Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective fat removal from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective fat removal from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: PLGA-based polymers include pendant nucleophiles protected with photocleavable protecting groups. Upon deprotection, the polymers degrade rapidly via intramolecular cyclization into small molecules. The polymer may be formulated as a nanoparticle, with an encapsulated payload, which may be an imaging agent, a bioactive agent or a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro method for producing isolated mammalian primitive retinal stem cells (pRSCs) comprising: (a) culturing isolated embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from a mammal in a cell culture medium that is free of feeder cells, feeder-conditioned medium or serum so as to produce and grow a culture of the isolated ESCs; and (b) contacting the culture of the isolated ESCs so grown with one or more of an inhibitor for Wnt or TGF-?/BMP signaling so as to differentiate the isolated ESCs of (a) into primitive retinal stem cells thereby producing isolated mammalian pRSCs.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective fat removal from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: PLGA-based polymers include pendant nucleophiles protected with photocleavable protecting groups. Upon deprotection, the polymers degrade rapidly via intramolecular cyclization into small molecules. The polymer may be formulated as a nanoparticle, with an encapsulated payload, which may be an imaging agent, a bioactive agent or a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: Compositions are provided in which dendrimers and/or nanoparticles are synthesized with multi-photon responsive elements and self-immolative oligomers. The compositions may be utilized to selectively deliver Payloads within tissue by irradiating the compositions. The compositions may also be used to amplify sensitivity to irradiation.

Abstract: Near infrared radiation at a wavelength that induces resonance in water is used to remotely activate thermal plasticization of polymeric particles to trigger the release of encapsulated molecules from the particles. Nanocarriers formed from biocompatible hydrophilic polymers may be used to deliver encapsulated molecules to tissue with a reversible transition that allows repeated activations for extended release of the payload.

Abstract: Nanocarriers are synthesized with polymers that respond to lower pH and/or ROS by being degraded. The compositions may be utilized to selectively deliver payloads within patients by responding to lower pH and/or ROS at localities within the patient. The present invention also features methods of synthesizing nanocarriers that are degraded by lower pH and/or ROS.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective fat removal from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective fat removal from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: Near infrared radiation at a wavelength that induces resonance in water is used to remotely activate thermal plasticization of polymeric particles to trigger the release of encapsulated molecules from the particles. Nanocarriers formed from biocompatible hydrophilic polymers may be used to deliver encapsulated molecules to tissue with a reversible transition that allows repeated activations for extended release of the payload.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro method for producing isolated mammalian primitive retinal stem cells (pRSCs) comprising: (a) culturing isolated embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from a mammal in a cell culture medium that is free of feeder cells, feeder-conditioned medium or serum so as to produce and grow a culture of the isolated ESCs; and (b) contacting the culture of the isolated ESCs so grown with one or more of an inhibitor for Wnt or TGF-?/BMP signaling so as to differentiate the isolated ESCs of (a) into primitive retinal stem cells thereby producing isolated mammalian pRSCs.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective fat removal from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming complex tissue using density gradient multilayer polymerization (DGMP) to form strong hydrogels with smooth transitions between layers. The multicompartment hydrogel is formed by co-dissolving a polymer precurser with a constituent in multiple solvent fractions to a create prepolymer solutions with different densities, layering the prepolymer solutions on top of each other from high to low solvent density, and irradiating the prepolymer solutions to form a polymer. The hydrogels may be used as biomimetic matrices.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and synthesis methods that pertain to biocompatible polymeric capsules capable of undergoing backbone degradation and cargo release upon exposure to biologically relevant concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (50-100 ?M of H2O2). In the invention, bio-responsive polyester bearing boronic ester triggers groups that degrade upon exposure to low concentrations of H2O2. The degradation is induced by transformation of a boronic ester to a phenol, which undergoes a quinone methide rearrangement to break down the polyester backbone.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective removal of fat from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive removal of fat from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt and liquefy fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: Near infrared radiation at a wavelength that induces resonance in water is used to remotely activate thermal plasticization of polymeric particles to trigger the release of encapsulated molecules from the particles. Nanocarriers formed from biocompatible hydrophilic polymers may be used to deliver encapsulated molecules to tissue with a reversible transition that allows repeated activations for extended release of the payload.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering a payload to ocular tissue includes a solution of light-degradable nanoparticles encapsulating the payload. The solution may be introduced to the ocular tissue by way of injection or through a contact lens into which the solution is embedded. A light source delivers a beam of light to the ocular tissue at the location where the solution was introduced to initiate breakdown of the particles, releasing the payload. The light source may be a laser, LED, LCD or arc lamp emitting in the ultraviolet light range.