@phdthesis{deGraafgebButtler2024, author = {de Graaf [geb. Buttler], Simone Linda}, title = {From Small to Large Data: Leveraging Synthetic Data for Inventory Management}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36136}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-361364}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {In a world of constant change, uncertainty has become a daily challenge for businesses. Rapidly shifting market conditions highlight the need for flexible responses to unforeseen events. Operations Management (OM) is crucial for optimizing business processes, including site planning, production control, and inventory management. Traditionally, companies have relied on theoretical models from microeconomics, game theory, optimization, and simulation. However, advancements in machine learning and mathematical optimization have led to a new research field: data-driven OM. Data-driven OM uses real data, especially time series data, to create more realistic models that better capture decision-making complexities. Despite the promise of this new research area, a significant challenge remains: the availability of extensive historical training data. Synthetic data, which mimics real data, has been used to address this issue in other machine learning applications. Therefore, this dissertation explores how synthetic data can be leveraged to improve decisions for data-driven inventory management, focusing on the single-period newsvendor problem, a classic stochastic optimization problem in inventory management. The first article, "A Meta Analysis of Data-Driven Newsvendor Approaches", presents a standardized evaluation framework for data-driven prescriptive approaches, tested through a numerical study. Findings suggest model performance is not robust, emphasizing the need for a standardized evaluation process. The second article, "Application of Generative Adversarial Networks in Inventory Management", examines using synthetic data generated by Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for the newsvendor problem. This study shows GANs can model complex demand relationships, offering a promising alternative to traditional methods. The third article, "Combining Synthetic Data and Transfer Learning for Deep Reinforcement Learning in Inventory Management", proposes a method using Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) with synthetic and real data through transfer learning. This approach trains a generative model to learn demand distributions, generates synthetic data, and fine-tunes a DRL agent on a smaller real dataset. This method outperforms traditional approaches in controlled and practical settings, though further research is needed to generalize these findings.}, subject = {Bestandsmanagement}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Wagner2024, author = {Wagner, Alena}, title = {Herstellung und Qualit{\"a}tskontrolle einer vaskularisierten Tr{\"a}gerstruktur zur Blasenrekonstruktion}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-37028}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-370280}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die regenerative Medizin gewinnt heutzutage immer mehr an Bedeutung. Der klinische Ersatz der Harnblase nach Tumoren oder bei Fehlbildungen stellt bis heute einen komplexen Eingriff mit zahlreichen Langzeitkomplikationen dar. Trotz etlicher Behandlungsm{\"o}glichkeiten k{\"o}nnen die aktuellen therapeutischen Maßnahmen nicht als langfristige Heilung angesehen werden. Meine Arbeit ist Teil einer pr{\"a}klinischen Großtierstudie zur Entwicklung eines neuartigen Blasenersatzes auf der Basis eines vaskularisierten Tissue-Engineering-Konstruktes. Mit der Herstellung eines vaskularisierten Augmentats (UroVaSc) wird ein Arzneimittel f{\"u}r neuartige Therapien (ATMP) f{\"u}r die Anwendung am Menschen entwickelt. Unter Zuhilfenahme fortschrittlicher Verfahren aus dem Bereich des Tissue Engineerings wird ein Gewebe hergestellt, welches im Empf{\"a}nger die beiden kritischen Punkte der Vernarbung und insbesondere bei jungen Empf{\"a}ngern die Problematik eines nicht mitwachsenden Gewebes reduzieren oder verhindern soll. Als Ausgangsmaterialien dienen ein Abschnitt porcinen Jejunums und eine porcine Hautbiopsie. In der klinischen Anwendung wird die Hautbiopsie dem Empf{\"a}nger des Augmentats entnommen. Aus den beiden Ausgangsmaterialien werden als Zwischenprodukte dezellularisiertes Jejunum (BioVaSc) und aus der Hautbiopsie eine prim{\"a}re, mikrovaskul{\"a}re Endothelzellkultur (mvEC) hergestellt. Die mvEC besiedeln die Gef{\"a}ße der Tr{\"a}gerstruktur BioVaSc in einem Bioreaktorsystem und f{\"u}hren zum vaskularisierten Endprodukt, der UroVaSc. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Entwicklung eines dreidimensionalen, vaskularisierten Blasenaugmentats. Im Verlauf dieser Arbeit waren die Methoden der Isolation und Kultivierung der Zellen, die Rebesiedlung und Kultur des autologen Augmentats, als auch die Qualit{\"a}tskontrolle unter den Richtlinien der Guten Herstellungspraxis zu etablieren. F{\"u}r die Isolierung der mvEC wurde ein Protokoll erarbeitet, mit dem sich die Zellen, trotz intraindividueller Unterschiede der Spendertiere, in ausreichender Zellzahl und Reinheit darstellen ließen. Des Weiteren wurde die endotheliale Rebesiedlung der Tr{\"a}gerstruktur erfolgreich durchgef{\"u}hrt und dies mit Hilfe zellbiologischer und immunhistologischer Methoden belegt. In der Risikobeurteilung des Herstellungsprozesses wurde die {\"U}berwachung des Inkubators als wichtigen Schritt zur Erh{\"o}hung der Produktqualit{\"a}t identifiziert, der in weiterf{\"u}hrenden Arbeiten adressiert werden sollte. Auf Grundlage meiner Forschungsergebnisse und weiterer Forschungsarbeiten erfolgt derzeit die funktionale Testung des Endproduktes im Großtierversuch. Mit der erfolgreichen Herstellung eines vaskularisierten Blasenaugmentats wird betroffenen Patienten eine neuartige Therapieoption er{\"o}ffnet, welche die Aussicht auf eine Heilung schwerer Erkrankungen an der Blase erm{\"o}glicht.