Abstract: Described herein is a method of treatment of cancer or tumor using a modified bacteria or composition comprising the modified bacteria. In certain embodiments, the method is in combination with other treatment. In certain embodiments, the treatment is chemotherapy, radiation therapy, gene therapy, surgery or a combination thereof. The method makes modified facultative anaerobic bacteria into a conditional obligate anaerobe. The modified bacteria are strictly hypoxia regulated and comprise an essential gene expressing cassette. The vectors of this method comprise the essential gene expressing cassette. Also described herein are therapeutic and prophylactic compositions comprising the modified bacteria. The therapeutic and prophylactic compositions contain a purified form of the modified bacteria, while in certain embodiments, they do not contain other strain of microorganisms. The modified bacteria grow within the solid tumor/cancer, retarding its growth and are rapidly eliminated from normal tissues.

Abstract: Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells and methods of forming the same are provided. An OPV cell can include an organic photoactive layer comprising bis-(8-quinolinolato-N,O)platinum (II) (PtQ2) having a general structure disclosed herein as Structure I. A method of forming an OPV cell can include forming an organic photoactive layer on a substrate, which can include a transparent electrode. The organic photoactive layer can comprises PtQ2 having the general structure of Structure I.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating cell differentiation, proliferation and morphology in vitro or in vivo are described. The methods include modifying the extracellular nanoenvironment of stem cells with a self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold. The extracellular nanoenvironment can be modified by changing the percentage of self-assembling peptides used to form the nanofiber scaffold, the concentration of cells in the nanofiber scaffold, the pH, or the amounts of serum. Modulating the extracellular nanoenvironment of cells in nanofiber scaffold allows for increased targeting of cell placement and therapeutic delivery, amplified by cell encapsulation and implantation.

Abstract: Compositions which self-assemble under physiological conditions are formulated for application to wounds. The formulations include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or are provided as part of a medical device or coating. The formulations may also include other therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agents. The formulation can be administered as appropriate for treatment of one or more disorders or conditions. For example, the formulation may be applied to repair an injury or during surgery of the lung, eye or dura, or following an epidural or spinal tap, to stop leakage of blood, interstitial fluid, or cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) proteins, nucleic acids, and fusion constructs thereof, for enhancing humoral and cell-mediated immunity of a subject. Also provided are therapeutic compositions comprising the sPD-1 proteins, nucleic acids, and fusion constructs of the subject invention. In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic composition is formulated as a vaccine composition. Advantageously, the sPD-1 proteins, nucleic acids, and therapeutic compositions provide protective immunity against pathogenic infection including HIV infection. In addition, the subject invention can be used in the prevention and/or treatment of tumor or cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid aptamers that bind to Plasmodium proteins lactate dehydrogenase and histidine-rich protein II, and uses thereof for the diagnosis of malaria. Aptamers against histidine-rich protein II may be used to detect the presence of Plasmodium species in general, whereas aptamers against lactate dehydrogenase can be used to specifically detect Plasmodium falciparum.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a class of luminescent gold(III) compounds containing a tridentate ligand with one strong ?-donating group. The present invention also provides methods for synthesizing these compounds, as well as uses of these compounds as electrophosphorescent materials in phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) to provide electroluminescence (EL).

Abstract: Therapeutic methods for cancer treatments using a combined prokaryotic-eukaryotic delivery and expression system for the delivery of multiple therapeutic factors via a modified tumor-targeted bacteria. A targeted bacteria-vector system elicits an inter-kingdom dual expression (IKDE) of antitumor agents, in the nucleus or cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells, with priming and maintenance of the vector in the bacterium. The therapeutic factors include small interfering RNAs, tumoricidal proteins, DNA molecules, or a combination thereof. The system provides direct killing of tumor cells and alters the tumor microenvironment by expressing anti-angiogenic factors and cytokines in intracellular and/or extracellular environments. Also provided are methods of using natural exosomes comprising cargoes obtained from the bacterially infected cells. The bacteria-vector system is useful for many types of tumor and cancer as well as recombinant vaccines.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to tetradentate bis-(NHC carbenes) alkylene ligand Pt(II) complexes, tetradentate bis-(NHC carbenes) alkylene ligands, and its ligand precursors, for preparation of the Pt(II) complexes. The Pt(II) complexes show a deep blue emission with an improved quantum efficiency and can be used for fabrication of OLEDs with an electroluminescence layer that comprise the bis-(NHC carbenes) alkylene ligand Pt(II) complexes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assay (method) to quantify the amounts of catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT) protein in samples, such as extracts from cell cultures, body fluids, tissues, and environmental samples. It uses novel agents (anti-NE, COMT-NE, or COMT-epitope-NE) in combination with two previously described agents (anti-COMT and COMT) in a competitive ELISA system to achieve this aim.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating cancers that are dependent on cyclin D1 for proliferation, survival, metastasis and differentiation, involving administering a composition containing an effective amount of arsenic trioxide to an affected patient. The arsenic trioxide can be administered orally, for example, as a solution, suspension, syrup, emulsion, tablet, or capsule. The composition can also contain one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or excipients.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a new isoform of human PD1 (?42PD1) that contains a 42-nucleotide in-frame deletion located at exon 2 domain. ?42PD1 does not engage PD-L1/PD-L2, and can induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines In one embodiment, ?42PD1 can be used as an intramolecular adjuvant to develop a fusion DNA vaccine for enhancing antigen-specific CD8+ T cell immunity and for prevention of pathogenic infection and/or cancer. In one embodiment, soluble ?42PD1 protein could be a therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. In other embodiments, proteins or peptides or nucleic acids encoding proteins or peptides containing ?42PD1 could be used as immunogens for developing antibodies binding specifically to ?42PD1. In yet another embodiment, neutralizing antibodies could block s?42PD1 function and accordingly could be used as treatment for autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of synthesis of Au(III)-NHC complexes, a pharmaceutical composition comprises thereof. Also provided herein are the methods for the treatment and prevention of cancer/tumor in patients in need thereof by the administration of the Au(III)-NHC complexes. Also provided is method of detecting thiol in a biological system. The Au(III)-NHC complexes possess anticancer activity such as the induction of cell death, inhibition of cellular proliferation, inhibition of thioredoxin reductase activity, and inhibition of tumor growth in vivo.

