Engineering CAR-T cells for radiohapten capture in imaging and radioimmunotherapy applications.

The dynamics of CAR-T cells remain incompletely understood. Novel methods are urgently needed to longitudinally monitor transferred cells non-invasively for biodistribution, functionality, proliferation, and persistence and for improving their cytotoxic potency in case of treatment failure. Here we engineered CD19 CAR-T cells ("Thor"-cells) to express a membrane-bound scFv, huC825, that binds DOTA-haptens with picomolar affinity suitable for labeling with imaging or therapeutic radionuclides.

Analyzing Criteria Affecting the Functionality of G-Quadruplex-Based DNA Aptazymes as Colorimetric Biosensors and Development of Quinine-Binding Aptazymes.

A DNA aptazyme consists of an aptamer domain and a DNAzyme module, in which the DNAzyme activity can be regulated by the aptamer-target interaction. The complex of G-quadruplex (GQ) and hemin is a peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme and has become increasingly popular as a reporter system for biosensing applications. The development of GQ-based aptazymes is of high interest as they can be used as label-free biosensors for the real-time detection of pathogens.