}, subject = {Augmentation}, language = {de} } @article{GilSepulcreLindnerSchindleretal.2021, author = {Gil-Sepulcre, Marcos and Lindner, Joachim O. and Schindler, Dorothee and Velasco, Luc{\´i}a and Moonshiram, Dooshaye and R{\"u}diger, Olaf and DeBeer, Serena and Stepanenko, Vladimir and Solano, Eduardo and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Llobet, Antoni}, title = {Surface-promoted evolution of Ru-bda coordination oligomers boosts the efficiency of water oxidation molecular anodes}, series = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {143}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {30}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.1c04738}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-351514}, pages = {11651-11661}, year = {2021}, abstract = {A new Ru oligomer of formula {[Ru-\(^{II}\)(bda-\(\kappa\)-N\(^2\)O\(^2\))(4,4'-bpy)]\(_{10}\)(4,4'-bpy)}, 10 (bda is [2,2'-bipyridine]-6,6'-dicarbox-ylate and 4,4'-bpy is 4,4'-bipyridine), was synthesized and thoroughly characterized with spectroscopic, X-ray, and electrochemical techniques. This oligomer exhibits strong affinity for graphitic materials through CH-\(\pi\) interactions and thus easily anchors on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT), generating the molecular hybrid material 10@CNT. The latter acts as a water oxidation catalyst and converts to a new species, 10'(H\(_2\)O)\(_2\)@CNT, during the electrochemical oxygen evolution process involving solvation and ligand reorganization facilitated by the interactions of molecular Ru catalyst and the surface. This heterogeneous system has been shown to be a powerful and robust molecular hybrid anode for electrocatalytic water oxidation into molecular oxygen, achieving current densities in the range of 200 mA/cm\(^2\) at pH 7 under an applied potential of 1.45 V vs NHE. The remarkable long-term stability of this hybrid material during turnover is rationalized based on the supramolecular interaction of the catalyst with the graphitic surface.}, language = {en} } @article{GronwaldHoosHottenrott2019, author = {Gronwald, Thomas and Hoos, Olaf and Hottenrott, Kuno}, title = {Effects of Acute Normobaric Hypoxia on Non-linear Dynamics of Cardiac Autonomic Activity During Constant Workload Cycling Exercise}, series = {Frontiers in Physiology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Physiology}, doi = {10.3389/fphys.2019.00999}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369199}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Aim: Measurements of Non-linear dynamics of heart rate variability (HRV) provide new possibilities to monitor cardiac autonomic activity during exercise under different environmental conditions. Using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) technique to assess correlation properties of heart rate (HR) dynamics, the present study examines the influence of normobaric hypoxic conditions (HC) in comparison to normoxic conditions (NC) during a constant workload exercise. Materials and Methods: Nine well trained cyclists performed a continuous workload exercise on a cycle ergometer with an intensity corresponding to the individual anaerobic threshold until voluntary exhaustion under both NC and HC (15\% O2). The individual exercise duration was normalized to 10\% sections (10-100\%). During exercise HR and RR-intervals were continuously-recorded. Besides HRV time-domain measurements (meanRR, SDNN), fractal correlation properties using short-term scaling exponent alpha1 of DFA were calculated. Additionally, blood lactate (La), oxygen saturation of the blood (SpO2), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded in regular time intervals. Results: We observed significant changes under NC and HC for all parameters from the beginning to the end of the exercise (10\% vs. 100\%) except for SpO2 and SDNN during NC: increases for HR, La, and RPE in both conditions; decreases for SpO2 and SDNN during HC, meanRR and DFA-alpha1 during both conditions. Under HC HR (40-70\%), La (10-90\%), and RPE (50-90\%) were significantly-higher, SpO2 (10-100\%), meanRR (40-70\%), and DFA-alpha1 (20-60\%) were significantly-lower than under NC. Conclusion: Under both conditions, prolonged exercise until voluntary exhaustion provokes a lower total variability combined with a reduction in the amplitude and correlation properties of RR fluctuations which may be attributed to increased organismic demands. Additionally, HC provoked higher demands and loss of correlation properties at an earlier stage during the exercise regime, implying an accelerated alteration of cardiac autonomic regulation.}, language = {en} } @article{FahmyGarciaFarrellWitteBoumaetal.2019, author = {Fahmy-Garcia, Shorouk and Farrell, Eric and Witte-Bouma, Janneke and Robbesom-van den Berge, Iris and Suarez, Melva and Mumcuoglu, Didem and Walles, Heike and Kluijtmans, Sebastiaan G. J. M. and van der Eerden, Bram C. J. and van Osch, Gerjo J. V. M. and van Leeuwen, Johannes P. T. M. and van Driel, Marjolein}, title = {Follistatin Effects in Migration, Vascularization, and Osteogenesis in vitro and Bone Repair in vivo}, series = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology}, volume = {7}, journal = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology}, doi = {10.3389/fbioe.2019.00038}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227617}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The use of biomaterials and signaling molecules to induce bone formation is a promising approach in the field of bone tissue engineering. Follistatin (FST) is a glycoprotein able to bind irreversibly to activin A, a protein that has been reported to inhibit bone formation. We investigated the effect of FST in critical processes for bone repair, such as cell recruitment, osteogenesis and vascularization, and ultimately its use for bone tissue engineering. In vitro, FST promoted mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and endothelial cell (EC) migration as well as essential steps in the formation and expansion of the vasculature such as EC tube-formation and sprouting. FST did not enhance osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, but increased committed osteoblast mineralization. In vivo, FST was loaded in an in situ gelling formulation made by alginate and recombinant collagen-based peptide microspheres and implanted in a rat calvarial defect model. Two FST variants (FST288 and FST315) with major differences in their affinity to cell-surface proteoglycans, which may influence their effect upon in vivo bone repair, were tested. In vitro, most of the loaded FST315 was released over 4 weeks, contrary to FST288, which was mostly retained in the biomaterial. However, none of the FST variants improved in vivo bone healing compared to control. These results demonstrate that FST enhances crucial processes needed for bone repair. Further studies need to investigate the optimal FST carrier for bone regeneration.}, language = {en} } @article{GalKilenczAlbertetal.2019, author = {G{\´a}l, Bernadett I. and Kilencz, T{\"u}nde and Albert, Anita and Demeter, Ildik{\´o} and Hegedűs, Kl{\´a}ra M{\´a}ria and Janka, Zolt{\´a}n and Csifcs{\´a}k, G{\´a}bor and {\´A}lmos, P{\´e}ter Z.