Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions for the extended release of drugs in the retina. In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of preparing extended release compositions comprising a therapeutic agent for use in retinal drug delivery. In various other aspects, the present disclosure provides methods for delivery of the disclosed compositions comprising a therapeutic agent to the retina via intravitreal injection. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Compositions for treatment of cystinosis, products for administering eye drops, and products for storing contact lenses are provided. Compositions include solutions that can contain an effective amount of cysteamine to treat cystinosis, and an oil with a lower density than the solution. Also provided is a product including a bottle for containing a solution, the bottle being substantially free of O2. Also provided is a contact lens holder for storing one or more contact lenses in a solution, the holder including barrier layers reducing the amount of O2 entering the contact lens holder.

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols.

Abstract: A three-dimensional cell growth medium is described. The cell growth medium may comprise hydrogel particles swollen with a liquid cell growth medium to form a granular gel yield stress material which undergoes a phase transformation from a solid phase to a liquid-like phase when an applied stress exceeds the yield stress. Cells may be placed in the three-dimensional cell growth medium according to any shape or geometry, and may remain in place within the three-dimensional cell growth medium.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods of flow-through electroporation can comprise a chamber with a first and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to receive cells and the second portion is in fluid communication with the first portion and is configured to receive cells from the first portion; an electrode can be present in the first portion, second portion, or both; a porous membrane can separate the first and second portions, the porous membrane can have one or more pores, and the pores can have one or more interior surfaces configured to allow cells from the first portion to pass through to the second portion; an electric generating device in electrical communication with one or more electrodes, the membrane, or the one or more electrodes and the membrane, wherein the electric generating device is configured to deliver constant voltage or one or more electric pulses to the system.

Abstract: A polymerizable unit that yields an electrochemically responsive polymer (advantageously pyrrole) is anchored by polymerization within a polycaprolactone matrix to form an electroactive scaffold upon which cells can be cultured and in which the micro- and nano-topological features of the polycaprolactone matrix are preserved. A scaffold manufactured in accordance with the preferred embodiment can support Schwann cells, which produce nerve growth factor when electrically stimulated. Nerve growth factor has been demonstrated to promote the regeneration of nerve tissue. By implanting the scaffold on which Schwann cells have been cultured into damaged nerve tissue and applying a voltage across the scaffold, nerve growth factor is produced, thereby promoting repair of the damaged nerve tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite comprising a metal alloy matrix; where the metal alloy matrix comprises aluminum in an amount greater than 50 atomic percent; a first metal and a second metal; where the first metal is different from the second metal; and where the metal alloy matrix comprises a low temperature melting phase and a high temperature melting phase; where the low temperature melting phase melts at a temperature that is lower than the high temperature melting phase; and a contracting constituent; where the contracting constituent exerts a compressive force on the metal alloy matrix at a temperature between a melting point of the low temperature melting phase and a melting point of the high temperature melting phase or below the melting points of the high and low temperature melting phases.

Abstract: A contactless charging system for smart garments having coils whose centroids are not colinear. Folding a coil in half through its centroid will null out its inductance. A smart garment having 3 coils that have centroids that are not colinear is proposed. Accordingly, there is no single folding line that intersects all 3 centroids thereby nullifying inductance. Power can be combined with one or more rectifiers such that power is not cancelled. The present disclosure is suitable for any charging environment or apparatus, such as, drawer or hanger.

Abstract: An article has a curved surface. Disposed upon the curved surface is a plurality of patterns. Each pattern is defined by a plurality of spaced apart features attached to or projected into the curved surface. The plurality of features each have at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average spacing between adjacent features is about 1 nanometer and about 1 millimeter in at least a portion of the curved surface. The plurality of spaced apart features are represented by a periodic function.

