Abstract: The present invention provides methods for protecting or treating a tissue from a condition that elicits xerostomia or xerophthalmia.

Abstract: Microparticle formation system and methods that advantageously combine aspects of spray drying and coacervation (or complex coacervation) into a single process. A temperature controllable spray head mounted on a movable stage within a spray chamber produces droplets of solution having controlled size and temperature. The solution can include a first set of one or more solvents and a first set of one or more components or active agents such as one or more APIs. A wet sample receiving pan or reservoir at the bottom of the chamber holds a desired receiving solvent or solvents. The droplets traverse the path between the spray head and reservoir and interact with the solvent in the reservoir. As the droplets traverse the path the first solvent dries. However, the system is configurable such that the first solvent of the droplets does not have to fully dry before the droplets reach the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for making water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) microparticles. The microparticle comprises an active agent encapsulated in an aqueous interior, an amphiphilic binding molecule, and an encapsulation material. In certain preferred aspects, the amphiphilic binding molecule is a cationic lipid.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response and compositions and methods for transfecting antigen presenting cells.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for introducing nucleic acids into a target cell using a transition metal enhancer. A mixture containing nucleic acid and a transition metal enhancer is exposed to cells. The nucleic acid is taken up into the interior of the cell with the aid of the transition metal enhancer. Since nucleic acids can encode a gene, the method can be used to replace a missing or defective gene in the cell. The method can also be used to deliver exogenous nucleic acids operatively coding for proteins that are secreted or released from target cells, thus resulting in a desired biological effect outside the cell. Alternatively, the methods of the present invention can be used to deliver exogenous nucleic acids into a target cell that are capable of regulating the expression of a predetermined endogenous gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides cationic lipids and methods that facilitate nucleic acid delivery and which also yield biologically benign metabolites following transfection. The compounds are lipidic polyamines that use a pentaerythritol scaffold to link different hydrophobic and DNA-binding domains.

Abstract: The present invention relates, inter alia, to pentaerythritol lipid derivatives that are useful for the intracellular delivery of nucleic acids. Such pentaerythritol lipid derivatives are useful for the preparation of transfection complexes (such as liposomes, lipoplexes, and other lipid vesicles) that can be used to deliver nucleic acids into mammalian cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method of enhancing transfection efficiency by administering a nucleic acid to a salivary gland and electroporating the salivary gland.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for introducing nucleic acids into a target cell using a transition metal enhancer. A mixture containing nucleic acid and a transition metal enhancer is exposed to cells. The nucleic acid is taken up into the interior of the cell with the aid of the transition metal enhancer. Since nucleic acids can encode a gene, the method can be used to replace a missing or defective gene in the cell. The method can also be used to deliver exogenous nucleic acids operatively coding for proteins that are secreted or released from target cells, thus resulting in a desired biological effect outside the cell. Alternatively, the methods of the present invention can be used to deliver exogenous nucleic acids into a target cell that are capable of regulating the expression of a predetermined endogenous gene.

Abstract: This present invention provides a class of gene transfection reagents, which have a structure containing a nucleic acid binding domain and sugar targeting domain. The compounds are easy to synthesize and formulate. The formulated compound associates with DNA to form small particles with nearly neutral surface charge. The sugar domain plays a role as a tissue target ligand located on the surface of the nucleic acid complex, which promotes the receptor-mediated gene transfection. In the presence of proteins, these DNA complexes do not bind with proteins to form precipitates. The complexes are also stable when stored at 4° C. for a long time.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for introducing nucleic acids into a target cell using a transition metal enhancer. A mixture containing nucleic acid and a transition metal enhancer is exposed to cells. The nucleic acid is taken up into the interior of the cell with the aid of the transition metal enhancer. Since nucleic acids can encode a gene, the method can be used to replace a missing or defective gene in the cell. The method can also be used to deliver exogenous nucleic acids operatively coding for proteins that are secreted or released from target cells, thus resulting in a desired biological effect outside the cell. Alternatively, the methods of the present invention can be used to deliver exogenous nucleic acids into a target cell that are capable of regulating the expression of a predetermined endogenous gene.