Abstract: The preparation of water dispersible ceramide conjugates and derivatives of sphingolipid analogues is described. The conjugates and analogues are prepared by reacting a succinimidyl carbonate of a ?-Ala derivative with the primary amine of a functionalised spacer. Despite their dispersibility in water, the ceramide conjugates and derivatives of sphingolipid analogues spontaneously incorporate into the plasma membranes of cells.

Abstract: Methods of treating an inert surface of a substrate to improve the adherence to the treated surface of micro-dimensioned particles including the steps of: contacting the inert surface with in an aqueous dispersion of a construct of the structure F-S-L; and then washing the surface with an aqueous vehicle to provide the treated surface, where F is a polyamine; S is —CO(CH2)2CO—, —CO(CH2)3CO—, —CO(CH2)4CO— or —CO(CH2)5CO—; and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerophospholipid.

Abstract: Methods of mitigating the risk of rejection of an allograft or xenograft in an incompatible recipient by neutralizing one or more populations of circulating antibody cross-reactive with a carbohydrate antigen expressed by the allograft or xenograft. The method includes administering to the recipient by intravenous infusion a concentration of a synthetic antigen lipid construct sufficient to neutralize the one or more populations of circulating antibody in the recipient.

Abstract: The invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: Synthetic molecule construct of the structure F-S1-S2-L where F-S1 is an aminoalkylglycoside and S2-L is a dicarboxylated, e.g. adipylated, phosphatidylethanolamide are disclosed. The two terminal sugars of the aminoalkylglycoside (Gal?1-3Gal?-) are the two terminal sugars of the Galili antigen.

Abstract: A construct of the structure F—S1-S2 where: F—S1 is an aminoalkylglycoside where F is ?-D-galactopyranosyl-(1?4)-?-D-galactopyranosyl-(1?4)-?-D-glucopyranoside and S1 is 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, 4-aminobutyl or 5-aminopentyl; S2 is —CO(CH2)2CO—, —CO(CH2)3CO—, —CO(CH2)4CO— or —CO(CH2)5CO—; and L is phosphatidylethanolamine.

Abstract: Biocompatible methods of functionalizing inert surfaces for use in biological applications are described. The methods employ the use of synthetic constructs of the generic structure F-S-L (where F is a functional moiety, S is a spacer selected to provide a construct that is dispersible in water, and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerophospholipid). An object of the invention is to localize or immobilize functional moieties to the inert surface of a substrate wherein the surface is comprised of glass, silver, polyamide, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethersulfone, polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride, and the substrate is comprised of a fiber, membrane, microsphere or nanosphere.

Abstract: Methods of neutralizing circulating antibody and mitigating the risk of clinically significant adverse responses to incompatible transfusions and transplantations are described. The methods comprise the administration to the subject of dispersible antigen-lipid constructs.

Abstract: Method of incorporating a water soluble construct of the structure L-S-F into the lipid bi-layer of cells by contacting a suspension of the cells with a solution of the construct at a concentration and for a time and temperature sufficient to allow the construct to insert into the lipid bi-layer. In the structure L-S-F, F is a peptide, S is a spacer containing an oligomer of ethylene glycol covalently linking F to L and the number of ethylene oxide repeats in the oligomer of ethylene glycol is 6 to 14, and L is a phosphatidylethanolamine.

Abstract: Functional-lipid constructs of the structure F-S-L are disclosed, wherein F comprises a tyrosine or histidine residue, S is a spacer covalently linking F to L and L is a lipid. The functional residue may be iodinated and used to radiolabel a biological entity with 1251 and the iodinated constructs are used in a non-invasive method of monitoring the distribution of a biological entity in vivo.

Abstract: Cells incorporating a synthetic molecule construct of the structure F—S1—S2-L where: F—S1 is an aminoalkylglycoside where F is a mono-, di-, tri- or oligo-saccharide and S1 is 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, 4-aminobutyl, or 5-aminopentyl; S2 is —CO(CH2)2CO—, —CO(CH2)3CO—, —CO(CH2)4CO— or —CO(CH2)5CO—; and L is phosphatidylethanolamine.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for effecting qualitative and quantitative changes in the functional moieties expressed at the surface of cells and multi-cellular structures, and functional lipid constructs for use in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is a carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: Cells incorporating a synthetic molecule construct of the structure F—S1-S2-L where: F—S1 is an aminoalkylglycoside where F is a mono-, di-, tri- or oligo-saccharide and S1 is 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, 4-aminobutyl, or 5-aminopentyl; S2 is —CO(CH2)2CO—, —CO(CH2)3CO—, —CO(CH2)4CO— or —CO(CH2)5CO—; and L is phosphatidylethanolamine.

Abstract: The invention relates to selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs and their use as mimics of ligands for receptors expressed by virus. In particular, the invention relates to the use of selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs in methods of inhibiting virus infection and/or promoting clearance of virus from infected subjects. Carbohydrate-lipid constructs selected for use in these methods where the virus is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are provided.

Abstract: A method of localizing reproduction assisting hyaluronic acid to reproductive cell surfaces by covalently linking it to lipids is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for effecting qualitative and quantitative changes in the functional moieties expressed at the surface of cells and multi-cellular structures, and functional lipid constructs for use in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is a carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of assaying Fc-function in an immunoglobulin containing sample by contacting the sample, in the presence of a complement, with red blood cells modified to incorporate a F-S-L peptide-lipid construct. The F-S-L peptide construct comprises a functional group (F) that is a target antigen for a complement activating immunoglobulin, a spacer group (S) covalently linking F to L and a lipid group (L). The present invention further discloses a specific construct, DOPE-Ad-CMG(2)-hCMV2 where the F group is an antigen of cytomegalovirus, that is used in assaying the Fc function of an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) product.

Abstract: The invention relates to selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs and their use as mimics of ligands for receptors expressed by a virus. In particular, the invention relates to the use of selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs in methods of inhibiting virus infection and/or promoting clearance of virus from infected subjects. Carbohydrate-lipid constructs selected for use in these methods where the virus is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are provided.

Abstract: Cells incorporating a synthetic molecule construct of the structure F—S1—S2-L where: F—S1 is an aminoalkylglycoside where F is a mono-, di-, tri- or oligo-saccharide and S1 is 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, 4-aminobutyl, or 5-aminopentyl; S2 is —CO(CH2)2CO—, —CO(CH2)3CO—, —CO(CH2)4CO— or —CO(CH2)5CO—; and L is phosphatidylethanolamine.

Abstract: A method of localizing reproduction assisting hyaluronic acid to reproductive cell surfaces by covalently linking it to lipids is disclosed.