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May 1st, 2017

April 2017 patents

Innovations in muscle regeneration, tactile sensors, whole-genome amplification, IDE inhibitors, DNA sequencing, slippery surfaces, and more

Harvard faculty Jeff Lichtman, David Mooney, Constance Cepko, Daniel Branton, Jene Golovchenko, Andy Myers, Greg Verdine, Peng Yin, Sunney Xie, George Church, Robert Howe, Joanna Aizenberg, and Don Ingber are among the inventors issued U.S. patents during April 2017.

The innovations recognized are as follows:

Macrocyclic insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) inhibitors and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,610,322 (April 4, 2017)

David R. Liu, Juan Pablo Maianti, Alan Saghatelian, and Ralph E. Kleiner

Abstract: Macrocyclic compounds that specifically inhibit insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) are provided. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, stereoisomers, polymorphs, tautomers, isotopically enriched forms, and prodrugs of the macrocyclic IDE inhibitors are also described. Pharmaceutical compositions are also provided. In vivo and in vitro methods of using the IDE inhibitor, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the IDE inhibitor, for example, for the inhibition of IDE in a subject exhibiting aberrant IDE activity, impaired insulin signaling, or insulin resistance, for example, a subject having diabetes, are also provided.

Enhancement of skeletal muscle stem cell engraftment by dual delivery of VEGF and IGF-1
U.S. Patent 9,610,328 (April 4, 2017)

David J. Mooney, Cristina Borselli, Herman Vandenburgh, Dimitry Shvartsman, Hannah Storrie, and Jeff Lichtman

Abstract: An improved device and method for extended repair and regeneration of muscle tissue. An exemplary device comprises (a) a scaffold comprising an ECM component; (b) a combination of growth factors such as VEGF and IGF; and (c) a population of myogenic cells. Implantation of the device leads to muscle regeneration and repair over an extended period of time.

Methods for inhibiting starvation of a cell
U.S. Patent 9,610,363 (April 4, 2017)

Constance L. Cepko and Claudio Punzo

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for the treatment or prevention of starvation in a cell, e.g., a neuronal cell, and methods for the treatment and prevention of disorders associated therewith by the administration of an agent, e.g., a nucleic acid molecule, which enhances the intracellular generation and/or uptake of glucose, pyruvate, lactate, and/or NADPH.

Controlled fabrication of nanopores in nanometric solid state materials
U.S. Patent 9,611,140 (April 4, 2017)

Christopher John Russo, Jene Golovchenko, and Daniel Branton

Abstract: In a method of forming a nanopore in a nanometric material, a nanopore nucleation site is formed at a location that is interior to lateral edges of the nanometric material by directing a first energetic beam, selected from the group of ion beam and neutral atom beam, at the interior location for a first time duration that imposes a first beam dose which causes removal of no more than five interior atoms from the interior location to produce at the interior location a nanopore nucleation site having a plurality of edge atoms. A nanopore is then formed at the nanopore nucleation site by directing a second energetic beam, selected from the group consisting of electron beam, ion beam, and neutral atom beam, at the nanopore nucleation site with a beam energy that removes edge atoms at the nanopore nucleation site but does not remove bulk atoms from the nanometric material.

Trioxacarcins and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,611,287 (April 4, 2017)

Andrew G. Myers, Nicholas E. Hill, Jakub Svenda, Robert T. Yu, Daniel J. Smaltz, and Thomas Magauer

Abstract: The present invention relates to trioxacarcin compounds of the formula:

Structure

or pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof; wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are as defined herein. The present invention also provides processes for preparing such compounds and intermediates thereto; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; and methods of use and treatment.

Proline-locked stapled peptides and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,617,309 (April 11, 2017)

Gregory L. Verdine and Kazuhiro Hayashi

Abstract: The present invention provides a new type of alpha-helix nucleating cross-link ("staple") formed by olefin metathesis of a proline derivative with an alkenyl side chain and another amino acid derivative with an alkenyl side chain. The proline derivatives as described herein have been found to be strong nucleators of alpha-helix formation. The invention also provides moieties for shielding the free amide N—H's at the N-terminus of an alpha-helix, thereby further stabilizing the helix. The proline derivatives, precursors prior to cross-linking, and the cross-linked peptides are provided as well as methods of using and preparing these compounds and peptides.

