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- George, Zandra, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Improved performance and life time of inverted organic photovoltaics by using polymer interfacial materials
- 2015
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Ingår i: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-0248. ; 133, s. 99-104
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A previously published fluorene based interlayer polymer is here compared to three similar polymers where the fluorene monomer has been exchanged with monomers that have been reported to have a higher photo-chemical stability. The polymer interlayers have been studied in terms of their influence on device performance and stability on inverted devices with an active layer of P3HT:PC61BM. By acting as a hole-blocking layer the polymers are able to increase the efficiency of the devices with similar to 50% compared to devices with an ITO cathode. In addition, the polymers also improve the photo-stability of the devices, mainly as an effect of a reduced decrease in open-circuit voltage and fill factor. This indicates that solution processable polymer interlayers could be a way towards both higher efficiency and improved stability of inverted organic solar cells.
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| 3. |
- Hansson, Rickard, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Photo-degradation in air of the active layer components in a thiophene-quinoxaline copolymer: fullerene solar cell
- 2016
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Ingår i: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9084 .- 1463-9076. ; 18:16, s. 11132-11138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have studied the photo-degradation in air of a blend of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and poly[2,3-bis-(3-octyloxyphenyl)quinoxaline-5,8-diyl-alt-thiophene-2,5-di yl] (TQ1), and how the photo-degradation affects the solar cell performance. Using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, changes to the electronic structure of TQ1 and PCBM caused by illumination in ambient air are investigated and compared between the pristine materials and the blend. The NEXAFS spectra show that the unoccupied molecular orbitals of TQ1 are not significantly changed by the exposure of pristine TQ1 to light in air, whereas those of PCBM are severely affected as a result of photo-induced degradation of PCBM. Furthermore, the photo-degradation of PCBM is accelerated by blending it with TQ1. While the NEXAFS spectrum of TQ1 remains unchanged upon illumination in air, its valence band spectrum shows that the occupied molecular orbitals are weakly affected. Yet, UV-Vis absorption spectra demonstrate photo-bleaching of TQ1, which is attenuated in the presence of PCBM in blend films. Illumination of the active layer of TQ1: PCBM solar cells prior to cathode deposition causes severe losses in electrical performance.
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| 4. |
- Lindqvist, Camilla A, et al.
(författare)
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FoxP3+ T-Cells in Patients with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Express Cytolytic Markers and Kill Autologous B-Cells
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Recent reports indicate that infiltration of FoxP3+ cells into the tumor area may be associated with better overall survival of patients with B-cell malignancies, which is in contrast to patients with non-hematopoetic tumors. Here, we demonstrate a possible mechanism to these findings. Since the tumor cell in lymphoma originates from the immune system we hypothesized that FoxP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) may have a suppressive role in tumor progression in patients with B-cell malignancies. Peripheral blood was collected from 14 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and their Tregs were evaluated for cytolytic markers such as FasL and CD107a. We found that both conventional Tregs (CD4+ FoxP3+CD127low T-cells) and FoxP3+CD127high T-cells were significantly increased in patients with B-CLL compared to healthy controls. Further, both groups of FoxP3+ cells displayed higher expression of the degranulation marker CD107a indicating perforin/granzyme release. A flow cytometry-based cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that purified Tregs from both patients and healthy controls could kill autologous B-cells in vitro. In conclusion, FoxP3+ T-cells in patients with CLL show effector phenotype and may be involved in tumor cell control by their natural capacity to kill B-cells.
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| 5. |
- Lindqvist, Camilla A, et al.
(författare)
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Peripheral T Lymphocytes, Including FoxP3+ T-Cells, Exhibit a Cytotoxic Phenotype in Patients with B-Cell Lymphoma
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Recent studies have shown that high levels of FoxP3+ cells within lymphoma-affected lymph nodes are associated with a better outcome of patients with B-cell lymphoma. This finding is opposite to what has been seen in patients with solid non-hematopoietic tumors. In an attempt to better understand the role of FoxP3+ cell in lymphoma, we collected peripheral blood from 17 patients and determined the level of T regulatory cells (CD3+CD4+FoxP3+CD127low lymphocytes) and FoxP3+CD127high T-cells (CD3+CD4+FoxP3+CD127high lymphocytes). The two subgroups of FoxP3+ T-cells, as well as conventional FoxP3- T-cells, were further analyzed for presence of cytotoxic markers such as FasL and CD107a. Patient plasma was analyzed for the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β. Finally, the proliferative capacity of T-cells was assessed using Alamar Blue assay. In lymphoma patients, both FoxP3+ T-cells and conventional T-cells had elevated levels of cytotoxic markers. No significant increase in IL-10 or TGF-β was detected and most patient T-cells had a normal proliferative capacity. This is the first, to our knowledge, study showing a cytotoxic phenotype of FoxP3+ T-cells in patients with B-cell lymphoma.
