Cancer immune therapy using engineered ‛tail-flipping' nanoliposomes targeting alternatively activated macrophages.

Alternatively-activated, M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) strongly contribute to tumor growth, invasiveness and metastasis. Technologies to disable the pro-tumorigenic function of these TAMs are of high interest to immunotherapy research. Here we show that by designing engineered nanoliposomes bio-mimicking peroxidated phospholipids that are recognised and internalised by scavenger receptors, TAMs can be targeted.

Differential uptake of nanoparticles by human M1 and M2 polarized macrophages: protein corona as a critical determinant.

Aim: To investigate the interaction behavior of M1- and M2-type macrophages with nanoparticles of different sizes with/without the presence of serum.

Materials & Methods: THP-1 human monocytes were differentiated into M1 and M2 macrophages, and the uptake of silica nanoparticle (50-1000 nm) was studied using flow cytometry and different microscopies.

Results: Without serum, higher uptake of all-sized nanoparticles was observed by M1 compared with M2.

Microporous calcium phosphate ceramics driving osteogenesis through surface architecture.

The presence of micropores in calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics has shown its important role in initiating inductive bone formation in ectopic sites. To investigate how microporous CaP ceramics trigger osteoinduction, we optimized two biphasic CaP ceramics (i.e.

Microwell scaffolds for the extrahepatic transplantation of islets of Langerhans.

Allogeneic islet transplantation into the liver has the potential to restore normoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes. However, the suboptimal microenvironment for islets in the liver is likely to be involved in the progressive islet dysfunction that is often observed post-transplantation. This study validates a novel microwell scaffold platform to be used for the extrahepatic transplantation of islet of Langerhans.