Compositions and methods for self-assembly of polymers with complementary macroscopic and microscopic scale units
U.S. Patent 9,617,392 (April 11, 2017)

Thomas E. Schaus, Peng Yin, Wei Sun, and David Yu Zhang

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods relating to self-assembly of structures of various size and shape complexity. The composition include synthetic single-stranded polymers having a backbone and pre-determined linear arrangement of monomers.

Methods of amplifying whole genome of a single cell
U.S. Patent 9,617,598 (April 11, 2017)

Xiaoliang Sunney Xie, Chenghang Zong, and Sijia Lu

Abstract: Methods and compositions for amplifying the whole genome of a single cell are provided.

Solid oxide fuel cell with reinforced electrolyte membrane
U.S. Patent 9,620,803 (April 11, 2017)

Shriram Ramanathan and Alexander C. Johnson

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell has a reinforced membrane-electrode assembly. The solid oxide fuel cell includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the first and second electrode layers. The solid oxide fuel cell further includes a gas-permeable structure adjacent to one or both of the electrode layers, for mechanical stabilization.

Nanogrid rolling circle DNA sequencing
U.S. Patent 9,624,538 (April 18, 2017)

George M. Church, Gregory J. Porreca, Jay Shendure, and Abraham Meir Rosenbaum

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for sequencing a polynucleotide immobilized on an array having a plurality of specific regions each having a defined diameter size, including synthesizing a concatemer of a polynucleotide by rolling circle amplification, wherein the concatemer has a cross-sectional diameter greater than the diameter of a specific region, immobilizing the concatemer to the specific region to make an immobilized concatemer, and sequencing the immobilized concatemer.

Tactile sensor
U.S. Patent 9,625,333 (April 18, 2017)

Leif Jentoft, Yaroslav Tenzer, and Robert Howe

Abstract: A tactile sensor includes a pressure transducer encapsulated in an elastic material that defines a contact surface and provides a transmission path that transmits contact forces or pressure distributions applied to the contact surface to the pressure transducer. The pressure transducer can be enclosed in a protective housing that defines a chamber around the transducer. The housing can include one or more openings that expose the chamber to the exterior pressure. The tactile sensor can be made by applying the elastic material in liquid form and exposing the housing to a vacuum that removes air inside the chamber allowing the liquid elastic material to flow into the chamber. Once cured, the elastic material defines a contact surface of the tactile sensor and serves to transfer contact forces applied to the contact surface to the transducer.

Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces having improved stability
U.S. Patent 9,630,224 (April 25, 2017)

Joanna Aizenberg and Nicolas Vogel

Abstract: Methods and articles disclosed herein relate to liquid repellant surfaces having selective wetting and transport properties. An article having a repellant surface includes a substrate comprising surface features with re-entrant curvature and an immobilized layer of lubricating liquid wetting over the surface features. The surface features with re-entrant curvature can be designed to provide high repellency even after failure or removal of the immobilized layer of lubricating liquid under certain operating conditions.

Rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing
U.S. Patent 9,632,085 (April 25, 2017)

Michael Super, Donald E. Ingber, Mark J. Cartwright, Alexander Watters, John Samuel Workman, Daniel Levner, and Martin Marcus Rottman

Abstract: Embodiments of various aspects described herein are directed to methods, compositions, kits and systems for rapid determination of antibiotic susceptibility of a microbe within hours after a sample is collected. In some embodiments, the methods, compositions, kits and systems described herein can allow determination of antibiotic susceptibility of a microbe based on a small number of microbes, e.g., as few as 5-10 microbes bound to a microbe-targeting substrate described herein.

Laser illumination systems and methods for dual-excitation wavelength non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy systems
U.S. Patent 9,634,454 (April 25, 2017)

Khanh Kieu, Nasser Peyghambarian, Xiaoliang Sunney Xie, Christian W. Freudiger, and Dan Fu

Abstract: An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ω1, a frequency converting system for providing at least a second train of pulses at a center optical frequency ω2 and a third train of pulses at a center optical frequency ω3, where ω2 is different from ω1 and ω3 responsive to the first train of pulses, an amplifier system for amplifying the second train of pulses to provide an amplified second train of pulses, and an adjustment means for adjusting a time delay between the amplified second train of pulses and the third train of pulses for the dual-excitation wavelength illumination.

Tags: issued patents

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