}, title = {Mild Effect of Nalmefene on Alcoholic Cue-Induced Response Invigoration in Alcohol Use Disorder Without Accompanying Changes in Electrophysiological Signatures of Early Visual Processing and Executive Control}, series = {Frontiers in Pharmacology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology}, doi = {10.3389/fphar.2019.01087}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369182}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Nalmefene is approved for as-needed pharmacological treatment in alcohol use disorder (AUD) by the European Medicines Agency. While the cellular effects of nalmefene have been thoroughly investigated, data are very limited on how this agent influences neural signals associated with inhibitory control and the visual analysis of environmental cues. This double-blind crossover study assessed the behavioral and neural effects of acute nalmefene administration in patients diagnosed with AUD. In experiment 1, we validated our experimental paradigm (electroencephalography combined with a modified Go/NoGo task using images of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks as prime stimuli) in 20 healthy adults to ensure that our protocol is suitable for assessing the behavioral and neural aspects of executive control. In experiment 2, we recruited 19 patients with AUD, and in a double-blind crossover design, we investigated the effects of nalmefene versus placebo on task performance (response accuracy, the sensitivity index, and reaction times), visual responses to appetitive cues (occipital P1, N1, and P2 components), and electrophysiological markers of conflict detection and response inhibition (frontal N2 and P3 waveforms). Under placebo, patients produced faster reaction times to alcohol-primed Go stimuli, an effect that was weak despite being statistically significant. However, the effect of alcoholic cues on the speed of response initiation disappeared after receiving nalmefene. We found no placebo versus nalmefene difference regarding our patients' ability to accurately inhibit responses to NoGo stimuli or for occipital and frontal event-related potentials. Our results suggest that nalmefene might be potent in reducing the vigor to act upon alcoholic cues in AUD patients, but this effect is most probably mediated via subcortical (rather than cortical) neural circuits.}, language = {en} } @article{FrankeConzelmannGruenblattetal.2019, author = {Franke, Maximilian and Conzelmann, Annette and Gr{\"u}nblatt, Edna and Werling, Anna M. and Spieles, Helen and Wewetzer, Christoph and Warnke, Andreas and Romanos, Marcel and Walitza, Susanne and Renner, Tobias J.}, title = {No Association of Variants of the NPY-System With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents}, series = {Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience}, doi = {10.3389/fnmol.2019.00112}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229051}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) causes severe distress and is therefore counted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the 10 most impairing illnesses. There is evidence for a strong genetic underpinning especially in early onset OCD (eoOCD). Though several genes involved in neurotransmission have been reported as candidates, there is still a need to identify new pathways. In this study, we focussed on genetic variants of the Neuropeptide Y (NPY) system. NPY is one of the most abundant neuropeptides in the human brain with emerging evidence of capacity to modulate stress response, which is of high relevance in OCD. We focussed on tag-SNPs of NPY and its receptor gene NPY1R in a family-based approach. The sample comprised 86 patients (children and adolescents) with eoOCD with both their biological parents. However, this first study on genetic variants of the NPY-system could not confirm the association between the investigated SNPs and eoOCD. Based on the small sample size results have to be interpreted as preliminary and should be replicated in larger samples. However, also in an additional GWAS analysis in a large sample, we could not observe an associations between NPY and OCD. Overall, these preliminary results point to a minor role of NPY on the stress response of OCD.}, language = {en} } @article{GeranUeckerPruessetal.2019, author = {Geran, Rohat and Uecker, Florian C. and Pr{\"u}ss, Harald and Haeusler, Karl Georg and Paul, Friedemann and Ruprecht, Klemens and Harms, Lutz and Schmidt, Felix A.}, title = {Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction in Patients With Autoimmune Encephalitis}, series = {Frontiers in Neurology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Neurology}, doi = {10.3389/fneur.2019.00480}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232921}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Objective: To test the hypothesis that olfactory (OF) and gustatory function (GF) is disturbed in patients with autoimmune encephalitides (AE). Methods: The orthonasal OF was tested in 32 patients with AE and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) with the standardized Threshold Discrimination Identification (TDI) score. This validated olfactory testing method yields individual scores for olfactory threshold (T), odor discrimination (D), and identification (I), along with a composite TDI score. The GF was determined by the Taste Strip Test (TST). Results: Overall, 24/32 (75\%) of patients with AE, but none of 32 HC (p < 0.001) had olfactory dysfunction in TDI testing. The results of the threshold, discrimination and identification subtests were significantly reduced in patients with AE compared to HC (all p < 0.001). Assessed by TST, 5/19 (26.3\%) of patients with AE, but none of 19 HC presented a significant limitation in GF (p < 0.001). The TDI score was correlated with the subjective estimation of the olfactory capacity on a visual analog scale (VAS; rs = 0.475, p = 0.008). Neither age, sex, modified Rankin Scale nor disease duration were associated with the composite TDI score. Conclusions: This is the first study investigating OF and GF in AE patients. According to unblinded assessment, patients with AE have a reduced olfactory and gustatory capacity compared to HC, suggesting that olfactory and gustatory dysfunction are hitherto unrecognized symptoms in AE. Further studies with larger number of AE patients would be of interest to verify our results.}, language = {en} } @article{JarickMokhtariSchelleretal.2018, author = {Jarick, Katja J. and Mokhtari, Zeinab and Scheller, Lukas and Hartweg, Julia and Thusek, Sina and Le, Duc-Dung and Ranecky, Maria and Shaikh, Haroon and Qureischi, Musga and Heinze, Katrin G. and Beilhack, Andreas}, title = {Photoconversion of Alloreactive T Cells in Murine Peyer's Patches During Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease: Tracking the Homing Route of Highly Proliferative Cells In Vivo}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2018.01468}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-323309}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The regulation of immune cell migration throughout the body is essential to warrant immunosurveillance and to maintain immune homeostasis. Marking and tracking of these cells has proven important to study mechanisms of immune cell trafficking and cell interaction in vivo. Photoconversion is a well-suited technique for intravital application because it enables contactless time- and location-specific marking of cells in the tissue without surgically manipulating the microenvironment of the cells in question. However, in dividing cells the converted fluorescent protein may decline quickly. Here, we provide a detailed description of the photoconversion technique and its applicability to tracking highly proliferating T cells from the priming site of T cell activation to peripheral target organs of effector function in a preclinical model. Dendra2+ T cells were photoconverted in the Peyer's patches during the initiation phase of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and tracked through the mesenteric lymph nodes and the peripheral blood to the small intestine with flow cytometry and intravital two-photon microscopy. Photoconverted alloreactive T cells preserved the full proliferative capacity, homing, and migration of alloreactive T cells in the intestinal lamina propria. We conclusively proved that photoconversion of highly proliferative alloreactive T cells in the Peyer's patches is an effective tool to study trafficking of alloreactive T cells under physiologic conditions and to GvHD target tissues. This technique can also be applied to the study of immune cell tracking under inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions.