Array-based disease diagnostics using lipid/polydiacetylene vesicles encapsulated in a sol-gel matrix.

We demonstrate a novel array-based diagnostic platform comprising lipid/polydiacetylene (PDA) vesicles embedded within a transparent silica-gel matrix. The diagnostic scheme is based upon the unique chromatic properties of PDA, which undergoes blue-red transformations induced by interactions with amphiphilic or membrane-active analytes. We show that constructing a gel matrix array hosting PDA vesicles with different lipid compositions and applying to blood plasma obtained from healthy individuals and from patients suffering from disease, respectively, allow distinguishing among the disease conditions through application of a simple machine-learning algorithm, using the colorimetric response of the lipid/PDA/gel matrix as the input. Importantly, the new colorimetric diagnostic approach does not require a priori knowledge on the exact metabolite compositions of the blood plasma, since the concept relies only on identifying statistically significant changes in overall disease-induced chromatic response. The chromatic lipid/PDA/gel array-based "fingerprinting" concept is generic, easy to apply, and could be implemented for varied diagnostic and screening applications.

The effect of chemotherapy/radiotherapy on cancerous pattern recognition by NK cells.

In recent years, the effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CT/RT) regimens as they apply to the immune system have been explored. NK cells represent the main cytotoxic arm of the innate immune system, and their functionality is vital to establishing an effective anti tumor immune response. This review examines current CT/RT interventions in light of their effects on NK cell functionality. The effects of CT/RT on the expression of the various ligands for activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors are discussed. Expression of ligands for the activating NKG2D receptor is enhanced by cell stress; accordingly there are numerous reports of their higher expression in cells exposed to various CT/RT agents. In contrast, some agents have been reported to cause ligand shedding, which can serve to inhibit NK cell activity. Reported effects of CT/RT on tumor expression of ligands for the activating Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors, and of HLA class I ligands for NK cell inhibitory receptors are also noted. Additionally, we describe reports concerning the direct effects of CT/RT on NK cell function. Many treatments adversely affect NK cell function directly, but observations made through in vitro systems may differ from those obtained utilizing clinical samples. The effects of CT/RT on both direct NK cell cytotoxicity and on NK cell-mediated Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity are explored. Taken together, CT/RT affects NK cell anti-tumor immunity from multiple angles. The interplay is complex, and future work is needed to achieve the optimal synergy between CT/RT and innate as well as adaptive immunity in the treatment of cancer.