Skip to main content

News All News

April 4th, 2016

March 2016 patents

Moenomycin analogs, tissue-engineering materials, nanowire probes, stabilized polypeptides, a silicon photodetector, porous photonic structures, halofuginone analogs, and more

Harvard faculty Tobias Ritter, Joanna Aizenberg, Marko Loncar, Peng Yin, Gregory Verdine, Eric Mazur, Ralph Mazitschek, Malcolm Whitman, David Mooney, Daniel Kahne, Suzanne Walker, Sunney Xie, Charles Lieber, and Jene Golovchenko are among the inventors issued U.S. patents during March 2016.

The innovations recognized are as follows:

Nickel fluorinating complexes and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,273,083 (March 1, 2016)

Tobias Ritter and Eunsung Lee

Abstract: The present invention provides novel nickel complexes. These complexes are in providing fluorinating organic compounds. The invention is particularly useful for fluorinating compounds with 18 F for PET imaging.

Moenomycin analogs, methods of synthesis, and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,273,084 (March 1, 2016)

Daniel Evan Kahne, Suzanne Walker Kahne, and Hirokazu Tsukamoto

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I); or a pharmaceutically acceptable form thereof; wherein R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, R12, Ra, and Rb are as defined herein, and G is a group of Formula (a), (b), or (c): Formula (II), wherein X1; X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, Y, RC, Rd, Rz, a, d, e, x, n, and m are as defined herein. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula (I), kits comprising such compositions, methods of use and treatment, and preparative methods.

Stabilized alpha helical peptides and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,273,099 (March 1, 2016)

Loren D. Walensky, Stanley J. Korsmeyer, and Gregory Verdine

Abstract: Novel polypeptides and methods of making and using the same are described herein. The polypeptides include cross-linking ("hydrocarbon stapling") moieties to provide a tether between two amino acid moieties, which constrains the secondary structure of the polypeptide. The polypeptides described herein can be used to treat diseases characterized by excessive or inadequate cellular death.

Molecular characterization with molecular speed control
U.S. Patent 9,274,097 (March 1, 2016)

Jene A. Golovchenko and Daniel Branton

Abstract: Provided is a first reservoir for containing a liquid solution including a molecule to be characterized and a second reservoir for containing a liquid solution. A solid state support includes a nanopore having a molecular inlet providing a fluidic connection to the first reservoir and a molecular outlet providing a fluidic connection to the second reservoir. An electrical connection is disposed between the first and second reservoirs to apply a molecular translocation voltage across the nanopore between the molecular inlet entrance and outlet exit. At least one electrical probe is disposed at the nanopore to apply a first voltage bias with respect to translocation voltage to slow progression of a molecule through the nanopore between the molecular inlet and outlet and to apply a second voltage bias with respect to translocation voltage to cause the molecule to proceed through the nanopore between the molecular inlet and outlet.

Silicon-based visible and near-infrared optoelectric devices
U.S. Patent 9,276,143 (March 1, 2016)

Eric Mazur and James Edward Carey

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a silicon photodetector having a surface layer that is doped with sulfur inclusions with an average concentration in a range of about 0.5 atom percent to about 1.5 atom percent. The surface layer forms a diode junction with an underlying portion of the substrate. A plurality of electrical contacts allow application of a reverse bias voltage to the junction in order to facilitate generation of an electrical signal, e.g., a photocurrent, in response to irradiation of the surface layer. The photodetector exhibits a responsivity greater than about 1 A/W for incident wavelengths in a range of about 250 nm to about 1050 nm, and a responsivity greater than about 0.1 A/W for longer wavelengths, e.g., up to about 3.5 microns.

