Patents Assigned to Rice University
  • Patent number: 11104936
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the thermodynamic design and concentrations necessary to design probe compositions with desired optimal specificity that enable enrichment, detection, quantitation, purification, imaging, and amplification of rare-allele-bearing species of nucleic acids (prevalence <1%) in a large stoichiometric excess of a dominant-allele-bearing species (wildtype). Being an enzyme-free and homogeneous nucleic acid enrichment composition, this technology is broadly compatible with nearly all nucleic acid-based biotechnology, including plate reader and fluorimeter readout of nucleic acids, microarrays, PCR and other enzymatic amplification reactions, fluorescence barcoding, nanoparticle-based purification and quantitation, and in situ hybridization imaging technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: David Yu Zhang, Juexiao Wang
  • Patent number: 11104964
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods present a universal microbial diagnostic (UMD) platform to screen for microbial organisms in a sample using a small number of random DNA probes that are agnostic to the target DNA sequences. The UMD platform can be used to direct and monitor appropriate treatments, thus minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance, and enhancing patient care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Rebekah A. Drezek, Richard G. Baraniuk, Amirali Aghazadeh, Mona Sheikh, Adam Y. Lin, Allen L. Chen, Pallavi Bugga
  • Publication number: 20210252166
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University, Durham University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Robert Pal, Victor García López, Lizanne Nilewski
  • Publication number: 20210257616
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to electrodes that include a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes and a metal associated with the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The vertically aligned carbon nanotubes may be in the form of a graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid material that includes a graphene film covalently linked to the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The metal may become reversibly associated with the carbon nanotubes in situ during electrode operation and lack any dendrites or mossy aggregates. The metal may be in the form of a non-dendritic or non-mossy coating on surfaces of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The metal may also be infiltrated within bundles of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. Additional embodiments pertain to energy storage devices that contain the electrodes of the present disclosure. Further embodiments pertain to methods of forming said electrodes by applying a metal to a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Abdul-Rahman O. Raji, Rodrigo V. Salvatierra
  • Publication number: 20210230178
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides trioxacarcin analogs of the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides methods of preparing the compounds disclosed herein as well as dimers of the compounds described herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use of the compounds disclosed herein. Additionally, drug conjugates with cell targeting moieties of the compounds are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Kyriacos C. NICOLAOU, Pengxi CHEN, Shugao ZHU, Quan CAI
  • Publication number: 20210230691
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for highly specific nucleic acid probes and primers are provided. The probe system comprises a complement strand and a protector stand that form a partially double-stranded probe. The reaction standard free energy of hybridization between the probe and target nucleic acid as determined by Expression 1 (?G°rxn=?G°t-TC??G°nh-PC+(?G°v-TC??G°h-PC)) is from about ?4 kcal/mol to about +4 kcal/mol. Alternatively, the reaction standard free energy of hybridization between the probe and target nucleic acid is determined by Expression 1 to be within 5 kcal/mol of the standard free energy as determined by Expression 2 (?R?ln(([P]0?[C]0)/[C]0)]), where the [P]0 term of Expression 2 equals the concentration of the protector strand and the [C]0 term of Expression 2 equals the concentration of the complement strand. In addition, a method for on-the-fly fine tuning of a reaction using the present probe is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: David Yu ZHANG, Juexiao WANG, Ruojia WU
  • Patent number: 11071857
    Abstract: Wireless treatment of arrhythmias. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: charging a capacitor of a first microchip device abutting heart tissue, the charging by harvesting ambient energy; charging a capacitor of a second microchip device abutting the heart tissue, the charging of the capacitor of the second microchip device by harvesting ambient energy; sending a command wirelessly from a communication device outside the rib cage to the microchip devices; applying electrical energy to the heart tissue by the first microchip device responsive to the command, the electrical energy applied from the capacitor of the first microchip device; and applying electrical energy to the heart tissue by the second microchip device responsive to the command to the second microchip device, the electrical energy applied from the capacitor of the second microchip device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: William Marsh Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Heart Institute
    Inventors: Yuxiang Sun, Aydin Babakhani, Mehdi Razavi, David Burkland, Brian Greet, Mathews John, Hongming Lyu
  • Publication number: 20210205468
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising multi domain peptide (MDP) hydrogels where the peptides that constitute the hydrogel have at least one N6-(1-iminoethyl)-lysine side chain. Also provided are hydrogels that further comprise a STING agonist, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and/or an anti-cancer therapy. Also provided are methods of using such compositions in the treatment of cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Jeffrey HARTGERINK, Andrew G. SIKORA, David LEACH, Jared M. NEWTON, Simon YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20210202943
    Abstract: Alkali metal-sulfur cells and batteries with cathode layers that store alkali metal charge carriers (e.g., lithium ions) in agglomerates of sulfurized carbon. The cathode layers lack costly and environmentally unfriendly nickel and cobalt. The cathode layers are composites that include agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles in a conductive binder and interconnected by sp2-bonded carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes or nanoribbons, that extend within the agglomerates and between the sulfurized-carbon particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Rodrigo Villegas Salvatierra, Gladys Anahi Lopez Silva, Abdul-Ramahn O. Raji
