Generation of allo-restricted peptide-specific T cells using RNA-pulsed dendritic cells: A three phase experimental procedure.

Designer T cells expressing transgenic T cell receptors (TCR) with anti-tumor specificity offer new treatment options for cancer patients. We developed a three phase procedure to identify T cells of high avidity based on the fact that T cells recognizing peptides presented by allogeneic MHC efficiently kill tumor cells. Autologous dendritic cells (DC) are co-transfected with ivt-RNA encoding an allogeneic MHC molecule and a selected antigen to allow them to express allogeneic MHC-peptide complexes that activate allo-restricted peptide-specific T cells.

A modeling approach to describe the adhesion of rough, asymmetric particles to surfaces.

A combined theoretical and experimental study of the adhesion of alumina particles and polystyrene latex spheres to silicon dioxide surfaces was performed. A boundary element technique was used to model electrostatic interactions between micron-scale particles and planar surfaces when the particles and surfaces were in contact. This method allows quantitative evaluation of the effects of particle geometry and surface roughness on the electrostatic interaction.

Hamaker constants in integrated circuit metalization.

A new method for determining Hamaker constants was examined for materials of interest in integrated circuit manufacture. An ultra-high vacuum atomic force microscope and an atomic force microscope operated in a nitrogen environment were used to measure the interaction forces between metals, dielectrics, and barriers used during the metalization portion of integrated circuit manufacturing. The materials studied included copper, silver, titanium nitride, silicon dioxide, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), and parylene-N.

FLT3-ITD-TKD dual mutants associated with AML confer resistance to FLT3 PTK inhibitors and cytotoxic agents by overexpression of Bcl-x(L).

FLT3 (fms-like tyrosine kinase 3) is constitutively activated in about 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and represents a disease-specific molecular marker. Although FLT3-LM (length mutation) and TKD (tyrosine kinase domain) mutations have been considered to be mutually exclusive, 1% to 2% of patients carry both mutations. However, the functional and clinical significance of this observation is unclear.