Manipulation of fluids in three-dimensional porous photonic structures with patterned surface properties
U.S. Patent 9,279,771 (March 8, 2016)

Joanna Aizenberg, Ian B. Burgess, Lidiya Mishchenko, Benjamin Hatton, and Marko Loncar

Abstract: A three-dimensional porous photonic structure, whose internal pore surfaces can be provided with desired surface properties in a spatially selective manner with arbitrary patterns, and methods for making the same are described. When exposed to a fluid (e.g., via immersion or wicking), the fluid can selectively penetrate the regions of the structure with compatible surface properties. Broad applications, for example in security, encryption and document authentication, as well as in areas such as simple microfluidics and diagnostics, are anticipated.

Halofuginone analogs for inhibition of tRNA synthetases and uses thereof
U.S. Patent 9,284,297 (March 15, 2016)

Tracy Keller, Ralph Mazitschek, Malcolm Whitman, Jinbo Lee, Mark S. Sundrud, and Anjana Rao

Abstract: The present invention provides novel analogs and derivatives of halofuginone. The invention also provides pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions thereof and methods for using halofuginone analogs in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, dry eye syndrome, fibrosis, scar formation, angiogenesis, viral infections, ischemic damage, transplant and implant rejection, neurodegenerative diseases, and cosmetic applications.

Compositions of toehold primer duplexes and methods of use
U.S. Patent 9,284,602 (March 15, 2016)

David Yu Zhang and Peng Yin

Abstract: Provided herein are primers and primer systems having improved specificity and kinetics over existing primers, and methods of use thereof.

Systems and methods for selective detection and imaging in coherent Raman microscopy by spectral excitation shaping
U.S. Patent 9,285,575 (March 15, 2016)

Sunney Xiaoliang Xie, Christian Freudiger, and Wei Min

Abstract: A microscopy imaging system is disclosed that includes a light source system, a spectral shaper, a modulator system, an optics system, an optical detector and a processor. The light source system is for providing a first train of pulses and a second train of pulses. The spectral shaper is for spectrally modifying an optical property of at least some frequency components of the broadband range of frequency components such that the broadband range of frequency components is shaped producing a shaped first train of pulses to specifically probe a spectral feature of interest from a sample, and to reduce information from features that are not of interest from the sample. The modulator system is for modulating a property of at least one of the shaped first train of pulses and the second train of pulses at a modulation frequency. The optical detector is for detecting an integrated intensity of substantially all optical frequency components of a train of pulses of interest transmitted or reflected through the common focal volume. The processor is for detecting a modulation at the modulation frequency of the integrated intensity of substantially all of the optical frequency components of the train of pulses of interest due to the non-linear interaction of the shaped first train of pulses with the second train of pulses as modulated in the common focal volume, and for providing an output signal for a pixel of an image for the microscopy imaging system.

Iron complexes and methods for polymerization
U.S. Patent 9,290,591 (March 22, 2016)

Tobias Ritter, Jean B. Raynaud, and Jessica Yung Wu

Abstract: Provided are methods of preparing polymers, such as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polypiperylene, polycyclohexadiene, poly-β-farnesene, or poly-β-myrcene, using iron complexes. Also provided are novel iron complexes, pre-catalysts, intermediates, and ligands useful in the inventive polymerization system.

Harnessing cell dynamics to engineer materials
U.S. Patent 9,297,005 (March 29, 2016)

Nathaniel D. Huebsch and David J. Mooney

Abstract: The invention features synthetic materials and methods for inducing cell behavior. Matrix materials induce cell differentiation and cell manipulation based on mechanical and physical characteristics of the materials rather than chemical characteristics.

Bent nanowires and related probing of species
U.S. Patent 9,297,796 (March 29, 2016)

Bozhi Tian, Ping Xie, Thomas J. Kempa, Charles M. Lieber, Itzhaq Cohen-Karni, Quan Qing, and Xiaojie Duan

Abstract: Kinked nanowires are used for measuring electrical potentials inside simple cells. An improved intracellular entrance is achieved by modifying the kinked nanowires with phospholipids.

Tags: Issued Patents

Press Contact: Kirsten Mabry | (617) 495-4157