Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090269279 | Toxicology and Cellular Effect of Manufactured Nanomaterials - The increasing use of nanotechnology in consumer products and medical applications underlies the importance of understanding its potential toxic effects to people and the environment. Herein are described methods and assays to predict and evaluate the cellular effects of nanomaterial exposure. Exposing cells to nanomaterials at cytotoxic doses induces cell cycle arrest and increases apoptosis/necrosis, activates genes involved in cellular transport, metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and stress response. Certain nanomaterials induce genes indicative of a strong immune and inflammatory response within skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, the described multiwall carbon nanoonions (MWCNOs) can be used as a therapeutic in the treatment of cancer due to its cytotoxicity. | 10-29-2009 |
20120136241 | Multi-Modality Nanoparticles Having Optically Responsive Shape - In certain embodiments novel nanoparticles (nanowontons) are provided that are suitable for multimodal imaging and/or therapy. In one embodiment, the nanoparticles include a first biocompatible (e.g., gold) layer, an inner core layer (e.g., a non-biocompatible material), and a biocompatible (e.g., gold) layer. The first gold layer includes a concave surface that forms a first outer surface of the layered nanoparticle. The second gold layer includes a convex surface that forms a second outer surface of the layered nanoparticle. The first and second gold layers encapsulate the inner core material layer. Methods of fabricating such nanoparticles are also provided. | 05-31-2012 |
20120315218 | Toxicology and Cellular Effect of Manufactured Nanomaterials - The increasing use of nanotechnology in consumer products and medical applications underlies the importance of understanding its potential toxic effects to people and the environment. Herein are described methods and assays to predict and evaluate the cellular effects of nanomaterial exposure. Exposing cells to nanomaterials at cytotoxic doses induces cell cycle arrest and increases apoptosis/necrosis, activates genes involved in cellular transport, metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and stress response. Certain nanomaterials induce genes indicative of a strong immune and inflammatory response within skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, the described multiwall carbon nanoonions (MWCNOs) can be used as a therapeutic in the treatment of cancer due to its cytotoxicity. | 12-13-2012 |
20140260546 | Combinational Array Gas Sensor - Described is a combinational array gas sensor. In one aspect is described as an apparatus for measuring a concentration of at least one gas in air comprising an integrated semiconductor sensor unit, the semiconductor sensor unit comprising a common substrate; a plurality of semiconductor sensors disposed over the common substrate, wherein each of the plurality of semiconductor sensors senses at least one of a plurality of different gases, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors senses the at least one gas, and wherein each of the plurality of the semiconductor sensors include two electrodes and a plurality of semiconductor ridges disposed between the two electrodes, each of the plurality of semiconductor ridges being made of a same composition of semiconductor material, thereby allowing the air with the gas disposed therein to be proximate to each of the plurality of semiconductor ridges unless inhibited by an inhibitor material; and a circuit that uses a source current to pass a measurement current through at least some of the plurality of semiconductor sensors and cause outputting of at least one measurement signal from the plurality of semiconductor sensors. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278133 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISEASE ASSOCIATED HUMAN GENOMIC VARIANT ANALYSIS AND REPORTING - Systems and methods for disease associated human genomic variant analysis and reporting is disclosed. The systems and methods include receiving and extracting disease related variant information; storing the disease related variant information in a first data structure. Moreover, the system and methods include identifying a plurality of genomic variants and determining one or more probability of disease associated with at least one or more of the plurality of genomic variants. For at least one or more of the plurality of genomic variants that has at least one probability of disease that is greater than a threshold, the systems and methods may also obtain validation of the at least one of the plurality of genomic variants using the validation module. A report may be created to include at least a disease and the likelihood of the disease. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100048412 | DETECTION OF PROTEASE AND PROTEASE ACTIVITY USING A SINGLE NANOSCRESCENT SERS PROBE - This invention pertains to the in vitro detection of proteases using a single peptide-conjugate nanocrescent surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes with at least nanomolar sensitivity. The probe enables detection of proteolytic activity in extremely small volume and at low concentration. In certain embodiments the probes comprise an indicator for the detection of an active protease, where the indicator comprises a nanocrescent attached to a peptide, where said peptide comprises a recognition site for the protease and a Raman tag attached to the peptide. | 02-25-2010 |
