Patents Assigned to The University of Houston System
  • Publication number: 20230375541
    Abstract: Ultra near-field index modulated plasmonic nano-aperture label-free imaging methods and techniques are useful for imaging and detection of biological microparticles and nanoparticles such as circulating tumor exosomes (CTEs), bacteria and vimses. The methods and techniques utilize a high-density array of gold, silver, or gold/silver alloy nanodisks, in some cases on an undercut or invisible substrate. Given the relatively large nanodisk dimensions, the nanodisk array may feature a significantly blue-shifted LSPR extinction peak due to both far-field plasmonic coupling and substrate undercut. The ultra near-field imaging methods have the ability to image nanoparticles as small as 25 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicants: University of Houston System, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Wei-Chuan Shih, Nareg Ohannesian, Steven H. Lin
  • Patent number: 11821818
    Abstract: A biosensor may provide a magnetoresistive (MR) film comprising a nonmagnetic layer may be sandwiched between the two ferromagnetic layers. The MR film may be positioned on a substrate, where the edges of the MR film are in contact with leads. Additionally, the leads may be in contact with pads. The sensors may provide quasi-digital readout that enable greatly enhanced sensitivity. In some embodiments, biosensors may be arranged as array of sensors. The array of sensors may be arranged as a symmetric or asymmetric N1×N2 array, where N1 and N2 are integers, N1 represents the number of sensors linked together in series, and N2 represents the number of sensor sets in parallel, where each sensor set may comprise one or more sensors. Further, the array of sensors may be coupled to a voltmeter, which may be a single voltmeter in some cases that allows the sensors to all be probed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Dmitri Litvinov, Long Chang, Richard Willson
  • Publication number: 20230357714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a culture media system that useful for the isolation and epigenetically stable propagation of normal stem cells in culture which are derived from columnar epithelial tissues and cancer stem cells from epithelial cancers. In certain embodiments, the culture system is a feeder-free system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Wa XIAN, Frank McKEON, Matthew P. VINCENT
  • Patent number: 11806333
    Abstract: Aryl-substituted acetamide and pyrrolidin-2-one (?-butyrolactam) derivatives have useful activity in the inhibition, prevention, or treatment of seizures. The derivatives may be useful in the treatment of epilepsy, including medically refractory epilepsy, and nerve agent poisoning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Anton Dubrovskiy, Arcadius V. Krivoshein
  • Patent number: 11802466
    Abstract: A method of recovering crude oil from a reservoir by: determining a depletion pressure for providing a lights-depleted crude oil comprising a reduced amount of light ends including methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide (CO2), or a combination thereof and having a CO2 multi contact Minimum Miscibility Pressure (CO2-MMP) below a CO2-MMP of a native crude oil, wherein the native crude oil is crude oil extracted from the reservoir prior to primary oil recovery therefrom; depleting the pressure of the reservoir from an initial reservoir pressure to the determined depletion pressure, thus providing the lights-depleted crude oil; repressurizing the reservoir to an operating pressure for recovering the lights-depleted crude oil from the reservoir via carbon dioxide (CO2) injection; injecting CO2 into the reservoir via at least one injection well; and recovering at least a portion of the lights-depleted crude oil from the reservoir via at least one production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Ganesh C. Thakur, Peila Chen, Sriram Balasubramanian, Sushanta Bose
  • Publication number: 20230338485
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing a cancer in a subject by administering to the subject an immunogenic peptide and/or a nucleotide sequence that expresses the immunogenic peptide. Thereafter, the administered or expressed immunogenic peptide elicits an immune response against cells associated with the cancer. The immunogenic peptides contain a neoantigenic region and are expressed by chimeric nucleotide sequences derived from cells associated with the cancer. The chimeric nucleotide sequences have a higher prevalence in cancer cells when compared to non-cancer cells. Further embodiments pertain to compositions that include the immunogenic peptides of the present disclosure and/or a nucleotide sequences that express them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM, BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Preethi Gunaratne, Brandon Mistretta, Sakuni Rankothgedera, Micah Castillo, Isabelle Bedrosian
  • Patent number: 11798721