}, language = {en} } @article{HammerHalderKleihetal.2018, author = {Hammer, Eva M. and Halder, Sebastian and Kleih, Sonja C. and K{\"u}bler, Andrea}, title = {Psychological Predictors of Visual and Auditory P300 Brain-Computer Interface Performance}, series = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, doi = {10.3389/fnins.2018.00307}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-369207}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) provide communication channels independent from muscular control. In the current study we used two versions of the P300-BCI: one based on visual the other on auditory stimulation. Up to now, data on the impact of psychological variables on P300-BCI control are scarce. Hence, our goal was to identify new predictors with a comprehensive psychological test-battery. A total of N = 40 healthy BCI novices took part in a visual and an auditory BCI session. Psychological variables were measured with an electronic test-battery including clinical, personality, and performance tests. The personality factor "emotional stability" was negatively correlated (Spearman's rho = -0.416; p < 0.01) and an output variable of the non-verbal learning test (NVLT), which can be interpreted as ability to learn, correlated positively (Spearman's rho = 0.412; p < 0.01) with visual P300-BCI performance. In a linear regression analysis both independent variables explained 24\% of the variance. "Emotional stability" was also negatively related to auditory P300-BCI performance (Spearman's rho = -0.377; p < 0.05), but failed significance in the regression analysis. Psychological parameters seem to play a moderate role in visual P300-BCI performance. "Emotional stability" was identified as a new predictor, indicating that BCI users who characterize themselves as calm and rational showed worse BCI performance. The positive relation of the ability to learn and BCI performance corroborates the notion that also for P300 based BCIs learning may constitute an important factor. Further studies are needed to consolidate or reject the presented predictors.}, language = {en} } @article{HersterBittnerCodreaetal.2019, author = {Herster, Franziska and Bittner, Zsofia and Codrea, Marius Cosmin and Archer, Nathan K. and Heister, Martin and L{\"o}ffler, Markus W. and Heumos, Simon and Wegner, Joanna and Businger, Ramona and Schindler, Michael and Stegner, David and Sch{\"a}kel, Knut and Grabbe, Stephan and Ghoreschi, Kamran and Miller, Lloyd S. and Weber, Alexander N. R.}, title = {Platelets Aggregate With Neutrophils and Promote Skin Pathology in Psoriasis}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2019.01867}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-320175}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Psoriasis is a frequent systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized primarily by skin lesions with massive infiltration of leukocytes, but frequently also presents with cardiovascular comorbidities. Especially polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) abundantly infiltrate psoriatic skin but the cues that prompt PMNs to home to the skin are not well-defined. To identify PMN surface receptors that may explain PMN skin homing in psoriasis patients, we screened 332 surface antigens on primary human blood PMNs from healthy donors and psoriasis patients. We identified platelet surface antigens as a defining feature of psoriasis PMNs, due to a significantly increased aggregation of neutrophils and platelets in the blood of psoriasis patients. Similarly, in the imiquimod-induced experimental in vivo mouse model of psoriasis, disease induction promoted PMN-platelet aggregate formation. In psoriasis patients, disease incidence directly correlated with blood platelet counts and platelets were detected in direct contact with PMNs in psoriatic but not healthy skin. Importantly, depletion of circulating platelets in mice in vivo ameliorated disease severity significantly, indicating that both PMNs and platelets may be relevant for psoriasis pathology and disease severity.}, language = {en} } @article{GryszelSchlossarekWuerthneretal.2023, author = {Gryszel, Maciej and Schlossarek, Tim and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Natali, Mirco and Głowacki, Eric Daniel}, title = {Water-soluble cationic perylene diimide dyes as stable photocatalysts for H\(_2\)O\(_2\) evolution}, series = {ChemPhotoChem}, volume = {7}, journal = {ChemPhotoChem}, number = {9}, issn = {2367-0932}, doi = {10.1002/cptc.202300070}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-370250}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Photocatalytic generation of hydrogen peroxide, H\(_2\)O\(_2\), has gained increasing attention in recent years, with applications ranging from solar energy conversion to biophysical research. While semiconducting solid-state materials are normally regarded as the workhorse for photogeneration of H\(_2\)O\(_2\), an intriguing alternative for on-demand H\(_2\)O\(_2\) is the use of photocatalytic organic dyes. Herein we report the use of water-soluble dyes based on perylene diimide molecules which behave as true molecular catalysts for the light-induced conversion of dissolved oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. In particular, we address how to obtain visible-light photocatalysts which are stable with respect to aggregation and photochemical degradation. We report on the factors affecting efficiency and stability, including variable electron donors, oxygen partial pressure, pH, and molecular catalyst structure. The result is a perylene diimide derivative with unprecedented peroxide evolution performance using a broad range of organic donor molecules and operating in a wide pH range.