Microfluidic platform for real-time signaling analysis of multiple single T cells in parallel

Deciphering the signaling pathways that govern stimulation of na?ve CD4+ T helper cells by antigen-presenting cells via formation of the immunological synapse is key to a fundamental understanding of the progression of successful adaptive immune response. The study of T cell-APC interactions in vitro is challenging, however, due to the difficulty of tracking individual, non-adherent cell pairs over time. Studying single cell dynamics over time reveals rare, but critical, signaling events that might be averaged out in bulk experiments, but these less common events are undoubtedly important for an integrated understanding of a cellular response to its microenvironment. We describe a novel application of microfluidic technology that overcomes many limitations of conventional cell culture and enables the study of hundreds of passively sequestered hematopoietic cells for extended periods of time. This microfluidic cell trap device consists of 440 18 micromx18 micromx10 microm PDMS, bucket-like structures opposing the direction of flow which serve as corrals for cells as they pass through the cell trap region. Cell viability analysis revealed that more than 70% of na?ve CD4+ T cells (TN), held in place using only hydrodynamic forces, subsequently remain viable for 24 hours. Cytosolic calcium transients were successfully induced in TN cells following introduction of chemical, antibody, or cellular forms of stimulation. Statistical analysis of TN cells from a single stimulation experiment reveals the power of this platform to distinguish different calcium response patterns, an ability that might be utilized to characterize T cell signaling states in a given population. Finally, we investigate in real time contact- and non-contact-based interactions between primary T cells and dendritic cells, two main participants in the formation of the immunological synapse. Utilizing the microfluidic traps in a daisy-chain configuration allowed us to observe calcium transients in TN cells exposed only to media conditioned by secretions of lipopolysaccharide-matured dendritic cells, an event which is easily missed in conventional cell culture where large media-to-cell ratios dilute cellular products. Further investigation into this intercellular signaling event indicated that LPS-matured dendritic cells, in the absence of antigenic stimulation, secrete chemical signals that induce calcium transients in T(N) cells. While the stimulating factor(s) produced by the mature dendritic cells remains to be identified, this report illustrates the utility of these microfluidic cell traps for analyzing arrays of individual suspension cells over time and probing both contact-based and intercellular signaling events between one or more cell populations.     

Expedient multi-step synthesis of organometallic complexes of Tc and Re in high effective specific activity. A new platform for the production of molecular imaging and therapy agents

For over thirty years, instant labeling kits which involve no purification steps have been the only method used to prepare (99m)Tc radiopharmaceuticals for clinical studies. To address the limitations imposed by instant kits, which is hindering the development of molecularly targeted Tc- and Re-based imaging and therapy agents, a new strategy for the rapid multistep synthesis and purification of organometallic technetium-based molecular probes and corresponding rhenium-based therapeutic analogues was developed. Beginning with MO4(-) (M = (99m)Tc, (186/188)Re), the carbonyl precursor [M(CO)3(H2O)3](+) was synthesized in 3 min in quantitative yield in a microwave reactor. A dipicolyl ligand was added and the chelate complex was formed in high yield in 2 min using microwave heating at 150 degrees C. This was followed by a new purification strategy to remove unlabeled ligand which entailed using a copper resin/C18 solid phase extraction protocol giving the desired product in greater than 78% decay corrected yield (dcy). Conversion to the corresponding succinimidyl active ester was achieved following a 5 min microwave irradiation at 120 degrees C and C18 solid phase extraction purification in 60% dcy. A series of amides were prepared subsequently by microwave heating at 120 degrees C for 5 min producing the desired targets in greater than 86% dcy. The reported method represents a move away from traditional instant kits toward more versatile platform synthesis and purification technologies that are better suited for producing modern molecular imaging and therapy agents.     

Direct insight into grain boundary reconstruction in polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)SE2 with atomic resolution

This work presents results from high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy on twin boundaries (TBs) and nontwin grain boundaries (GBs) in Cu(In,Ga)Se(2) thin films. It is shown that the atomic reconstruction is different for different symmetries of the grain boundaries. We are able to confirm the model proposed by Persson and Zunger [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 266401 (2003)] for Se-Se-terminated Σ3 {112} TBs, showing Cu depletion and In enrichment in the two atomic planes closest to the TB. On the contrary, Cu depletion without In enrichment is detected for a cation-Se-terminated TB. At nontwin GBs, always a strong anticorrelation of Cu and In signals is detected suggesting that the formation of In(Cu) or Cu(In) antisites within a very confined region of smaller than 1 nm is an essential element in the reconstruction of these GBs.     