20100279289 | SIZE-DEPENDENT BIOLOGICAL EFFECT OF NANOPARTICLES - Nanoparticles are used increasingly in consumer products and biomedical applications. Yet the cellular interaction mechanism at the molecular level is not well understood for nanomaterials of different size, shape and surface chemistry. Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs), which have been explored extensively for various applications in recent years, are used as the model system to help understand the size-dependent biological effects of nanoparticles. Jurkat cells treated with Au-NPs ranging from 2 nm to 200 nm were studied. Whole genome expression measurements indicate size-dependent effects, including linear scaling and threshold effects. In addition, a non-linear pattern of gene responses that persisted over time were observed in 20-40 nm Au-NP treated cells. Gene function, promoter, and pathway analyses reveal differential signaling processes that are correlated with nanoparticle sizes. The size may play a role in cellular sorting of naturally occurring particulates, particle interaction with the receptors, intracellular transportation, signaling and stress responses. | 11-04-2010 |
20100323906 | NANOPLASMONIC MOLECULAR RULER FOR NUCLEASE ACTIVITY AND DNA FOOTPRINTING - This invention provides a nanoplasmonic molecular ruler, which can perform label-free and real-time monitoring of nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) length changes and perform nucleic acid footprinting. In various embodiments the ruler comprises a nucleic acid attached to a nanoparticle, such that changes in the nucleic acid length are detectable using surface plasmon resonance. The nanoplamonic ruler provides a fast and convenient platform for mapping nucleic acid -protein interactions, for nuclease activity monitoring, and for other footprinting related methods. | 12-23-2010 |
20110046018 | SERS-BASED, SINGLE STEP, REAL-TIME DETECTION OF PROTEIN KINASE AND/OR PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY - This invention provides novel compositions and methods for the detection, and/or quantification, of the presence and/or activity of one or more kinases and/or phosphatases. In certain embodiments this invention a device for the detection of kinase and/or phosphatase activity where the device comprises a Raman active surface comprising features that enhance Raman scattering having attached thereto a plurality of kinase and/or phosphatase substrate molecules. | 02-24-2011 |
20110058164 | Time resolved single-step protease activity quantification using nanoplasmonic resonator (NPR) sensor - A nanoplasmonic resonator (NPR) comprising a metallic nanodisk with alternating shielding layer(s), having a tagged biomolecule conjugated or tethered to the surface of the nanoplasmonic resonator for highly sensitive measurement of enzymatic activity. NPRs enhance Raman signals in a highly reproducible manner, enabling fast detection of protease and enzyme activity, such as Prostate Specific Antigen (paPSA), in real-time, at picomolar sensitivity levels. Experiments on extracellular fluid (ECF) from paPSA-positive cells demonstrate specific detection in a complex bio-fluid background in real-time single-step detection in very small sample volumes. | 03-10-2011 |
20120269721 | TARGETED NANOCLUSTERS AND METHODS OF THEIR USE - This invention provides targeted nanoclusters comprising multiple polyvalent nanoparticle core units or nanoscaffolds, each nanoparticle core unit attached to multiple targeting moieties and multiple detectable moieties. The nanoclusters find use in a broad range of analytical assays, diagnostic assays and as targeted therapeutics. | 10-25-2012 |
20140011705 | DETECTION OF PROTEASE AND PROTEASE ACTIVITY USING A SINGLE NANOCRESCENT SERS PROBE - This invention pertains to the in vitro detection of proteases using a single peptide-conjugate nanocrescent surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes with at least nanomolar sensitivity. The probe enables detection of proteolytic activity in extremely small volume and at low concentration. In certain embodiments the probes comprise an indicator for the detection of an active protease, where the indicator comprises a nanocrescent attached to a peptide, where said peptide comprises a recognition site for the protease and a Raman tag attached to the peptide. | 01-09-2014 |
20140187436 | NANOPLASMONIC MOLECULAR RULER FOR NUCLEASE ACTIVITY AND DNA FOOTPRINTING - This invention provides a nanoplasmonic molecular ruler, which can perform label-free and real-time monitoring of nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) length changes and perform nucleic acid footprinting. In various embodiments the ruler comprises a nucleic acid attached to a nanoparticle, such that changes in the nucleic acid length are detectable using surface plasmon resonance. The nanoplamonic ruler provides a fast and convenient platform for mapping nucleic acid-protein interactions, for nuclease activity monitoring, and for other footprinting related methods. | 07-03-2014 |
20150065694 | Preassembled hybrid nanocluster plasmonic resonator for immunological detection and serotyping of virus and microbes - Here, we describe a preassembled plasmonic resonance nanocluster. One embodiment is used for microbe detection and typing. The metallic nanoparticle acceptors with microbe surface antigen epitope, and quantum dot (QD) donors with Fab antibody, are assembled into an immuno-mediated 3D-oriented complex with enhanced energy transfer and fluorescence quenching. The coherent plasmonic resonance between the metal and QD nanoparticles is exploited to achieve improved donor-acceptor resonance within the nanocluster, which in the presence of microbial particles is disassembled in a highly specific manner. The nanocluster provides high detection specificity and sensitivity of the microbes, with a sensitivity limit down to 1-100 particles per microliter and to attomolar levels of a surface antigen epitope. A few specific examples of the plasmonic resonance nanocluster used in microbe detection are disclosed along with ways in which the complex can be easily modified for additional microbes. | 03-05-2015 |