Pharmaceutical Sciences

  • Hybrid Immobilized Catalytic System with Controlled Permeability

    The technology is a chitosan-alginate hybrid microcapsule for biological agent immobilization. A chitosan-alginate hybrid polymer system allows better delivery of biological agents for metabolism assays, toxicity assays, drug delivery or other possible applications. The modified chitosan outer layer creates mechanical strength and biocompatibility, while the inner alginate layer traps the agent and controls the amount of delivery.

    Inventors: Mansoor Amiji, Ehab S. Taqieddin
    Patent Application Nos. 10/501,130 and 12/011,126

  • Biocompatible Articles And Method For Making the Same

    Modified positively charged polymers, such as chitosan, provide a unique hydrogel system for, among others, targeted drug delivery of bio-active molecules and/or an innovative semi-permeable membrane for adhesion prevention barrier, hemo-dialysis, skin substitute, wound dressing material, blood oxygenation etc.

    Inventor: Mansoor Amiji
    Patent No. 5,885,609

  • Drug Delivery Using pH-Sensitive Semi-Interpenetrating Network Hydrogels

    A positively charged polymer, such as chitosan, makes an excellent material for semi-permeable membranes and for targeted drug delivery systems. After modification of a charged polymer to decrease plasma protein adsorption, platelet adhesion and activation, and thrombus development, the new material possesses increased blood and tissue bio-compatibility and in some instances, the material is also biodegradable. Unique nano-spheres or micro-spheres (hydrogels) created from a patented network of the charged polymer are useful for targeted delivery of entrapped bio-active molecules such as antibiotics, therapeutic peptides, anticoagulants, anticancer drugs, gene products and pesticides or herbicides.

    Inventor: Mansoor Amiji
    Patent No. 5,904,927

  • Methods and Compositions for Improving Cellular Uptake of a Therapeutic Agent in a Cell Exhibiting Deregulation of Mucin O-glycosylation

    The invention describes mucin glycosylation inhibitors. The reagent increases the susceptibility of tumors to chemotherapy, leading to an improved success rate of cancer therapy.

    Inventor:Robert Campbell
    Patent Application No.: PCT/US2008/003020

  • Methods and Materials for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

    and

    Method of Identifying and Determining the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Processes or Agents for the Treatment of Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

    Two psychoactive drugs, clozapine and haloperidol, commonly used in the clinic demonstrated robust activity in novel assays measuring D4 receptor-mediated PLM activity under different conditions based on an understanding of the D4 receptor - PLM cycle. The D4 receptor-mediated PLM assays coupled with conventional D4 receptor ligand binding assays appear to provide better screens for psychoactive drugs. D4 receptor-mediated activities in two proprietary assays show promise for selecting drugs for treatment of schizophrenia, autism and related disorders, and also as diagnostics for these diseases.

    Inventor: Richard Deth
    US Patent Nos.: 6,080,549, 6,773,892

  • Field-Release Mass Spectrometry

    A new form of time-of-flight mass spectrometry with the potential to analyze macromolecular to cellular biosubstances. Allows proteomes, intact viruses and bacteria to be detected more broadly and efficiently.

    Inventor: Roger Giese
    US Patent No.: 5,952,654

  • Intensified Neutral Loss Tags and Use Thereof in Mass Spectrometry

    New techniques and reagents for labeling of multiple chemical and biochemical analytes. These tags, linkers, dyes and sample preparation techniques provide functional tools and methods coupled with bio-analytical instrumentation to improve detection of DNA adducts, sugars, proteins and peptides, and lipids.

    Inventors: Roger Giese, Guodong Li, Jianxian Gao, Poguang Wang
    Patent Application No.: 10/741,585

  • Fluorescent Xanthene Derivatives

    New techniques and reagents for labeling of multiple chemical and biochemical analytes. These tags, linkers, dyes and sample preparation techniques provide functional tools and methods coupled with bio-analytical instrumentation to improve detection of DNA adducts, sugars, proteins and peptides, and lipids.

    Inventors: Roger Giese, Jianxian Gao
    Patent Application No.: 10/250,975

  • Methods and Compositions for Improving Immune Responses

    This novel method enhances the effects of cancer vaccines through the administration of oxygen, thus circumventing many side effects of conventional anti-tumor therapies.

    Inventors: Michail Sitkovsky, Akio Ohta
    Patent Application No.: PCT/US2008/001891

  • Self-Assembling Micelle-Like Nanoparticles for Systemic Gene Delivery

    The method of the invention produces a novel and effective construct for gene delivery and therapy. This new approach of using a chemical conjugate of phospholipids and polymer provides for the advancement of this therapeutic method into everyday medical practice.

    Inventors: Young Tag Ko, Amit Kale, Vladimir P. Torchilin
    Non-Provisional Patent Application No.: PCT/US2008/12660

  • Intracellular Delivery of Therapeutic Agents

    The invention utilizes protein transduction domain (PTD) peptides to transport liposomes containing DNA and/or drugs for a safe and efficient intracellular delivery of biological agents. The incorporation of PTDs into liposomes increases the efficiency of intracellular delivery of biological agents by bypassing the endocytic pathway. The incorporation also decreases the need for positively charged lipids, which minimizes the toxicity toward cells.

    Inventors: Vladimir Torchilin, Ram Rammohan, Tatiana Levchenko, Natalia Volodina
    Patent Application No.: 10/503,776

  • Micelle Delivery System Loaded With a Pharmaceutical Agent

    The micelles can be produced with targeting moieties, such as protein transmembrane domains, amino acids, antibodies, ligands for delivery to specific tissues. The micelles are a colloidal dispersion of nano particles with a diameter of about 5 nm - 100 nm range loaded with poorly soluble anti-cancer drugs and other biological agents. The purpose of the invention is to provide a better availability of biological agents, protect them against destructive environments upon in vivo administration and promote their accumulation in tissue.

    Inventors: Vladimir Torchilin, Anatoly Lukyano, Zhonggao Gao
    Patent Application No.: 10/553,612