}, language = {en} } @article{KasaragodSchindelin2018, author = {Kasaragod, Vikram B. and Schindelin, Hermann}, title = {Structure-Function Relationships of Glycine and GABAA Receptors and Their Interplay With the Scaffolding Protein Gephyrin}, series = {Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience}, doi = {10.3389/fnmol.2018.00317}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325607}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are the major determinants of inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS). These neurotransmitters target glycine and GABAA receptors, respectively, which both belong to the Cys-loop superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). Interactions of the neurotransmitters with the cognate receptors result in receptor opening and a subsequent influx of chloride ions, which, in turn, leads to hyperpolarization of the membrane potential, thus counteracting excitatory stimuli. The majority of glycine receptors and a significant fraction of GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are recruited and anchored to the post-synaptic membrane by the central scaffolding protein gephyrin. This ∼93 kDa moonlighting protein is structurally organized into an N-terminal G-domain (GephG) connected to a C-terminal E-domain (GephE) via a long unstructured linker. Both inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors interact via a short peptide motif located in the large cytoplasmic loop located in between transmembrane helices 3 and 4 (TM3-TM4) of the receptors with a universal receptor-binding epitope residing in GephE. Gephyrin engages in nearly identical interactions with the receptors at the N-terminal end of the peptide motif, and receptor-specific interaction toward the C-terminal region of the peptide. In addition to its receptor-anchoring function, gephyrin also interacts with a rather large collection of macromolecules including different cytoskeletal elements, thus acting as central scaffold at inhibitory post-synaptic specializations. Dysfunctions in receptor-mediated or gephyrin-mediated neurotransmission have been identified in various severe neurodevelopmental disorders. Although biochemical, cellular and electrophysiological studies have helped to understand the physiological and pharmacological roles of the receptors, recent high resolution structures of the receptors have strengthened our understanding of the receptors and their gating mechanisms. Besides that, multiple crystal structures of GephE in complex with receptor-derived peptides have shed light into receptor clustering by gephyrin at inhibitory post-synapses. This review will highlight recent biochemical and structural insights into gephyrin and the GlyRs as well as GABAA receptors, which provide a deeper understanding of the molecular machinery mediating inhibitory neurotransmission.}, language = {en} } @article{SchneiderWiewelhoveRaederetal.2019, author = {Schneider, Christoph and Wiewelhove, Thimo and Raeder, Christian and Flatt, Andrew A. and Hoos, Olaf and Hottenrott, Laura and Schumbera, Oliver and Kellmann, Michael and Meyer, Tim and Pfeiffer, Mark and Ferrauti, Alexander}, title = {Heart Rate Variability Monitoring During Strength and High-Intensity Interval Training Overload Microcycles}, series = {Frontiers in Physiology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Physiology}, doi = {10.3389/fphys.2019.00582}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-231515}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Objective: In two independent study arms, we determine the effects of strength training (ST) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) overload on cardiac autonomic modulation by measuring heart rate (HR) and vagal heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: In the study, 37 well-trained athletes (ST: 7 female, 12 male; HIIT: 9 female, 9 male) were subjected to orthostatic tests (HR and HRV recordings) each day during a 4-day baseline period, a 6-day overload microcycle, and a 4-day recovery period. Discipline-specific performance was assessed before and 1 and 4 days after training. Results: Following ST overload, supine HR, and vagal HRV (Ln RMSSD) were clearly increased and decreased (small effects), respectively, and the standing recordings remained unchanged. In contrast, HIIT overload resulted in decreased HR and increased Ln RMSSD in the standing position (small effects), whereas supine recordings remained unaltered. During the recovery period, these responses were reversed (ST: small effects, HIIT: trivial to small effects). The correlations between changes in HR, vagal HRV measures, and performance were weak or inconsistent. At the group and individual levels, moderate to strong negative correlations were found between HR and Ln RMSSD when analyzing changes between testing days (ST: supine and standing position, HIIT: standing position) and individual time series, respectively. Use of rolling 2-4-day averages enabled more precise estimation of mean changes with smaller confidence intervals compared to single-day values of HR or Ln RMSSD. However, the use of averaged values displayed unclear effects for evaluating associations between HR, vagal HRV measures, and performance changes, and have the potential to be detrimental for classification of individual short-term responses. Conclusion: Measures of HR and Ln RMSSD during an orthostatic test could reveal different autonomic responses following ST or HIIT which may not be discovered by supine or standing measures alone. However, these autonomic changes were not consistently related to short-term changes in performance and the use of rolling averages may alter these relationships differently on group and individual level.}, language = {en} } @article{KervarrecSamimiGuyetantetal.2019, author = {Kervarrec, Thibault and Samimi, Mahtab and Guy{\´e}tant, Serge and Sarma, Bhavishya and Ch{\´e}ret, J{\´e}r{\´e}my and Blanchard, Emmanuelle and Berthon, Patricia and Schrama, David and Houben, Roland and Touz{\´e}, Antoine}, title = {Histogenesis of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review}, series = {Frontiers in Oncology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Oncology}, doi = {10.3389/fonc.2019.00451}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325733}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. This neoplasia features aggressive behavior, resulting in a 5-year overall survival rate of 40\%. In 2008, Feng et al. identified Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) integration into the host genome as the main event leading to MCC oncogenesis. However, despite identification of this crucial viral oncogenic trigger, the nature of the cell in which MCC oncogenesis occurs is actually unknown. In fact, several hypotheses have been proposed. Despite the large similarity in phenotype features between MCC tumor cells and physiological Merkel cells (MCs), a specialized subpopulation of the epidermis acting as mechanoreceptor of the skin, several points argue against the hypothesis that MCC derives directly from MCs. Alternatively, MCPyV integration could occur in another cell type and induce acquisition of an MC-like phenotype. Accordingly, an epithelial as well as a fibroblastic or B-cell origin of MCC has been proposed mainly based on phenotype similarities shared by MCC and these potential ancestries. The aim of this present review is to provide a comprehensive review of the current knowledge of the histogenesis of MCC.