Abstract: Disclosed are apta-chelamers comprising aptamer domains tethered to rationally designed synthetic protein-binding modules, and methods of designing and making the same. Also disclosed are stimulus-responsive apta-chelamers capable of simultaneously or sequentially binding (and, thus, inhibiting) two protein targets.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 10, 2009
Publication date:
August 4, 2011
Applicant:
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
Abstract: Carbon with mesopores (about two to fifteen nanometers in average pore size) is made using sucrose as a source of carbon, and silica and phosphoric acid as templates for the mesopore structure in the carbon. A silica sol is prepared in a water/ethanol medium and sucrose is dispersed in the sol. Phosphoric acid may be added to the sol to control pore size in the mesopore size range. The sol is dried, carbonized, and the silica and phosphate materials removed by leaching. The residue is a mesoporous carbon mass having utility as a catalyst support, gas absorbent, and the like.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 24, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 22, 2011
Assignees:
GM Global Technolgy Operations LLC, Tulane University; Administrators of the Tulane Education Fund
Inventors:
Qingyuan Hu, Yunfeng Lu, Jing Tang, Mei Cai
Abstract: Provided is a novel method for detecting Transmissible Spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The method comprises: selecting a body fluid sample from a subject to determine whether the subject has transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; and detecting antibodies that immune react with Spiroplasma proteins in the sample. The method detects antibodies in the individual sera samples that react with recombinant Spiroplasma-specific Hsp60 by standard ELISA methodology. This method provides for rapid detection of TSE by determination of presence of antibodies in test samples showing associated Spiroplasma infection that has become consistent with presence of TSE. The method provides a mechanism to detect presence of TSE without invasive techniques currently needed to make diagnosis using brain tissues for prion detection. This method provides means of detection of TSE in the live patient without need for using necropsy tissues.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 23, 2005
Date of Patent:
February 15, 2011
Assignees:
Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
Abstract: A novel top-down procedure for synthesis of stable passivated nanoparticles uses a one-step mechanochemical process to form and passivate the nanoparticles. High-energy ball milling (HEBM) can advantageously be used to mechanically reduce the size of material to nanoparticles. When the reduction of size occurs in a reactive medium, the passivation of the nanoparticles occurs as the nanoparticles are formed. This results in stable passivated silicon nanoparticles. This procedure can be used, for example in the synthesis of stable alkyl- or alkenyl-passivated silicon and germanium nanoparticles. The covalent bonds between the silicon or germanium and the carbon in the reactive medium create very stable nanoparticles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 2, 2008
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2011
Assignee:
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
Inventors:
Brian S. Mitchell, Mark J. Fink, Andrew S. Heintz
Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and methods of inhibiting fusion between the virion envelope of Flaviviruses and membranes of the target cell, the process that delivers the viral genome into the cell cytoplasm. The invention provides for methods which employ peptides or peptide derivatives to inhibit Flavivirus:cell fusion. The present invention is based in part on the discovery that E1 envelope glycoprotein of hepaciviruses and E2 envelope glycoprotein of pestivirus have previously undescribed structures, truncated class II fusion proteins. The present invention provides peptides and methods of treatment and prophylaxis of diseases induced by Flaviviruses.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 2008
Date of Patent:
December 21, 2010
Assignees:
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund, The Rockefeller University
Inventors:
Robert F. Garry, Srikanta Dash, David H. Coy, Jane A. McKeating
Abstract: The present invention provides novel peptides which specifically targets and binds to dendritic cells. Also provided are fusion compositions comprising these peptides and a non-dendritic protein of fragments thereof. Further provided are DNA sequences encoding these peptides and fusion compositions. Methods of using the peptides or fusion compositions to promote an immune responses in an individual via administration also are provided.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 8, 2004
Publication date:
November 4, 2010
Applicant:
ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
Inventors:
Mansour Mohamadzadeh, Tyler J. Curiel, Cindy A. Morris
Abstract: A process for synthesizing a metal telluride is provided that includes the dissolution of a metal precursor in a solvent containing a ligand to form a metal-ligand complex soluble in the solvent. The metal-ligand complex is then reacted with a telluride-containing reagent to form metal telluride domains having a mean linear dimension of from 2 to 40 nanometers. NaHTe represents a well-suited telluride reagent. A composition is provided that includes a plurality of metal telluride crystalline domains (PbTe)1-x-y(SnTe)x(Bi2Te3)y??(I) having a mean linear dimension of from 2 to 40 nanometers inclusive where x is between 0 and 1 inclusive and y is between 0 and 1 inclusive with the proviso that x+y is less than or equal to 1. Each of the metal telluride crystalline domains has a surface passivated with a saccharide moiety or a polydentate carboxylate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 14, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignees:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
Abstract: A method of treating preeclampsia including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufagenin to a patient having preeclampsia. Effecting the determination of the presence of preeclampsia may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that preeclampsia does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has preeclampsia. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufagenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufagenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of preeclampsia.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2005
Date of Patent:
July 20, 2010
Assignee:
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
Abstract: Titanium oxide (usually titanium dioxide) catalyst support particles are doped for electronic conductivity and formed with surface area-enhancing pores for use, for example, in electro-catalyzed electrodes on proton exchange membrane electrodes in hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells. Suitable compounds of titanium and a dopant are dispersed with pore-forming particles in a liquid medium. The compounds are deposited as a precipitate or sol on the pore-forming particles and heated to transform the deposit into crystals of dopant-containing titanium dioxide.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 3, 2010
Publication date:
June 24, 2010
Applicants:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Administrators Of The Tulane Education Fund
Inventors:
Mei Cai, Yunfeng Lu, Zhiwang Wu, Lee Lizhong Feng, Martin S. Ruthkosky, John T. Johnson, Frederick T. Wagner
Abstract: Provided is a combined umbilical cord clamp, cutter, disinfectant, and data collecting system which reduces the risk of cord infections due to unsanitary birth conditions. Also provided is an identification system which aids in the collection of birth statistics.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 21, 2009
Publication date:
June 3, 2010
Applicant:
THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
Inventors:
David RICE, William KETHMAN, Bryan MOLTER, Stephanie ROBERTS, Mark YOUNG
Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously extracting liquid in at least two separate streams from a vessel, continuously diluting and/or conditioning a first stream in one or more stages, producing, as a result of the extraction, dilution and/or conditioning, the first stream consisting of a dispersion of particles to be characterized, and diluting and/or conditioning a second stream, the second stream consisting of soluble components; and subjecting the first and second streams to various characterizing measurements.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 1, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 18, 2010
Assignees:
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund, Polymer Laboratories Ltd.
