs into mature antigen presenting cells (mAPCs) which in turn present antigen epitopes with MHC-I molecules to naïve T cells. Coadministration of protein and synthetic dsRNA analogues can elicit an antigen-specific Th1-polarized immune response which stimulates the CD8+ CTL response and possibly dampen Th17 response. Synthetic dsRNA analogues have been tested as vaccine adjuvant against viral infections in animal models. However, a dsRNA receptor, TLR3 can be expressed in tumor cells while other members of TLR family, for example, TLR4 and TLR2 have been shown to promote tumor progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Thus, the promising potential of dsRNA analogues as a tumor therapeutic vaccine adjuvant should be evaluated cautiously.