Quality evaluation of cell spheroids for transplantation by monitoring oxygen consumption using an on-chip electrochemical device.

Three-dimensional cell spheroids are superior cell-administration form for cell-based therapy which generally exhibit superior functionality and long-term survival after transplantation. Here, we nondestructively measured the oxygen consumption rate of cell spheroids using an on-chip electrochemical device (OECD) and examined whether this rate can be used as a marker to estimate the quality of cell spheroids. Cell spheroids containing NanoLuc luciferase-expressing mouse mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2 (C3H10T1/2/Nluc) were prepared.

Chemoproteomic Profiling of a Pharmacophore-Focused Chemical Library.

Pharmacophore-focused chemical libraries are continuously being created in drug discovery programs, yet screening assays to maximize the usage of such libraries are not fully explored. Here, we report a chemical proteomics approach to reutilizing a focused chemical library of 1,800 indole-containing molecules for discovering uncharacterized ligand-protein pairs. Gel-based protein profiling of the library using a photo-affinity indole probe 1 enabled us to find new ligands for glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), an enzyme involved in the detoxification of methylglyoxal.

Combined encapsulation of a tumor antigen and immune cells using a self-assembling immunostimulatory DNA hydrogel to enhance antigen-specific tumor immunity.

Our previous study demonstrated that the incorporation of a tumor antigen into a self-assembling DNA hydrogel, comprised of a DNA containing un-methylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides (CpG DNA), efficiently induced antigen-specific tumor immunity after intra-tumoral injection into tumor-bearing mice. We hypothesized that the additional incorporation of immune cells, the target for the antigen and immunostimulatory CpG DNA, would increase the antitumor response. To prove this, immune cells were also encapsulated into the CpG DNA hydrogel and delivered along with the antigen.

Long-term drug modification to the surface of mesenchymal stem cells by the avidin-biotin complex method.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have various functions, making a significant contribution to tissue repair. On the other hand, the viability and function of MSCs are not lasting after an in vivo transplant, and the therapeutic effects of MSCs are limited. Although various chemical modification methods have been applied to MSCs to improve their viability and function, most of conventional drug modification methods are short-term and unstable and cause cytotoxicity.