In this study, we investigated the expression of three different nucleic acid cargo types (mCherry mRNA, GFP DNA and Cy5-labeled 2′3′-cGAMP) delivered to three different ovarian cancer cell lines via four loadable LNPs containing benchmark lipids SM-102, ALC-0315, (S)-C12-200, or DLin-MC3. We then compared the relative efficacy of each formulation in delivering each payload to the various ovarian cancer cells (PA-1, SK-OV-3, and Caov-3) cultured as monolayers vs spheroids to assess whether the optimal LNP formulation is consistent across 2D and 3D culture models.

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To cite this poster: Taylor, D., Forsyth, V., Riddering, C., et al. ​Lipid nanoparticle screening in 2D vs 3D cultures: Ovarian cancer cell lines exhibit different preference for optimal lipid formulation in monolayers vs spheroids. Poster presented at: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; April 25-30, 2025; Chicago, IL. 

Key Features

• Cayman’s LNP development services in partnership with Labcorp utilizes in vivo imaging technology to create a comprehensive LNP screening platform. 
  
• With this approach, three LNP formulations were assessed in vitro and in vivo for potency of reporter gene expression and differential organ delivery. 
  
• This comprehensive LNP formulation, characterization, and analysis service can be used to identify candidate LNP formulations with tissue-tropic distribution. 
  

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) suppresses innate immunity and promote tumor progression and metastasis in the tumor microenvironment. ENPP1 inhibits STING signaling by hydrolyzing the degradation of 2',3'-cGAMP, blunting induction of the type 1 interferon response and antitumor immunity.

Listen as David Taylor, Ph.D., a scientist in Cayman's Assay Research & Development group, modulates ENPP1 expression and STING activation in ovarian cancer cell lines and macrophages with LipidLaunch™ Loadable LNPs and explores the contribution of ovarian cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles in the tumor microenvironment.

Presented as part of the 2024 Tumor Microenvironment and Therapy Symposium at The University of Michigan.

Read the Webinar Highlights for a quick overview of the key takeaways. 

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Learn more about LipidLaunch™ LNPs and reagent kits.

Key Features

• Primary immune cells, especially T cells, are challenging to transfect due to their natural resistance to foreign genetic material.
• Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) offer improved efficiency with reduced cytotoxicity compared with traditional transfection methods.
• This workflow can be used with LNPs for the delivery of mRNA to achieve optimal protein expression in activated primary human T cells.

Key Features

• Cayman’s LipidLaunch™ SM-102 LNP Kit (Loadable) is comprised of lyophilized SM-102-based lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) prepared without cargo.
• Allows researchers to encapsulate RNA cargo of choice for LNP-mediated transfection without microfluidic mixing devices.
• Enable RNA delivery to difficult-to-transfect cell lines and primary cultures.
• LipidLaunch™ SM-102 LNPs (Loadable) facilitate effective RNA transfection with minimal cytotoxicity compared to traditional transfection reagents.
  

​Characterization of the peptides presented by MHC molecules (pMHC) on cancer cells and their immunogenic potential is key for generating anti-cancer immune responses. Experimental identification of pMHC is performed using MHC immunoprecipitation and mass spec sequencing of eluted peptides. 

In the current study, we characterize the immunopeptidome of two human glioma lines, U87 and DIPG, which were grown in nude mice. As one potential complication of cells grown in mice may be contribution of mouse pMHC to the overall peptide list, we tested specific depletion of mouse MHC prior to immunoprecipitation of human MHC complexes. We analyzed all peptide lists for the actual contribution of mouse-derived peptides to the immunopeptidome and found the true contribution of murine peptides to be minimal.

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To cite this poster: Rumble, J.M., Nyayapathy, S., Jones, R., et al. Immunopeptidome profiling of xenograft glioma samples. Poster presented at: 2023 Michigan Life Sciences Showcase; September 18, 2023; Lansing, MI. 

We show that our Integrated Drug Discovery Platform accelerates drug design, completing hit discovery to lead optimization in less than 10 months in this work.