Abstract: Solid-supported gold nanoparticles for use as a catalyst for the synthesis of quinolines from anilines and aldehydes using oxygen as an oxidant are provided. Also provided are a method for the preparation of SiO2-supported gold nanoparticles by in situ deposition of gold nanoparticles to silica gel and a method for synthesizing quinolines from anilines and aldehydes using oxygen as an oxidant.

Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a series of palladium based materials, their preparation method and their applications in an organic light-emitting diode (OLED).

Abstract: A method has been developed to produce stable cell-matrix microspheres with up to 100% encapsulation efficiency and high cell viability, using matrix or biomaterial systems with poor shape and mechanical stability for applications including cell therapeutics via microinjection or surgical implantation, 3D culture for in vitro expansion without repeated cell splitting using enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissociation and for enhanced production of therapeutic biomolecules, and in vitro modeling for morphogenesis studies. The modified droplet generation method is simple and scalable and enables the production of cell-matrix microspheres when the matrix or biomaterial system used has low concentration, with slow phase transition, with poor shape and mechanical stability.

Abstract: A catalyst for the generation of hydrogen from a small organic molecule comprises a tertiary metal composition where: the first metal is either Pt or Ru; the second metal is at least one of Pt, Ru, Au, Pd, Rh, Ir, Os, and/or Re; and Bi, primarily present in the form of an oxide or of a mixture of oxides and carbonates and in the +3 oxidation state. A portion of the first and/or second metal may be in the form of an oxide. The catalyst can be in the form of a nanoparticle and supported on an inert substrate, such as carbon. The catalyst can be used for dehydrogenation of formic acid or other small organic molecules in a liquid state at ambient pressures and at temperatures below the boiling point of the liquid. The liquid can be an aqueous solution of the small organic molecule.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel antifungal compound, derivatives that are used to treat fungal infections. In a specific embodiment, the compound is a small molecule. In a specific embodiment, the compound described herein inhibits yeast to hypha transition under robust hyphal inducing conditions at lower concentration of the molecule. Also disclosed is a composition comprising the antifungal compound. In a specific embodiment, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. Also disclosed is a method of treating and/or preventing fungal infection using the disclosed compound. The disclosed compound exhibits antifungal activity against wide range of fungal species at slightly higher concentrations. Antifungal compound disclosed herein is used as anti-biofilm agent against fungal infections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an improved EM reverberation chamber which facilitates the dynamic three dimensional (3D) manipulation of EM field polarization within the chamber and produces a uniform field distribution inside the chamber. The chamber includes one or more walls with tunable lumped elements. A controller is provided to generate one or more control signals that are applied to the lumped elements and tunes their impedance in response to the one or more control signals. The result is to generate, within the chamber an electromagnetic field that appears to be random or pseudo-random in polarization, but which is sufficiently uniform in magnitude for EM testing.

Abstract: A method has been developed to produce stable cell-matrix microspheres with up to 100% encapsulation efficiency and high cell viability, using matrix or biomaterial systems with poor shape and mechanical stability for applications including cell therapeutics via microinjection or surgical implantation, 3D culture for in vitro expansion without repeated cell splitting using enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissociation and for enhanced production of therapeutic biomolecules, and in vitro modeling for morphogenesis studies. The modified droplet generation method is simple and scalable and enables the production of cell-matrix microspheres when the matrix or biomaterial system used has low concentration, with slow phase transition, with poor shape and mechanical stability.