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“Nanoparticle-MediatedIn SituMolecular Reprogramming of Immune Checkpoint Interactions for Cancer Immunotherapy”. Walters AA, Santacana-Font G, Li J, Routabi N, Qin Y, Claes N, Bals S, Tzu-Wen Wang J, Al-Jamal KT, Acs Nano 15, 17549 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.1c04456
Abstract: Immune checkpoint blockade involves targeting immune
regulatory molecules with antibodies. Preclinically, complex multiantibody
regimes of both inhibitory and stimulatory targets are a promising
candidate for the next generation of immunotherapy. However, in this
setting, the antibody platform may be limited due to excessive toxicity
caused by off target effects as a result of systemic administration. RNA
can be used as an alternate to antibodies as it can both downregulate
immunosuppressive checkpoints (siRNA) or induce expression of
immunostimulatory checkpoints (mRNA). In this study, we demonstrate
that the combination of both siRNA and mRNA in a single
formulation can simultaneously knockdown and induce expression of
immune checkpoint targets, thereby reprogramming the tumor
microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory
phenotype. To achieve this, RNA constructs were synthesized and
formulated into stable nucleic acid lipid nanoparticles (SNALPs); the SNALPs produced were 140−150 nm in size with >80%
loading efficiency. SNALPs could transfect macrophages and B16F10 cells in vitro resulting in 75% knockdown of inhibitory
checkpoint (PDL1) expression and simultaneously express high levels of stimulatory checkpoint (OX40L) with minimal
toxicity. Intratumoral treatment with the proposed formulation resulted in statistically reduced tumor growth, a greater
density of CD4+ and CD8+ infiltrates in the tumor, and immune activation within tumor-draining lymph nodes. These data
suggest that a single RNA-based formulation can successfully reprogram multiple immune checkpoint interactions on a
cellular level. Such a candidate may be able to replace future immune checkpoint therapeutic regimes composed of both
stimulatory- and inhibitory-receptor-targeting antibodies.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 13.942
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04456
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“Modifying the Stöber Process: Is the Organic Solvent Indispensable?”.Wang J, Zhang K, Kavak S, Bals S, Meynen V, Chemistry-A European Journal (2022). http://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202202670
Abstract: The Stöber method is one of the most important and fundamental processes for the synthesis of inorganic (nano)materials but has the drawback of using a large amount of organic solvent. Herein, ethanol was used as an example to explore if the organic solvent in a typical Stöber method can be omitted. It was found that ethanol increases the particle size of the obtained silica spheres and aids the formation of uniform silica particles rather than forming a gel. Nevertheless, the results indicated that an organic solvent in the initial synthesis mixture is not indispensable. An initially immiscible synthesis method was discovered, which can replace the organic solvent-based Stöber method to successfully synthesize silica particles with the same size ranges as the original Stöber process without addition of organic solvents. Moreover, this process can be of further value for the extension to synthesis processes of other materials based on the Stöber process.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Impact Factor: 4.3
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1002/chem.202202670
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“Plasma-based dry reforming of methane in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor: Importance of uniform (sub)micron packings/catalysts to enhance the performance”. Wang J, Zhang K, Mertens M, Bogaerts A, Meynen V, APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL 337, 122977 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122977
Abstract: This study presents new insights on the effect of (sub)micrometer particle sized materials in plasma-based CO2-
CH4 reforming by investigating the performance of SiO2 spheres (with/without supported metal) of varying
particle sizes. (Sub)micron particles synthesized through the St¨ober method were used instead of (sub)millimeter
particles employed in previous studies. Increasing particle size (from 120 nm to 2390 nm) was found to first
increase and then decrease conversion and energy yield, with optimal performance achieved using 740 nm 5 wt%
Ni loaded SiO2, which improved CO2 and CH4 conversion, and energy yield to 44%, 55%, and 0.271 mmol/kJ,
respectively, compared to 20%, 27%, and 0.116 mmol/kJ in an empty reactor at the same flow rate. This is the
first to achieve significant performance improvement in a fully packed reactor, highlighting the importance of
selecting a suitable particle size. The findings can offer guidance towards rational design of catalysts for plasmabased
reactions.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Impact Factor: 22.1
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122977
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“Plasma-based dry reforming of methane in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor: Importance of uniform (sub)micron packings/catalysts to enhance the performance”. Wang J, Zhang K, Mertens M, Bogaerts A, Meynen V, APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL 337, 122977 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122977
Abstract: This study presents new insights on the effect of (sub)micrometer particle sized materials in plasma-based CO2-
CH4 reforming by investigating the performance of SiO2 spheres (with/without supported metal) of varying
particle sizes. (Sub)micron particles synthesized through the St¨ober method were used instead of (sub)millimeter
particles employed in previous studies. Increasing particle size (from 120 nm to 2390 nm) was found to first
increase and then decrease conversion and energy yield, with optimal performance achieved using 740 nm 5 wt%
Ni loaded SiO2, which improved CO2 and CH4 conversion, and energy yield to 44%, 55%, and 0.271 mmol/kJ,
respectively, compared to 20%, 27%, and 0.116 mmol/kJ in an empty reactor at the same flow rate. This is the
first to achieve significant performance improvement in a fully packed reactor, highlighting the importance of
selecting a suitable particle size. The findings can offer guidance towards rational design of catalysts for plasmabased
reactions.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Impact Factor: 22.1
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122977
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