  • Patent number: 11048893
    Abstract: Remote measuring and sensing. Some example embodiment related to optical energy harvesting by identification device, such as infrared identification device GRID devices). Other embodiments relate to RFID device localization using low frequency source signals. Yet still other embodiments related to energy harvesting by RFID in electric fields in both conductive and non-conductive environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Aydin Babakhani, Seyed Mohammad Kazem Pour, Mahdi Forghani, Yuxiang Sun, Yaswanth Kumar Cherivirala
  • Publication number: 20210188906
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides tubulysin analogs of the formula (I) wherein the variables are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides methods of preparing the compounds disclosed herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use of the compounds disclosed herein. Additionally, drug conjugates with cell targeting moieties of the compounds are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Kyriacos C. NICOLAOU, Rohan Diliprao ERANDE, Dionisios VOURLOUMIS, Kiran Kumar PULUKURI, Stephan RIGOL
  • Publication number: 20210170337
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for distilling a fluid by exposing the fluid to a porous membrane that includes a surface capable of generating heat. In some embodiments, the heat generated at the surface propagates the distilling of the fluid by converting the fluid to a vapor that flows through the porous membrane and condenses to a distillate. In some embodiments, the surface capable of generating heat is associated with a photo-thermal composition that generates the heat at the surface by converting light energy from a light source to thermal energy. In some embodiments, the photo-thermal composition includes, without limitation, noble metals, semiconducting materials, dielectric materials, carbon-based materials, composite materials, nanocomposite materials, nanoparticles, hydrophilic materials, polymers, fibers, meshes, fiber meshes, hydrogels, hydrogel meshes, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Qilin Li, Jinjian Wu, Nancy C. Halas, Katherine R. Zodrow, Haoli Guo, Jiarui Xu, Cong Yu
  • Publication number: 20210171929
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and cytosine deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid editing are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Xue GAO, Sangsin LEE, Ning DING
  • Patent number: 11027240
    Abstract: Disclosed herein methods for combating biofouling in a liquid, e.g. an aqueous medium by providing a surface coated with at least one laser-induced graphene (LIG) layer in said liquid medium. Particularly disclosed herein method and devices for treating water comprising passing a water stream through a membrane module equipped with at least one spacer coated with at least one layer of LIG, and optionally by applying an electric potential to the at least one LIG layer to achieve a bactericidal effect in the water stream. Specifically, disclosed herein a polymeric mesh suitable for use as a spacer in a membrane module in water treatment application, said mesh being at least partially coated with LIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: B.G. Negev Technologies and Applications Ltd., at Ben-Gurion University, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Christopher John Arnusch, Swatantra Pratap Singh, Franklin Sargunaraj, Yoram Oren, James Mitchell Tour, Yilun Li
  • Publication number: 20210164026
    Abstract: This invention describes a method of controlling the hybridization yield of nucleic acid probes by adjusting the relative concentrations of auxiliary oligonucleotides to the probes and the targets. The auxiliary oligonucleotide is partially or fully complementary to either the probe or the target, and is released upon hybridization of the probe to the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: David Yu ZHANG, Ruojia WU, Juexiao WANG
  • Patent number: 11014816
    Abstract: Laser-induced graphene (LIG) and laser-induced graphene scrolls (LIGS) materials and, more particularly to LIGS, methods of making LIGS (such as from polyimide (PI)), laser-induced removal of LIG and LIGS, and 3D printing of LIG and LIGS using a laminated object manufacturing (LOM) process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Duy X. Luong, Ajay Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20210142866
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for encoding information in DNA molecules in a way that allows rapid and permanent erasure of information. As such, methods of erasing such information are also provided. Also provided are compositions that so encode information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: David Yu ZHANG, Alessandro PINTO, Jangwon KIM
  • Publication number: 20210130395
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for proximity-induced antibody conjugation of target agents).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Han XIAO, Chenfei YU, Juan TANG
  • Patent number: 10995056
    Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides methods of aminating an aromatic compound comprising reacting an aminating agent with an aromatic compound in the presence of a rhodium catalyst. In some embodiments, the methods may comprise aminating an aromatic compound which contains multiple different functional groups. The methods described herein may also be used to create bicyclic system comprising reacting an intramolecular aminating agent with an aromatic ring to obtain a second ring containing a nitrogen atom. In another aspect, the methods described herein may also be used to create a cyclic aliphatic cyclic/poly cyclic amine system comprising a reacting an intramolecular aminating agent by insertion into a C(sp3)-H bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: John R. Falck, Mahesh P. Paudyal, László Kürti
  • Patent number: 10996060
    Abstract: A device, system, and methods are described to perform machine-learning camera-based indoor mobile positioning. The indoor mobile positioning may utilize inexact computing, wherein a small decrease in accuracy is used to obtain significant computational efficiency. Hence, the positioning may be performed using a smaller memory overhead at a faster rate and with lower energy cost than previous implementations. The positioning may not involve any communication (or data transfer) with any other device or the cloud, providing privacy and security to the device. A hashing-based image matching algorithm may be used which is cheaper, both in energy and computation cost, over existing state-of-the-art matching techniques. This significant reduction allows end-to-end computation to be performed locally on the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: William Marsh Rice University, Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Anshumali Shrivastava, Chen Luo, Krishna Palem, Yongshik Moon, Soonhyun Noh, Daedong Park, Seongsoo Hong