    Abstract: A superconducting electromagnet and method for manufacturing, using, monitoring, and controlling same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a superconducting electromagnet that includes a superconductor tape including: a first unslotted end; a second unslotted end; and a longitudinally slotted section provided between the first unslotted end and the second unslotted end. The longitudinally slotted section includes a first longitudinal part and a second longitudinal part. The first longitudinal part is provided in a wound manner thereby defining a first coil. The second longitudinal part is provided in a wound manner thereby defining a second coil. These and other embodiments achieve persistent current operation of the superconducting electromagnet without the need for solder joints within the magnet coil itself, which can result in improved stability and reduced power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventor: John H. Miller, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230330891
    Abstract: A 4-dimensional printing system and method for printing reinforced concrete may allow reinforced concrete elements to be printed freeform and/or fully automated without the need for formwork, molding, or labor. The printing system may include software and hardware systems. The software system may process 3D models of the reinforced concrete element desired into multiple layers. The software system may utilize the individual layer to control operation of the hardware system to print the desired reinforced concrete element layer-by-layer. The hardware system may provide a concrete nozzle, a reinforcement material nozzle, as well as dispensing mechanisms for printing the materials at the desired locations and/or at desired times for the individual layer being printed. The hardware system may also include motion control mechanism(s) that allow the position of the nozzles to be moved sideward, up and down, and towards or away relative to the element being printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Yi-Lung Mo, Cunjiang Yu, Jamshaid Sawab
  • Publication number: 20230331777
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of blocking virus entry into cells by associating the cells with an anti-viral peptoid to result in the blocking of virus entry into the cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing a viral infection in a subject by administering an anti-viral peptoid composition to the subject to result in the blocking of virus entry into the cells of the subject. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to anti-viral peptoids and compositions that include the anti-viral peptoids of the present disclosure. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the use of the anti-viral peptoids and compositions to block virus entry into cells for numerous purposes, such as treating or preventing viral infections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Damith Gomika Udugamasooriya, Bin Guo, Satya Prakash Shukla, Kwang Bog Cho
  • Patent number: 11788006
    Abstract: Provided herein are phosphors of the general molecular formula: A3-2xEuxMP3O9N, wherein the variables are as defined herein. Methods of producing the phosphors are also provided. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides light-emitting devices comprising these phosphors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Jakoah Brgoch, Shruti Hariyani
  • Patent number: 11785850
    Abstract: A method of thermoelectric power generation by converting heat to electricity via the use of a ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material, wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 7% at a temperature difference of up to 800 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Hangtian Zhu
  • Patent number: 11774449
    Abstract: Presented herein are methods of evaluating cellular activity by: placing a cell population on an area; assaying for a dynamic behavior of the cell population as a function of time; identifying cell(s) of interest based on the dynamic behavior; characterizing a molecular profile of the cell(s); and correlating the obtained information. The assayed dynamic behavior can include cellular activation, cellular inhibition, cellular interaction, protein expression, protein secretion, cellular proliferation, changes in cellular morphology, motility, cell death, cell cytotoxicity, cell lysis, and combinations thereof. Sensors associated with the area may be utilized to facilitate assaying. Molecular profiles of the cell(s) can then be characterized by various methods, such as DNA analysis, RNA analysis, and protein analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Navin Varadarajan, Gabrielle Romain, Ivan Liadi, Victor Sendra, Badrinath Roysam
  • Publication number: 20230293783
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to implantable medical devices that are operational for mitigating radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating. The implantable medical devices generally include a ferrite material that is associated with at least one component of the implantable medical device and operational to reduce the RF-induced heating of the implantable medical device. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of mitigating radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating of an implantable medical device by applying a ferrite material to at least one component of the implantable medical device. Thereafter, the ferrite material reduces the RF-induced heating of the medical device. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of implanting the implantable medical device into a subject, such as a human being.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Ji Chen, Jianfeng Zheng
