Patents by Inventor Weijia Niu

Weijia Niu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Aptamer conjugates with N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes for targeted drug delivery
    Patent number: 11912999
    Abstract: An aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-NHCM conjugate) or an aptamer-bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-bis-NHCM conjugate) includes an aptamer coupled through a hydrolytically stable bond to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (NHCM) or a bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (bis-NHCM). The aptamer-NHCM conjugate is prepared where the chosen aptamer displays selective binding to a cell specific receptor, such that the cytotoxic NHCM can be directed specifically to cells responsible for a target disease (e.g., a specific cancer type). A method of preparing the aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate involves installing a coupling group to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex that can specifically bond with a functional group on an aptamer; the bond, covalent or non-covalent, is stable hydrolytically in the absence of an environment that promotes intentional cleavage of the bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam S. Veige, Mary E. Garner, Weijia Niu
  • REDUCED VOLUME FORMULATIONS INCLUDING AMINO ACID ENTITIES
    Publication number: 20210128466
    Abstract: This disclosure provides compositions and methods for improving the dispersion of a hydrophobic amino acid entity in an aqueous suspension. This disclosure further provides compositions and methods for improving the stability of N-acetylcysteine in the presence of acetyl acceptors, e.g., carnitine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Jason Legassie, Thomas Hanlon, Ralph Yamamoto, Daniel Rothenberg, Weijia Niu, Benjamin Farina
  • Aptamer Conjugates with N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes for Targeted Drug Delivery
    Publication number: 20200339993
    Abstract: An aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-NHCM conjugate) or an aptamer-bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-bis-NHCM conjugate) includes an aptamer coupled through a hydrolytically stable bond to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (NHCM) or a bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (bis-NHCM). The aptamer-NHCM conjugate is prepared where the chosen aptamer displays selective binding to a cell specific receptor, such that the cytotoxic NHCM can be directed specifically to cells responsible for a target disease (e.g., a specific cancer type). A method of preparing the aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate involves installing a coupling group to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex that can specifically bond with a functional group on an aptamer; the bond, covalent or non-covalent, is stable hydrolytically in the absence of an environment that promotes intentional cleavage of the bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Adam S. Veige, Mary E. Garner, Weijia Niu
  • Aptamer conjugates with N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes for targeted drug delivery
    Patent number: 10731164
    Abstract: An aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-NHCM conjugate) or an aptamer-bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-bis-NHCM conjugate) includes an aptamer coupled through a hydrolytically stable bond to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (NHCM) or a bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (bis-NHCM). The aptamer-NHCM conjugate is prepared where the chosen aptamer displays selective binding to a cell specific receptor, such that the cytotoxic NHCM can be directed specifically to cells responsible for a target disease (e.g., a specific cancer type). A method of preparing the aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate involves installing a coupling group to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex that can specifically bond with a functional group on an aptamer; the bond, covalent or non-covalent, is stable hydrolytically in the absence of an environment that promotes intentional cleavage of the bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam S. Veige, Mary E. Garner, Weijia Niu
  • Aptamer Conjugates With N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes for Targeted Drug Delivery
    Publication number: 20170107516
    Abstract: An aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-NHCM conjugate) or an aptamer-bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate (aptamer-bis-NHCM conjugate) includes an aptamer coupled through a hydrolytically stable bond to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (NHCM) or a bis-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex (bis-NHCM). The aptamer-NHCM conjugate is prepared where the chosen aptamer displays selective binding to a cell specific receptor, such that the cytotoxic NHCM can be directed specifically to cells responsible for a target disease (e.g., a specific cancer type). A method of preparing the aptamer-N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex conjugate involves installing a coupling group to an N-heterocyclic-carbene metal complex that can specifically bond with a functional group on an aptamer; the bond, covalent or non-covalent, is stable hydrolytically in the absence of an environment that promotes intentional cleavage of the bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Adam S. Veige, Mary E. Garner, Weijia Niu