We report on a method for the large-scale production of graphene micropatterns by a self-assembly mediated process. The evaporation-induced self-assembly technique was engineered to produce highly ordered graphene patterns on flexible substrates in a simplified and scalable manner. The crossed stripe graphene patterns have been produced over a large area with regions consisting of single- and two-layer graphene. Based on these graphene patterns, flexible graphene-based field effect transistors have been fabricated with an ion-gel gate dielectric, which operates at low voltages of < 2 V with a hole and electron mobility of 214 and 106 cm(2)/V·s, respectively. The self-assembly approach described here may pave the way for the nonlithographic production of graphene patterns, which is scalable to large areas and compatible with roll-to-roll system.
Natural
killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has been considered
a promising cell-based cancer treatment strategy with low side effects
for early tumors and metastasis. However, the therapeutic efficacy
is generally low in established solid tumors. Ex vivo activation of NK cells with exogenous cytokines is often essential
but ineffective to generate high doses of functional NK cells for
cancer treatment. Image-guided local delivery of NK cells is also
suggested for the therapy. However, there is a lack of noninvasive
tools for monitoring NK cells. Herein, magnetic nanocomplexes are
fabricated with clinically available materials (hyaluronic acid, protamine,
and ferumoxytol; HAPF) for labeling NK cells. The prepared HAPF–nanocomplexes
effectively attach to the NK cells (HAPF-NK). An exogenous magnetic
field application effectively achieves magneto-activation of NK cells,
promoting the generation and secretion of lytic granules of NK cells.
The magneto-activated HAPF-NK cells also allow an MR image-guided
NK cell therapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) solid tumors
via transcatheter intra-arterial infusion. Suppressed tumor growth
after the treatment of IA infused magneto-activated NK cells demonstrated
a potential enhanced therapeutic efficacy of image guided local delivery
of magneto-activated HAPF-NK cells. Given the potential challenges
of NK cell cancer immunotherapy against established solid tumors,
the effective NK cell labeling with HAPF, magneto-activation, and
MRI contrast effect of NK cells will be beneficial to enhance the
NK cell-therapeutic efficacy in various cancers.
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