A549 Cells: Lung Carcinoma Cell Line for Adenovirus

Scientists at the National Cancer Institute developed a cell line designated A549 that was derived from explanted cultures of human lung cancer tissue. The A549 cell line has been tested under the guidance of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so, under current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), these cells may be suitable for use in manufacturing constructs for use in clinical trials.

Device to guide oxygen over cells for photo-oxidation

Researchers at the NCI Laboratory for Cell Biology have invented a device to guide a stream of oxygen or carbon dioxide over a dish of cells during fluorescence microscopy. The invention includes the 3D printing software to create the device.  The device facilitates application of a steady source of oxygen or carbon dioxide to cells while operating a fluorescent microscope to oxidize fluorophores for subsequent visualization via electron microscopy. 

Anti-Glypican 2 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Containing CD28 Hinge And Transmembrane Domains For Treating Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastomas are the most common extracranial solid tumors in pediatric patients, with 700-800 new cases annually in the United States. Metastatic neuroblastomas have a five-year survival rate of 50% and account for 15% of all pediatric cancer deaths. As such, more effective treatments against high-risk neuroblastomas are urgently needed.

Device for Growing Mammalian Cells on EM Grids

Researchers at the NCI Center for Molecular Microscopy invented a device to hold transmission electron microscopy grids that allows adherent mammalian cells to be grown on it, as well as the 3D printing software to create the holder.  The TEM cell grid holder solves the difficulty of lifting the TEM grid out of a plate without bending or damaging the grid.  The holder can be reproduced in various sizes with 3D printing. 

New Insect Sf9-ET Cell Line for Determining Baculovirus Titers

The baculovirus-based protein expression system has gained increased prominence as a method for expressing recombinant proteins that are used in a wide range of biomedical applications. An important step in the use of this system is the ability to determine the virus infectious titer, i.e., the number of active baculovirus particles produced during an infection of the insect host cell.

Photoactivatable Lipid-based Nanoparticles as a Vehicle for Dual Agent Delivery

The invention relates to novel lipid-based nanoparticles (liposomes) for use in targeted, on demand and on site drug delivery. The particles include a wall surrounding a cavity, wherein the wall is comprised of:

  1. A lipid bilayer comprising 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC8,9PC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-

phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG2000), and

Strategies to Protect Mammalian Neural Tissue Against Cold and Potentially Other Metabolic Stresses and Physical Damages

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have discovered an invention describing a composition and method(s) of using such composition for preserving viability of cells, tissues, or organs at a low temperature (around 4ºC). Current cold storage solutions or methods for cells, tissues, and organs are suboptimal due to irreversible damage to cold-sensitive tissue or organ transplants that need a longer term of storage for facilitating clinical practices.

T Cell Receptors Targeting CDKN2A Mutations for Cancer Immunotherapy

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A gene, also known as CDKN2A, is a tumor suppressor gene and is commonly inactivated through somatic mutations in many human cancers. For example, inactivation of CDKN2A is highly prevalent in melanoma, gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers. Through germline mutations, CDKN2A is associated with predisposition for a variety of cancers, including melanoma and pancreatic cancers. Despite the high frequency of CDKN2A mutations in cancer, there have been no successful therapies targeting these mutations to date.