Tri-partite complex for axonal transport drug delivery achieves pharmacological effect

Background

Targeted delivery of pharmaceutical agents into selected populations of CNS (Central Nervous System) neurons is an extremely compelling goal. Currently, systemic methods are generally used for delivery of pain medications, anti-virals for treatment of dermatomal infections, anti-spasmodics, and neuroprotectants. Systemic side effects or undesirable effects on parts of the CNS that are not involved in the pathology limit efficacy and limit clinical utility for many classes of pharmaceuticals. Axonal transport from the periphery offers a possible selective route, but there has been little progress towards design of agents that can accomplish targeted delivery via this intraneural route. To achieve this goal, we developed a tripartite molecular construction concept involving an axonal transport facilitator molecule, a polymer linker, and a large number of drug molecules conjugated to the linker, then sought to evaluate its neurobiology and pharmacological behavior.

Results

We developed chemical synthesis methodologies for assembling these tripartite complexes using a variety of axonal transport facilitators including nerve growth factor, wheat germ agglutinin, and synthetic facilitators derived from phage display work. Loading of up to 100 drug molecules per complex was achieved. Conjugation methods were used that allowed the drugs to be released in active form inside the cell body after transport. Intramuscular and intradermal injection proved effective for introducing pharmacologically effective doses into selected populations of CNS neurons. Pharmacological efficacy with gabapentin in a paw withdrawal latency model revealed a ten fold increase in half life and a 300 fold decrease in necessary dose relative to systemic administration for gabapentin when the drug was delivered by axonal transport using the tripartite vehicle.

Conclusion

Specific targeting of selected subpopulations of CNS neurons for drug delivery by axonal transport holds great promise. The data shown here provide a basic framework for the intraneural pharmacology of this tripartite complex. The pharmacologically efficacious drug delivery demonstrated here verify the fundamental feasibility of using axonal transport for targeted drug delivery.     

A lownoise 665 GHz SIS quasi-particle waveguide receiver

We report recent results on a 565–690 GHz SIS heterodyne receiver employing a 0.36µm² Nb/AlO _x /Nb SIS tunnel junction with high quality circular non-contacting backshort and E-plane tuners in a full height waveguide mount. No resonant tuning structures have been incorporated in the junction design at this time, even though such structures are expected to help the performance of the receiver. The receiver operates to at least the gap frequency of Niobium, 680 GHz. Typical receiver noise temperatures from 565–690 GHz range from 160K to 230K with a best value of 185K DSB at 648 GHz. With the mixer cooled from 4.3K to 2K the measured receiver noise temperatures decreased by approximately 15%, giving roughly 180K DSB from 660 to 680 GHz. The receiver has a full 1 GHz IF passband and has been successfully installed at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory in Hawaii.     

Solvent–metal interactions in bis[1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaboran(12)‐1‐yl]mercury(II) dichloromethane solvate and bis[1,12‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaboran(12)‐1‐yl]mercury(II) tetrahydrofuran solvate

The title compounds, bis­[1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaboran(12)‐1‐yl]­mercury(II) di­chloro­methane solvate, [Hg(C₂B₁₀H₁₁)₂]·CH₂Cl₂, (I), and bis­[1,12‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaboran(12)‐1‐yl]­mercury(II) tetra­hydro­furan solvate, [Hg(C₂B₁₀H₁₁)₂]·C₄H₈O, (II), were prepared in excellent yields using a robust synthetic procedure involving the reaction of HgCl₂ with the appropriate monoli­thiocarborane. X‐Ray analysis of the products revealed strong interactions between the Hg atoms in both complexes and the respective lattice solvent. The distances between the Hg^II centers and the Cl atoms of the dichloromethane solvent molecule in the ortho‐carborane derivative, (I), and the O atom of the tetra­hydro­furan molecule in the para‐carborane complex, (II), are shorter than the sums of the van der Waals radii for Hg and Cl (3.53 Å), and Hg and O (3.13 Å), respectively, indicating moderately strong interactions. There are two crystallographically independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit of both compounds, which, in each case, are related by differing relative positions of the cages.