}, language = {en} } @article{NagyvanGeffenStegneretal.2019, author = {Nagy, Magdolna and van Geffen, Johanna P. and Stegner, David and Adams, David J. and Braun, Attila and de Witt, Susanne M. and Elvers, Margitta and Geer, Mitchell J. and Kuijpers, Marijke J. E. and Kunzelmann, Karl and Mori, Jun and Oury, C{\´e}cile and Pircher, Joachim and Pleines, Irina and Poole, Alastair W. and Senis, Yotis A. and Verdoold, Remco and Weber, Christian and Nieswandt, Bernhard and Heemskerk, Johan W. M. and Baaten, Constance C. F. M. J.}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Microfluidics Thrombus Formation in Multiple Genetically Modified Mice: Link to Thrombosis and Hemostasis}, series = {Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine}, doi = {10.3389/fcvm.2019.00099}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232194}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Genetically modified mice are indispensable for establishing the roles of platelets in arterial thrombosis and hemostasis. Microfluidics assays using anticoagulated whole blood are commonly used as integrative proxy tests for platelet function in mice. In the present study, we quantified the changes in collagen-dependent thrombus formation for 38 different strains of (genetically) modified mice, all measured with the same microfluidics chamber. The mice included were deficient in platelet receptors, protein kinases or phosphatases, small GTPases or other signaling or scaffold proteins. By standardized re-analysis of high-resolution microscopic images, detailed information was obtained on altered platelet adhesion, aggregation and/or activation. For a subset of 11 mouse strains, these platelet functions were further evaluated in rhodocytin- and laminin-dependent thrombus formation, thus allowing a comparison of glycoprotein VI (GPVI), C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC2) and integrin α6β1 pathways. High homogeneity was found between wild-type mice datasets concerning adhesion and aggregation parameters. Quantitative comparison for the 38 modified mouse strains resulted in a matrix visualizing the impact of the respective (genetic) deficiency on thrombus formation with detailed insight into the type and extent of altered thrombus signatures. Network analysis revealed strong clusters of genes involved in GPVI signaling and Ca2+ homeostasis. The majority of mice demonstrating an antithrombotic phenotype in vivo displayed with a larger or smaller reduction in multi-parameter analysis of collagen-dependent thrombus formation in vitro. Remarkably, in only approximately half of the mouse strains that displayed reduced arterial thrombosis in vivo, this was accompanied by impaired hemostasis. This was also reflected by comparing in vitro thrombus formation (by microfluidics) with alterations in in vivo bleeding time. In conclusion, the presently developed multi-parameter analysis of thrombus formation using microfluidics can be used to: (i) determine the severity of platelet abnormalities; (ii) distinguish between altered platelet adhesion, aggregation and activation; and (iii) elucidate both collagen and non-collagen dependent alterations of thrombus formation. This approach may thereby aid in the better understanding and better assessment of genetic variation that affect in vivo arterial thrombosis and hemostasis.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Glueck2024, author = {Gl{\"u}ck, Valentina}, title = {Habitual avoidance in trait anxiety and anxiety disorders}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36022}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-360227}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Maladaptive avoidance behaviors can contribute to the maintenance of fear, anxiety, and anxiety disorders. It has been proposed that, throughout anxiety disorder progression, extensively repeated avoidance may become a habit (i.e., habitual avoidance) instead of being controlled by internal threat-related goals (i.e., goal-directed avoidance). However, the process of the acquisition of habitual avoidance in anxiety disorders is not yet well understood. Accordingly, the current thesis aimed to investigate experimentally whether trait anxiety and anxiety disorders are associated with an increased shift from goal-directed to habitual avoidance. The aim of Study 1 was to develop an experimental operationalization of maladaptive habitual avoidance. To this end, we adapted a commonly used action control task, the outcome devaluation paradigm. In this task, habitual avoidance was operationalized as persistent responses after extensive training to avoid an unpleasant stimulus when the aversive outcome was devalued, i.e., when individuals knew the aversive outcome could not occur anymore. We included indicators for costly and low-cost habitual avoidance, whereby habitual avoidance was associated with a monetary cost, while low-cost habitual avoidance was not associated with monetary costs. In Experiment 1 of Study 1, a pronounced costly and non-costly outcome devaluation effect was observed. However, this result may have partly resulted from trial-and-error learning or a better-safe-than-sorry strategy since not instructions about the stimulus-response-outcome contingencies after the outcome devaluation procedure had been provided to the participants. In Experiment 2 of Study 1, instructions on these stimulus-response-outcome contingencies were included to prevent the potential confounders. As a result, we observed no indicators for costly habitual avoidance, but evidence for low-cost habitual avoidance, potentially because competing goal-directed responses could easily be implemented and inhibited costly habitual avoidance tendencies. In Study 2, the strength of habitual avoidance acquisition was compared between participants with and without anxiety disorders, using the experimental task of Experiment 1 in Study 1. The results indicated that costly and low-cost habitual avoidance was not more pronounced in participants with anxiety disorders than in the healthy control group. However, in an exploratory subgroup comparison, panic disorder predicted more substantial habitual avoidance acquisition than social anxiety disorder. In Study 3, we investigated whether trait anxiety as a risk factor for anxiety disorders is associated with a specific increased shift from goal-directed to habitual avoidance and approach. The task from the Experiment 1 of Study 1 was adapted to include parallel versions for operationalizing habitual avoidance and habitual approach responses. Using a within-subjects design, the individuals - pre-screened for high and low trait anxiety - took part in