Inventors:
Wayne F. Reed, Alina M. Alb, Stephen J. O'Donohue, Robert M. Anderson
Abstract: Carbon with mesopores (about two to fifteen nanometers in average pore size) is made using sucrose as a source of carbon, and silica and phosphoric acid as templates for the mesopore structure in the carbon. A silica sol is prepared in a water/ethanol medium and sucrose is dispersed in the sol. Phosphoric acid may be added to the sol to control pore size in the mesopore size range. The sol is dried, carbonized, and the silica and phosphate materials removed by leaching. The residue is a mesoporous carbon mass having utility as a catalyst support, gas absorbent, and the like.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 24, 2007
Publication date:
January 28, 2010
Applicants:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. @@ TULANE UNIVERSITY, TULANE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
Inventors:
Qingyuan Hu, Yunfeng Lu, Jing Tang, Mei Cai
Abstract: A method of monitoring the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness during synthesis of polymers and/or colloids, including postpolymerization modifications on natural and synthetic polymers, includes providing a reactor in which the polymers and/or colloids are synthesized; and providing a means of monitoring the stimuli responsiveness of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis. Preferably, the method also includes monitoring the evolution of the characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis. Preferably, evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is correlated to the evolution of the properties of the polymers and/or colloids themselves. Also, preferably the conditions of the fluid in the reactor in which the synthesis occurs is determined. The determination can be by detection, choice of materials and temperature conditions, for example, and combinations thereof.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 5, 2009
Publication date:
December 10, 2009
Applicant:
THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and kits useful for the treatment of cancer include certain alkyl esters of cystine and certain alkyl-substituted cystamine derived esters, including, for example, cystine dimethyl ester and a di-alkyl peptidyl cystamine ester, among others. These compounds may be employed in methods of treating cancers or methods of determining sensitivity of certain cancer cells to apoptosis alone, or in combination with other chemotherapeutic, radiological or apoptotic agents.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 28, 2009
Publication date:
September 10, 2009
Applicant:
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptide analogues of glucagon-like peptide-1, the pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, to methods of using such analogues to treat mammals and to pharmaceutical compositions useful therefor comprising said analogues.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 6, 2008
Publication date:
June 11, 2009
Applicants:
Biomeasure, Incorporated, The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds that have been demonstrated to be modulators of the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a and subtypes, iso forms and variants thereof). These compounds are useful as antagonists of the ghrelin receptor as well as inverse agonist, partial agonist or a combination of these activities as medicaments for treatment and prevention of a range of medical conditions including, but not limited to, metabolic and/or endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disorders, obesity and obesity-associated disorders, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, genetic disorders, and hyperproliferative disorders.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 30, 2007
Publication date:
March 12, 2009
Applicant:
THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
Inventors:
Cyril Y. Bowers, Gloria S. Tannenbaum, David H. Coy, Simon J. Hocart
Abstract: A novel top-down procedure for synthesis of stable passivated nanoparticles uses a one-step mechanochemical process to form and passivate the nanoparticles. High-energy ball milling (HEBM) can advantageously be used to mechanically reduce the size of material to nanoparticles. When the reduction of size occurs in a reactive medium, the passivation of the nanoparticles occurs as the nanoparticles are formed. This results in stable passivated silicon nanoparticles. This procedure can be used, for example in the synthesis of stable alkyl- or alkenyl-passivated silicon and germanium nanoparticles. The covalent bonds between the silicon or germanium and the carbon in the reactive medium create very stable nanoparticles.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 2, 2008
Publication date:
February 19, 2009
Applicant:
THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
Inventors:
Brian S. Mitchell, Mark J. Fink, Andrew S. Heintz