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Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in immunotherapy for cancer due to their natural ability to target and destroy cancer cells. However, current methods to visualize NK cells' activity against tumors in live organisms are limited. We introduce an imaging method that non-invasively tracks NK cell activation by cancer cells through the STAT1 protein. To achieve this, we modified NK cells to include a specific genetic sequence that binds to STAT1 when activated. These engineered NK cells (GAS-NK) demonstrate their functionality through various biological tests and analysis. Observations of changes in cancer environments and patient-derived cancer organoid models further confirm the effectiveness of this approach. Our method provides a way to monitor NK cell activity, which could improve the prediction and effectiveness of NK cell-based cancer therapies, contributing to advances in cancer treatment. Imaging technique reveals STAT1-mediated activation of engineered NK cells, offering a novel method to monitor antitumor activity and enhance the effectiveness of NK cell-based cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been developed as therapeutic targets for various diseases. Biodistribution is crucial for EVs intended for therapeutic purposes because it can determine the degree of on‐ and off‐target effects. This study aimed to explore techniques to evaluate the biodistribution of unmodified EVs. We devised a novel quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)‐based assay to detect unmodified EVs by targeting mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA), a constituent of EVs. We focused on specific mtDNA regions that exhibited homologous variations distinct from their rodent mtDNA counterparts to establish this analytical approach. Herein, we successfully designed primers and probes targeting human and rodent mtDNA sequences and developed a highly specific and sensitive qPCR method. Furthermore, the quantification range of EVs isolated from various cells differed based on the manufacturer and cell source. IRDye 800CW‐labelled Expi293F EV mimetics were administered to the animals via the tail vein to compare the imaging test and mtDNA‐qPCR results. The results obtained from imaging tests and mtDNA‐qPCR to investigate EV biodistribution patterns revealed differences. The results revealed that our newly developed method effectively determined the biodistribution of unmodified EVs with high sensitivity and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) have immense potential in biomedical research, particularly in drug delivery and imaging applications, owing to their stability and minimal interactions with biological entities such as tissues or cells. Results: With synthesized and characterized cyanine-dye-doped fluorescent SNPs (CSNPs) using cyanine 3.5, 5.5, and 7 (Cy3.5, Cy5.5, and Cy7). Through systematic analysis, we discerned variations in the surface charge and fluorescence properties of the nanoparticles contingent on the encapsulated dye-(3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane conjugate, while their size and shape remained constant. The fluorescence emission spectra exhibited a redshift correlated with increasing dye concentration, which was attributed to cascade energy transfer and self-quenching effects. Additionally, the fluorescence signal intensity showed a linear relationship with the particle concentration, particularly at lower dye equivalents, indicating a robust performance suitable for imaging applications. In vitro assessments revealed negligible cytotoxicity and efficient cellular uptake of the nanoparticles, enabling long-term tracking and imaging. Validation through in vivo imaging in mice underscored the versatility and efficacy of CSNPs, showing single-switching imaging capabilities and linear signal enhancement within subcutaneous tissue environment. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights for designing fluorescence imaging and optimizing nanoparticle-based applications in biomedical research, with potential implications for targeted drug delivery and in vivo imaging of tissue structures and organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a novel method for fabricating perovskite solar modules using selective spin-coating on various Au/ITO patterned substrates. These patterns were engineered for two purposes: (1) to enhance selectivity of monolayers primarily self-assembling on the Au electrode, and (2) to enable seamless interconnection between cells through direct contact of the top electrode and the hydrophobic Au connection electrode. Utilizing SAMs-treated Au/ITO, we achieved sequential selective deposition of the electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite layer on the hydrophilic amino-terminated ITO, while the hole transport layer (HTL) was deposited on the hydrophobic CH3-terminated Au connection electrodes. Importantly, our approach had a negligible impact on the series resistance of the solar cells, as evidenced by the measured specific contact resistivity of the multilayers. A significant outcome was the production of a six-cell series-connected solar module with a notable average PCE of 8.32%, providing a viable alternative to the conventional laser scribing technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) monolayer was used as an adhesion promoter to assemble pre-synthesized SnO2 nanocrystal (NC) arrays for use as electron transport layers (ETLs) in perovskite solar cells. The self-assembled monolayers on indium tin oxide (ITO) bottom electrodes interact with the SnO2 NCs via covalent bonding during the spin-coating process, leading to the formation of pinhole-free SnO2 NC layers, which enabled the growth of perovskite films with uniform microstructures. The device performance analyses showed that the resulting photovoltaic efficiency significantly increased from 10.68% to 15.52% with the use of the APTES monolayer. This increase in the photovoltaic efficiency can be attributed to the reduction in defects at the ETL/perovskite interface and in the bulk. This paper presents a facile, robust, and effective strategy to improve the grafting of SnO2 NCs on flat ITO substrates by using APTES, and thus, increase the quality of the ETL/perovskite interfacial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]