the approach and the avoidance outcome devaluation task version. The results suggested stronger non-costly habitual responses in more highly trait-anxious individuals independent of the task version, and suggested a tendency towards an impact of trait anxiety on costly habitual approach rather than on costly habitual avoidance. In summary, individuals with high trait anxiety or anxiety disorders did not develop habitual avoidance more readily than individuals with low trait anxiety or without anxiety disorders. Therefore, this thesis does not support the assumption that an increased tendency to acquire habitual avoidance contributes to persistent maladaptive avoidance in anxiety disorders. The thesis also contributes to the discourse on the validity of outcome devaluation studies in general by highlighting the impact of task features, such as the instructions after the outcome devaluation procedure or the task difficulty in the test phase, on the experimental results. Such validity issues may partly explain the heterogeneity of findings in research with the outcome devaluation paradigm. We suggest ways towards more valid operationalizations of habitual avoidance in future studies.}, subject = {Gewohnheit}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gabel2024, author = {Gabel, Martin Sebastian}, title = {Behavioural resistance to \(Varroa\) \(destructor\) in the Western honeybee \(Apis\) \(mellifera\) - Mechanisms leading to decreased mite reproduction}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-36053}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-360536}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) is among the most versatile species in the world. Its adaptability is rooted in thousands of the differently specialized individuals acting jointly together. Thus, bees that are able to handle a certain task or condition well can back up other individuals less capable to do so on the colony level. Vice versa, the latter individuals might perform better in other situations. This evolutionary recipe for success ensures the survival of colonies despite challenging habitat conditions. In this context, the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor reflects the most pronounced biotic challenge to honeybees worldwide. Without proper treatment, infested colonies rapidly dwindle and ultimately die. Nevertheless, resistance behaviours against this parasite have evolved in some populations through natural selection, enabling colonies to survive untreated. In this, different behaviours appear to be adapted to the respective habitat conditions and may complement each other. Yet, the why and how of this behavioural response to the mite remains largely unknown. My thesis focuses on the biological background of Varroa-resistance traits in honeybees and presents important findings for the comprehension of this complex host-parasite interaction. Based on this, I draw implications for both, applied bee breeding and scientific investigations in the field of Varroa-resistance. Specifically, I focus on two traits commonly found in resistant and, to a lower degree, also mite-susceptible colonies: decreased mite reproduction and the uncapping and subsequent recapping of sealed brood cells. Examining failures in the reproductive success of mites as a primary mechanism of Varroa-resistance, I was able to link them to specific bee behaviours and external factors. Since mite reproduction and the brood rearing of bees are inevitably connected, I first investigated the effects of brood interruption on the reproductive success of mites. Brood interruption decreased the reproductive success of mites both immediately and in the long term. By examining the causes of reproductive failure, I could show that this was mainly due to an increased share of infertile mites. Furthermore, I proved that interruption in brood rearing significantly increased the expression of recapping behaviour. These findings consequently showed a dynamic modulation of mite reproduction and recapping, as well as a direct effect of brood interruption on both traits. To further elucidate the plasticity in the expression of both traits, I studied mite reproduction, recapping behaviour and infestation levels over the course of three years. The resulting extensive dataset unveiled a significant seasonal variation in mite reproduction and recapping. In addition, I show that recapping decreases the reproductive success of mites by increasing delayed developing female offspring and cells lacking male offspring. By establishing a novel picture-based brood investigation method, I could furthermore show that both the removal of brood cells and recapping activity specifically target brood ages in which mite offspring would be expected. Recapping, however, did not cause infertility of mites. Considering the findings of my first study, this points towards complementary mechanisms. This underlines the importance of increased recapping behaviour and decreased mite reproduction as resistance traits, while at the same time emphasising the challenges of reliable data acquisition. To pave the way for a practical application of these findings in breeding, we then investigated the heritability (i.e., the share of genotypic variation on the observed phenotypic variation) of the accounted traits. By elaborating comparable test protocols and compiling data from over 4,000 colonies, we could, for the first time, demonstrate that recapping of infested cells and decreased reproductive success of mites are heritable (and thus selectable) traits in managed honeybee populations. My thesis proves the importance of recapping and decreased mite reproduction as resistance traits and therefore valuable goals for breeding efforts. In this regard, I shed light on the underlying mechanisms of both traits, and present clear evidence for their interaction and heritability.}, subject = {Varroa destructor}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dekant2024, author = {Dekant, Raphael H.