Abstract: Provided herein are polynucleic acids and expression vectors for the expression and secretion of angiotensin peptide fragments (e.g., angiotensin-(1-7)) in probiotic bacteria. Provided herein are also probiotic compositions that enable efficient, cost-effective and patient friendly oral therapeutics for treating diverse pathological conditions that involve the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), e.g., pulmonary hypertension, diabetes, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated assay system that can be used, for example, to monitor and screen cells in 3D culture. This system involves a 3D cell growth medium made from a yield stress material that allows cells to be deposited, e.g. by 3D printing, samples to be taken, and the extracellular environment manipulated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for switching a magnetic field external to a magnet assembly having two permanent magnets, including a fixed permanent magnet portion and a switching permanent magnet portion, where a switching magnetic field is used to switch the magnetization of the switching permanent magnet portion, but not switch the magnetization of the fixed permanent magnet portion. In this way, the fixed permanent magnet portion has a fixed magnetization, such that the direction of magnetization of the fixed permanent magnet portion remains the same during switching of the magnetization of the switching permanent magnet portion, and the switching permanent magnet portion has a switching magnetization, such that the direction of magnetization of the switching permanent magnet portion is switched during switching of the magnetization of the switching permanent magnet portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, ?-Fe and magnesium nitride.

Abstract: A contactless charging drawer for smart garments using magnetic coupling links. A frame with a primary coil creates a magnetic field which couples with a secondary coil disposed a drawer. Smart garments, or any device, can then be safely charged in the drawer. The combination provides for a wireless power charging environment while adding an extra degree of freedom in impedance transformation without the need for electrical contacts to the drawer.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitory RNA (iRNA) that mediates sequence-specific degradation of the mRNA encoding Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) and methods of treating cancers by administering the pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof. In one embodiment, the iRNA is miR-223, particularly, miR-223-3p or a modified miR-223-3p having substitutions and/or deletions in the sequence of miR-223-3p. In another embodiment, the cancer cells comprise one or more mutations in the genes that mediate homologous recombination DNA repair, for example, BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes. The cancer can be breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer or meso thelioma. Methods of treating cancer, for example, a cancer comprising BRCA1 and/or 2 mutations, using a combination of iRNA and a second cancer therapeutic are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for electrodynamic wireless power receivers. In some examples, a wireless power receiver electromechanically converts energy from a magnetic field. The wireless power receiver includes a planar suspension structure and at least one magnet. The planar suspension structure is tuned to cause oscillation of the at least one magnet at a resonance frequency based on a frequency of the time-varying magnetic field to generate electrical energy in the wireless power receiver.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for systems for removing contaminants from a leachate, methods of removing contaminants from a leachate, and the like.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods of treating colorectal cancer by administering an atypical PKC inhibitor. The inhibitors of aPKC useful in the methods of the instant invention include ACPD, ICA-1, DNDA and ?-Stat. Also provided are methods of measuring the susceptibility of colon cancer cells of a subject to inhibitors of aPKCs.

Abstract: Memristive learning concepts for neuromorphic circuits are described. In one example case, a neuromorphic circuit includes a first oscillatory-based neuron that generates a first oscillatory signal, a diode that rectifies the first oscillatory signal, and a synapse coupled to the diode and including a long-term potentiation (LTP) memristor arranged in parallel with a long-term depression (LTD) memristor. The circuit further includes a difference amplifier coupled to the synapse that generates a difference signal based on a difference between output signals from the LTP and LTD memristors, and a second oscillatory-based neuron electrically coupled to the difference amplifier that generates a second oscillatory signal based on the difference signal. The circuit also includes a feedback circuit that provides a feedback signal to the LTP and LTD memristors based on a difference or error between a target signal and the second oscillatory signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods of fabricating a metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna. One such antenna device comprises a loop antenna and a metamaterial slab integrated on top of the loop antenna. Accordingly, the metamaterial slab metamaterial has a negative refractive index value at a first frequency and a near zero refractive index at a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is less than the second frequency, each unit cell of the metamaterial slab is coupled to a capacitor in parallel, the first frequency is attributed to a capacitance value of the capacitor, and the second frequency is attributed to a dimension of the unit cell. As such, the antenna device is configured to receive wireless power transfer signals over the first frequency and wireless communication signals over the second frequency. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also presented.