  • Patent number: 11749795
    Abstract: A method for activating two-dimensional host materials for a multivalent/polyatomic ion battery may include adding a pillaring salt in electrolyte. This process may be followed by in-situ electrochemically intercalating the pillaring ions, solvent molecules and multivalent ions into the van der Waals gap of host materials. After the activation process, the host material is transformed into an interlayer-expanded 2D material with significantly enhanced specific capacity and rate performance for multivalent ion intercalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Yan Yao, Hyun Deog Yoo
  • Publication number: 20230270845
    Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the prevention of pathogens such as conditions in an animal (e.g., a subject). In some cases, a composition or method described herein can comprise a liposome, which may be used to encapsulate one or more STING agonists. In some cases, a liposome of a composition or method described herein may comprise one or more antigens attached to, integrated into, or associated with a liposomal membrane of the liposome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Navin Varadarajan, Xinli Liu
  • Publication number: 20230272542
    Abstract: An electrode and system for electrocatalytic water splitting. The electrode for overall water splitting comprises a conductive substrate, and a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising primarily metallic phosphides disposed on a surface of the substrate. The system comprises an anode and a cathode. Each of the anode and the cathode comprises a uniform distribution of a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising metallic phosphides on a conductive substrate. The metallic phosphides can comprise iron phosphide (FeP) and dinickel phosphide (Ni2P). The bifunctional electrocatalyst promotes hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Fang YU, Haiqing ZHOU, Shuo CHEN
  • Patent number: 11742808
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) power supply system and method are disclosed. The architecture adopts a two-stage topology to reduce the required capacitance by over ten times, leading to a four-fold improvement in power density. The first stage is an isolated converter that only supplies average power, therefore input filter and transformer sizes can be reduced. The second stage is a fast response DC-DC converter followed by a RF transmitter to produce a pulsed RF signal, so that the mid-point voltage after the first stage can be allowed to droop considerably, leading to much smaller sized capacitors. These and other embodiments enforce the isolated converter to only transfer average power, which reduces the power rating and the volume of the system's transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Harish S. Krishnamoorthy, Yu Yao
  • Publication number: 20230263771
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to anti-viral compounds suitable for use in blocking virus entry into cells. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of blocking virus entry into cells by associating the cells with at least one anti-viral compound of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the associating occurs in vitro. In some embodiments, the associating occurs in vivo in a subject through administration of the at least one anti-viral compound to the subject. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing a viral infection in a subject by administering to the subject at least one anti-viral compound of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the subject is a human being suffering from or vulnerable to the viral infection. In some embodiments, the virus includes a coronavirus, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Bradley K. McConnell, Arfaxad Reyes Alcaraz, John W. Craft, Robert J. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20230257907
    Abstract: Herein provided are cubic boron arsenide (c-BAs) single crystals having an unexpectedly high ambipolar mobility at room temperature, µa, at one or more locations thereof that is greater than or equal to 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, or 10000 cm2V-1s-1, wherein the ambipolar mobility is defined as: µa = 2µeµh/(µe + µh), wherein µe is electron mobility and µh is hole mobility, and having a room temperature thermal conductivity at the one or more locations thereof that is greater than or equal to 1000 Wm-1K-1. Methods of making and using the c-BAs single crystals are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Jiming BAO, Shuai YUE, Fei TIAN, Geethal Amila Udalamatta GAMAGE, Gang CHEN, Jungwoo SHIN
  • Publication number: 20230257420
    Abstract: Compounds disclosed herein have been shown to bind to the transferrin receptor making them capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and useful for treating diseases or disorders of the brain, such as cancer, ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Bin Guo, Damith Gomika Udugamasooriya, Xinli Liu, Satya Prakash Shukla, Kwang Bog Cho, Xue Zhou