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| 6. |
- Lindqvist, Camilla A., et al.
(författare)
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T regulatory cells control T-cell proliferation partly by the release of soluble CD25 in patients with B-cell malignancies
- 2010
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Ingår i: Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0019-2805 .- 1365-2567. ; 131:3, s. 371-376
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is one of the most studied cytokines driving T-cell proliferation, activation and survival. It binds to the IL-2 receptor consisting of three chains, the alpha (CD25), beta and common gamma (gammac). The binding of the CD25 chain to IL-2 is necessary to expose high-affinity binding sites for the beta and gammac chains, which, in turn, are responsible for downstream signalling. A high level of soluble CD25 (sCD25) has been associated with a poor prognosis in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The function and source of origin of this soluble receptor is not well investigated. In the present study we hypothesized that T regulatory (Treg) cells may release CD25 to act as a decoy receptor for IL-2, thereby depriving T-effector cells of IL-2. Peripheral blood from patients with B-cell malignancies (n = 26) and healthy controls (n = 27) was investigated for the presence and function of FoxP3(+) Treg cells and sCD25 by multi-colour flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further, the proliferative capacity of T cells was evaluated with or without the presence of recombinant sCD25. The results demonstrate that Treg cells from patients had lower CD25 expression intensity and that they released CD25 in vitro. Further, high levels of Treg cells correlated with sCD25 plasma concentration. Recombinant sCD25 could suppress T-cell proliferation in vitro. In conclusion, the release of sCD25 by Treg cells may be a mechanism to deprive IL-2 and thereby inhibit anti-tumour T-cell responses.
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| 7. |
- Lindqvist, Camilla A, et al.
(författare)
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T Regulatory Cells in B-Cell Malignancy : Tumor Support or Kiss of Death?
- 2012
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Ingår i: Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0019-2805 .- 1365-2567. ; 135:4, s. 255-260
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is well established that T regulatory cells (Tregs) counteract tumor immunity. However, conflicting results describing the role of Tregs in hematological tumors warrant further investigations to clarify the interactions between Tregs and the tumor. B-cell malignancy derives from different stages of B-cell development and differentiation in which T-cells play a profound role. The transformed B-cell may still be in need of T-cell help to thrive but simultaneously they may be recognized and destroyed by cytotoxic lymphocytes. Recent reports demonstrate that Tregs can suppress and even kill B-cells as part of their normal function to rescue the body from autoimmunity. An emerging body of evidence points out that Tregs inhibit tumor-specific T-cells but may also have a role in suppressing the progression of the B-cell tumor. In this review, we discuss the origin and function of Tregs and their role in patients with B-cell tumors.
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| 8. |
- Malmström, Per-Uno, et al.
(författare)
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AdCD40L immunogene therapy for bladder carcinoma--the first phase I/IIa trial
- 2010
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Ingår i: Clinical Cancer Research. - : American Association for Cancer Research. - 1078-0432 .- 1557-3265. ; 16:12, s. 3279-3287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: Immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation is recommended for high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is not effective in advanced tumors, and better alternatives are warranted. Immunostimulating gene therapy with adenoviral vectors expressing CD40 ligand (AdCD40L) has shown efficacy in tumor models. CD40 ligand stimulates systemic immunity and may be effective in local and invasive human disease.EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with invasive bladder cancer scheduled for cystectomy or patients with T(a) tumors were enrolled in a phase I/IIa trial. Patients were treated with three cycles of intrabladder Clorpactin WCS-90 prewash, followed by AdCD40L instillation 1 week apart. Safety, gene transfer, immune effects, and antitumor responses were monitored.RESULTS: All eight recruited patients were treated as scheduled, and therapy was well tolerated. The main adverse effect was transient local pain during prewash. Postoperatively, urinary tract infections and one case of late septicemia with elevated potassium were reported. No adverse events were ascribed to vector therapy. Gene transfer was detected in biopsies, and bladders were heavily infiltrated with T cells. The effector marker IFN-gamma increased in biopsies, whereas levels of circulating T regulatory cells were reduced. Histologic evaluation indicated that AdCD40L therapy reduced the load of malignant cells.CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report on immunogene therapy in bladder cancer and the first using AdCD40L in vivo. Local AdCD40L gene therapy was safe, boosted immune activation, and should be further evaluated as a single or an adjuvant therapy for urothelial malignancies.
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