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Published on: July 19, 2024
Flexible ZnO-mAb nanoplatforms for selective peripheral blood mononuclear cell immobilization
K Sowri Babu1, Pedro F Pinheiro2, Cátia F Marques2
1Division of Physics, Dept. Of Science and Humanities, Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology & Research (Deemed To Be University), Vadlamudi, Guntur, AP, 522213, India.
Abstract:
Cancer is the second cause of death worldwide. This devastating disease requires specific, fast, and affordable solutions to mitigate and reverse this trend. A step towards cancer-fighting lies in the isolation of natural killer (NK) cells, a set of innate immune cells, that can either be used as biomarkers of tumorigenesis or, after autologous transplantation, to fight aggressive metastatic cells. In order to specifically isolate NK cells (which express the surface NKp30 receptor) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a ZnO immunoaffinity-based platform was developed by electrodeposition of the metal oxide on a flexible indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The resulting crystalline and well-aligned ZnO nanorods (NRs) proved their efficiency in immobilizing monoclonal anti-human NKp30 antibodies (mAb), obviating the need for additional procedures for mAb immobilization. The presence of NK cells on the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) fraction was evaluated by the response to their natural ligand (B7-H6) using an acridine orange (AO)-based assay. The successful selection of NK cells from PBMCs by our nanoplatform was assessed by the photoluminescent properties of AO. This easy and straightforward ZnO-mAb nanoplatform paves the way for the design of biosensors for clinic diagnosis, and, due to its inherent biocompatibility, for the initial selection of NK cells for autotransplantation immunotherapies.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel ZnO nanorod platform to efficiently isolate natural killer (NK) cells, crucial for cancer diagnosis and immunotherapy. This innovation offers a fast, specific method for selecting these vital immune cells.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Immunology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cancer is a leading global cause of death, necessitating advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Natural Killer (NK) cells are key players in innate immunity, showing potential as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic agents for aggressive metastatic cancers.
- Efficient isolation of NK cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is critical for their clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel immunoaffinity-based platform for the specific isolation of NK cells.
- To functionalize zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods with anti-human NKp30 antibodies for NK cell capture.
- To evaluate the platform's efficiency in isolating NK cells from PBMCs for potential diagnostic and therapeutic uses.
Main Methods:
- Electrodeposition of ZnO nanorods on an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate.
- Immobilization of monoclonal anti-human NKp30 antibodies onto the ZnO nanorods.
- Detection and assessment of NK cell presence and isolation using acridine orange (AO) assay and photoluminescence.
- Evaluation of NK cell binding via their natural ligand, B7-H6.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated ZnO nanorods on a flexible substrate, demonstrating efficient antibody immobilization without additional steps.
- The ZnO-mAb platform effectively isolated NK cells from PBMCs, confirmed by AO-based assays and photoluminescent properties.
- The platform showed specificity for NK cells expressing the NKp30 receptor.
Conclusions:
- The developed ZnO-mAb nanoplatform provides a simple, efficient, and biocompatible method for isolating NK cells.
- This technology holds significant promise for the development of biosensors for clinical cancer diagnosis.
- The platform's potential for initial NK cell selection in autotransplantation immunotherapies is highlighted.