}, title = {Species-differences in the \(in\) \(vitro\) biotransformation of trifluoroethene (HFO-1123)}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31403}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-314035}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {1,1,2-trifluoroethene (HFO-1123) is intended for use as a refrigerant. Inhalation studies on HFO-1123 in rats suggested a low potential for toxicity, with no-observed-adverse-effect levels greater then 20,000 ppm. However, single inhalation exposure of Goettingen Minipigs and New Zealand White Rabbits resulted in mortality. It was assumed that conjugation of HFO-1123 with glutathione, via glutathione S-transferase, gives rise to S-(1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-glutathione (1123-GSH), which is then transformed to the corresponding cysteine S-conjugate (S-(1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine, 1123-CYS). Subsequent beta-lyase mediated cleavage of 1123-CYS may result in monofluoroacetic acid, a potent inhibitor of aconitase. Species-differences in 1123-GSH formation and 1123-CYS cleavage to MFA may explain species-differences in HFO-1123 toxicity. This study was designed to test the hypothesis, that GSH-dependent biotransformation and subsequent beta-lyase mediated formation of monofluoroacetic acid, a potent inhibitor of aconitase in the citric acid cycle, may play a key role in HFO-1123 toxicity and to evaluate if species-differences in the extent of MFA formation may account for the species-differences in HFO-1123 toxicity. The overall objective was to determine species-differences in HFO-1123 biotransformation in susceptible vs. less susceptible species and humans as a basis for human risk assessment. To this end, in vitro biotransformation of HFO-1123 and 1123-CYS was investigated in renal and hepatic subcellular fractions of mice, rats, humans, Goettingen Minipigs and NZW Rabbits. Furthermore, cytotoxicity and metabolism of 1123-CYS was assessed in cultured renal epithelial cells. Enzyme kinetic parameters for beta-lyase mediated cleavage of 1123-CYS in renal and hepatic cytosolic fractions were determined, and 19F-NMR was used to identify fluorine containing metabolites arising from 1123-CYS cleavage. Quantification of 1123-GSH formation in hepatic S9 fractions after incubation with HFO-1123 was performed by LC-MS/MS and hepatic metabolism of HFO-1123 was monitored by 19F-NMR. Rates of 1123-GSH formation were increased in rat, mouse and NZW Rabbit compared to human and Goettingen hepatic S9, indicating increased GSH dependent biotransformation in rats, mouse and NZW Rabbits. NZW Rabbit hepatic S9 exhibited increased 1123-GSH formation in the presence compared to the absence of acivicin, a specific gamma-GT inhibitor. This indicates increased gamma-GT mediated cleavage of 1123-GSH in NZW Rabbit hepatic S9 compared to the other species. 19F-NMR confirmed formation of 1123-GSH as the main metabolite of GSH mediated biotransformation of HFO-1123 in hepatic S9 fractions next to F-. Increased F- formation was detected in NZW Rabbit and Goettingen Minipig hepatic S9 in the presence of an NADPH regenerating system, indicating a higher rate of CYP-450 mediated metabolism in these species. Based on these findings, it is possible that CYP-450 mediated metabolism may contribute to HFO-1123 toxicity. In contrast to the increased formation of 1123-GSH in rat, mouse and NZW Rabbit hepatic S9 (compared to human and Goettingen Minipig), enzyme kinetic studies revealed a significantly higher beta-lyase activity towards 1123-CYS in renal cytosol of Goettingen Minipigs compared to cytosol from rats, mice, humans and NZW Rabbits. However, beta-lyase cleavage in renal NZW Rabbit cytosol was slightly increased compared to rat, mouse and human renal cytosols. 19F-NMR analysis confirmed increased time-dependent formation of MFA in renal Goettingen Minipig cytosol and NZW Rabbit (compared to human and rat cytosolic fractions). Three structurally not defined MFA-derivatives were detected exclusively in NZW Rabbit and Goettingen Minipig cytosols. Also, porcine kidney cells were more sensitive to cytotoxicity of 1123-CYS compared to rat and human kidney cells. Overall, increased beta-lyase mediate cleavage of 1123-CYS to MFA in Goettingen Minipig and NZW Rabbit kidney (compared to human and rat) may support the hypothesis that enzymatic cleavage by beta-lyases may account for the species-differences in HFO-1123 toxicity. However, the extent of GST mediated biotransformation in the liver as the initial step in HFO-1123 metabolism does not fully agree with this hypothesis, since 1123-GSH formation occurs at higher rates in rat, mouse and NZW Rabbit S9 as compared to the Goettingen Minipig. Based on the inconsistencies between the extent of GST and beta-lyase mediated biotransformation of HFO-1123 obtained by this study, a decisive statement about an increased biotransformation of HFO-1123 in susceptible species with a direct linkage to the species-specific toxicity cannot be drawn. Resulting from this, a clear and reliable conclusion regarding the risk for human health originating from HFO-1123 cannot be made. However, considering the death of Goettingen Minipigs and NZW Rabbits after inhalation exposure of HFO-1123 at concentrations great than 500 ppm and greater than 1250 ppm, respectively, this indicates a health concern for humans under peak exposure conditions. For a successful registration of HFO-1123 and its use as a refrigerant, further in vitro and in vivo investigations addressing uncertainties in the species-specific toxicity of HFO-1123 are urgently needed.}, subject = {Biotransformation}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zhang2024, author = {Zhang, Tengyu}, title = {Development of Modified polylysine based antibody conjugated nanoparticles with tumor-restricted, FcγR-independent stimulatory activity by targeting Fn14}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-35865}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-358650}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2024}, abstract = {In this study, we developed an innovative nanoparticle formulation to facilitate the delivery of antitumor antibodies to tumor sites. The study commenced with the utilization of 13 bispecific antibody fusion proteins, which targeted the Fn14 receptor, thereby validating the pivotal role of crosslinking in Fn14 receptor activation. Subsequently, gold nanoparticles were activated using COOH-PEG-SH in combination with EDC/NHS, and subsequently conjugated with two Fn14-targeting antibodies, PDL192 and 5B6. Following this, a pH-sensitive shell was generated on the outer layer of the antibody-coupled gold nanoparticles through the application of chemically modified polylysine. The resultant complexes, termed MPL-antibody-AuNP, demonstrated a release profile reminiscent of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Notably, these complexes released antibody-AuNPs only in slightly acidic conditions while remaining intact in neutral or basic environments. Functionality analysis further affirmed the pH-sensitive property of MPL-antibody-AuNPs, demonstrating that the antibodies only initiated potent Fn14 activation in slightly acidic environments. This formulation holds potential for applicability to antibodies or ligands targeting the 80 TNFRSF family, given that gold nanoparticles successfully served as platforms for antibody crosslinking, thereby transforming these antibodies into potent agonists. Moreover, the TME disintegration profile of MPL mitigates the potential cytotoxic effects of antibodies, thereby circumventing associated adverse side effects. This study not only showcases the potential of nanoparticle formulations in targeted therapy, but also provides a solid foundation for further investigations on their clinical application in the context of targeting category II TNFRSF receptors with antibodies or ligands.}, subject = {Immuntherapie}, language = {en} }