We identified a certain lipid-based protein target of interest implicated in various disease states including cancer and inflammation. In less than 10 months, we developed and deployed our primary and secondary biochemical and biophysical screening assays and carried out in silico screening of multiple commercial compound libraries to identify and confirm various virtual hits. We furthermore executed an iterative structure-activity relationship (SAR) program utilizing computer-aided drug design (CADD) and synthetic and medicinal chemistry to produce over 100 novel compounds targeting the lipid-based biological target. In addition to our activity-based primary screen, we used multiple biophysical methods, including thermal shift assay (TSA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with Biacore™ T200, and X-ray crystallography techniques.

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To cite this poster: Muzzarelli, K.M., Assar, Z., Abdel-Haq, R., et al. Discovery of novel heterocycle inhibitors: Hit to lead compound in <10 months. Poster presented at: 18^th Annual Drug Discovery Chemistry Conference; April 10-13, 2023.

We show that immune responses elicited to neoantigens can be identified through immunopeptidome profiling in this work.

Vaccination against tumor antigens is one method being explored to generate immune responses against tumors and may be particularly effective in conjunction with therapies currently in the clinic, such as checkpoint inhibition. Identification of antigens for use in a vaccine is the pinch point of this method. Using immunopeptidome profiling, we have narrowed a collection of published potential neoantigens to those presented by MHC class I in the CT26 mouse colorectal cancer cell line. These peptides were synthesized used to immunize BALB/c mice, and immunogenicity of the peptide mix was evaluated by ELISpot to assess IFN-γ responses in immunized mice. These experiments support a complete workflow for the selection of potential cancer neoantigens that experimentally exhibit both MHC presentation and immunogenicity.

Do you have a question or comment for the presenter? Let us know.

To cite this poster: Nyayapathy, S., Jones, R., Ford, M., et al. CT26 neoantigen presentation and immunogenicity. Poster presented at: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; April 14-19, 2023.

To cite this poster: Nyayapathy, S., Jones, R., Ford, M., Pisano, M., and Rumble, J. ​Immunopeptidome Analysis of Mouse MHC Class I. Poster presented at: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; April 10 - 13, 2022.

​The cell cycle is a tightly regulated process of cell growth, DNA replication, and cell division. Progression through the phases of the cell cycle is controlled by cyclins in association with cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Throughout this process, cells encounter several checkpoints designed to detect and correct issues such as DNA damage or improper spindle formation before allowing continuation of the cell cycle. Dysregulation of the cell cycle and checkpoint mechanisms can lead to aberrant proliferation and genomic instability and is often observed in cancer cells.

Cell death occurs for both physiological and pathological reasons. Varying modes of death are either programmed to safely remove healthy cells that are no longer useful or to stimulate an inflammatory response to clear cells that are useful but no longer healthy. To distinguish among the multiple ways a cell can self-destruct, distinct morphological changes, triggers, and biochemical hallmarks are monitored. Use this guide to learn about the tools available to investigate multiple molecular pathways and cell death markers to help you determine the cell death mechanism(s) occurring under your experimental circumstances.

Chemical probes are well-characterized small molecules that potently and selectively modulate target protein activity. Use this guide, which includes the defining criteria for chemical probes, important "do's and don'ts", and a step-by-step guide for evaluating compound quality and suitability, to help you choose the best chemical probe for your experiments.

Updated March 2025

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death driven by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation and regulated by multiple cellular pathways, including redox homeostasis, iron handling, and mitochondrial activity, that has been associated with various pathophysiologies. Ferroptosis-inducing factors can directly or indirectly affect glutathione peroxidase or the ferroptosis suppressor protein, resulting in a decrease in antioxidant capacity and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. This poster summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms of induction and suppression underlying this cell death process.

Read the article Ferroptosis: Detecting a new form of cell death and download the Ferroptosis Research Tools brochure for additional information on known inducers and suppressors of this cell death pathway.

​Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death that is triggered when oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) stored in lipid membranes are not repaired by glutathione peroxidase activity. Cayman offers several key inducers and inhibitors to study this process. Reagents and assay kits are available to measure both glutathione and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in cells. Oxidized lipid standards and lipid peroxidation assays and probes are also available.