Abstract: The invention relates to a device for taking up oil from a water surface, comprising a container for receiving the oil and an oil-transporting means, wherein a portion of the oil-transporting means can be brought into fluid communication with the water surface and another portion of the oil-transporting means is disposed within the container, wherein the oil can be transported into the container via the oil-transporting means, wherein the oil-transporting means is formed from a hydrophobic fabric, the surface of which comprises filament-shaped and/or grid-like structures which are designed in such a way that they retain a gas layer on the surface of the hydrophobic fabric under water. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for taking up oil from a water surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aptamer not binding to the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein nor inhibiting the interaction of the receptor-binding domain (RED) of spike glycoprotein with angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) and/or comprising or consisting of a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, a composition comprising the aptamer, and the use of the aptamer in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 or diagnosis or treatment of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aptamer comprising a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, preferably comprising or consisting of a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 4-6. The invention further relates to a composition comprising the aptamer, and the use of the aptamer as a medicament or a diagnostic reagent, particularly for use in the detection or diagnosing of a rejection of a renal allograft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid or liquisolid formulation comprising corallopyronin A, wherein the formulation comprises an amorphous solid dispersion of corallopyronin A embedded in a water-soluble polymer or corallopyronin A loaded onto porous silica.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquisolid pharmaceutical formulation comprising a porous carrier and an active pharmaceutical ingredient loaded onto a surface of the porous carrier, wherein the active pharmaceutical ingredient is dispersed in propylene carbonate or a mixture of propylene carbonate and a further solvent and the dispersion of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and propylene carbonate or a mixture of propylene carbonate and a further solvent is loaded onto the external surface and the internal surface located inside the pores of the porous carrier thereby forming a liquisolid system, and to a process for manufacturing such a liquisolid pharmaceutical formulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting activation of a brown/beige fat cell or brown/beige adipose tissue (BAT) in a biological sample taken from a mammal to be diagnosed, comprising measuring the amount of miR-92 in said sample. The invention furthermore relates to diagnostic and clinical applications of the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 6?-sialyllactose and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for use in the treatment of a disease selected from hearing loss and hearing loss—associated tinnitus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aptamer comprising a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof of at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the aptamer comprises a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety conjugated to the 5? or the 3? end. The invention further relates to a composition comprising the aptamer, and the use of the aptamer in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly hormone refractory prostate tumours.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new triphosphate-modified oligonucleotides which may act as RIG-I ligands as well as a new method allowing the synthesis and purification in high yield and purity suitable for pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying or producing an aptamer, the method comprising the steps of: a) Providing a candidate mixture of nucleic acids; b) Contacting the candidate mixture with a target sample; c) Partitioning nucleic acids that bind to the target sample from those that do not bind; d) Amplifying the binding nucleic acids to produce a population of nucleic acids that bind the target sample; e) Single strand displacement of the amplified nucleic acids, f) optionally repeating the steps a) to e), thereby identifying or producing an aptamer, wherein the target sample provides one or more peptides and/or proteins in a denatured form.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to extracellular vesicles (exosomes) that are produced by culturing tumor cells in the presence of various ligands or activators of innate immunity receptors and subsequently isolating and purifying the vesicles in the culture supernatant. The invention provides also pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inventive exosomes. The exosomes of the invention are provided as medicaments for example in the treatment of cancer diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for taking up oil from a water surface, comprising a container for receiving the oil and an oil-transporting means, wherein a portion of the oil-transporting means can be brought into fluid communication with the water surface and another portion of the oil-transporting means is disposed within the container, wherein the oil can be transported into the container via the oil-transporting means, wherein the oil-transporting means is formed from a hydrophobic fabric, the surface of which comprises filament-shaped and/or grid-like structures which are designed in such a way that they retain a gas layer on the surface of the hydrophobic fabric under water. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for taking up oil from a water surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 6?-sialyllactose and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for use in the treatment of a disease selected from hearing loss and hearing loss—associated tinnitus.

Abstract: A method of producing 5-ketofructose using an acetic acid bacterium which is genetically modified to express a fructose dehydrogenase as well as to microorganisms which can be used in said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid-based assembly comprising: at least one nucleic acid aptamer, and at least one nucleic acid motif designed to physically capture a drug. The nucleic acid motif may comprise one or more photo-responsive moieties that effect the release of the drug upon irradiation. The aptamer and the nucleic acid motif each can be covalently linked to one or more lipids, and the lipid-modified aptamer and nucleic acid motif may form the assembly through noncovalent interaction. The invention further relates to use of the nucleic acid-based assembly in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Oligonucleotides bearing free, uncapped 5? phosphate group(s) are recognized by RIG-I, leading to the induction of type I IFN, IL-18 and IL-1? production. Bacterial RNA also induces type I IFN production. 5? phosphate oligonucleotides and bacterial RNA can be used for inducing an anti-viral response or an anti-bacterial response, in particular, type I IFN and/or IL-18 and/or IL-1? production, in vitro and in vivo and for treating various disorders and diseases such as viral infections, bacterial infections, parasitic infections, tumors, allergies, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies and immunosuppression. Single-stranded 5? triphosphate RNA can be used for inducing an anti-viral response, an anti-bacterial response, or an anti-tumor response, in particular, type I IFN and/or IL-18 and/or IL-1? production, in a target cell-specific manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oligonucleotide which is capable of activating RIG-I and inducing an anti-viral, in particular, an IFN, response in cells expressing RIG-I. The present invention further provides an oligonucleotide which is capable of activating RIG-I and which has target gene-silencing activity. The oligonucleotide of the present invention has a double-stranded section of at least 19, preferably at least 21 bp, at least one 5? triphosphate, and at least one blunt end which bears a 5? triphosphate. The present invention further provides the use said oligonucleotide for inducing an anti-viral, in particular, an IFN, response in vitro and in vivo. The present invention additionally provides the use of said oligonucleotide for preventing and/or treating diseases or conditions such as infections, tumors/cancers, and immune disorders.

Abstract: The present invention provides a TLR7 ligand and its use in therapeutic applications. Specifically, the present application provides a RNA oligonucleotide comprising a G:U wobble base pair in the context of a fully double-stranded structure and its use in treating disease such as viral infections, immune disorders and cancer.

Abstract: Device mountable on a surface (10), the device comprising a spacer system (12, 16, 20, 22) and a grid structure (2) which grid structure (2) is attached in spaced relation to the surface (10) by means of the spacer system (12, 16, 20, 22), wherein the distance between the surface (10) and the grid structure (2) is in a range from >0.1 ?m to <10 mm, wherein the grid structure (2) forms meshes of a mesh size in a range from >0.5 ?m to <8 mm, and wherein the surface of the grid structure (2) is at least partially amphiphobic. Method of maintaining a gas or air layer on a surface when the surface is immersed in a liquid or water comprising such device, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new triphosphate-modified oligonucleotides which may act as RIG-I ligands as well as a new method allowing the synthesis and purification in high yield and purity suitable for pharmaceutical applications.