Patents Assigned to The University of Houston
  • Patent number: 12203935
    Abstract: Disclosed are probes based on papilloma virus and modified SV40 that can be used for detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood stream, methods for manufacturing such probes, and methods for using such probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Shaun Xiaoliu Zhang, Xinping Fu
  • Publication number: 20200363406
    Abstract: Assay compositions and methods for detection of analytes that include covalent modification of assay elements, such that they are preserved, destroyed, created, or immobilized. Methods for detecting an analyte in a biological sample. The method includes providing a mixture of a biological sample potentially containing the analyte, and a molecular recognition element physically coupled to a covalent modification agent, wherein the molecular recognition element is capable of specific recognition of the analyte, and exposing the mixture to a first set of reaction conditions, wherein the analyte and molecular recognition element can associate to form a recognition complex. Upon formation of the recognition complex, the method further includes generating by use of the covalent modification agent, a template complex; and exposing the template complex to a second set of reaction conditions, wherein the template complex is amplified to generate a detectable product indicative of the presence of the analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Hui CHEN, Mary CRUM, Dimple CHAVAN, Ekaterini KOURENTZI, Binh V. VU, Richard C. WILLSON
  • Patent number: 10832843
    Abstract: A superconductor tape may be fabricated via Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) to achieve peel strengths greater than approximately 4.5 N/cm. The superconductor tape may be fabricated via MOCVD with a REBCO composition that includes the elements Samarium (Sm)-Barium(Ba)-Copper(Cu)-Oxygen(O). Varying levels of Copper (Cu) content can achieve peel strengths ranging between approximately 4.5 N/cm to approximately 8.0 N/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventor: Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 10818416
    Abstract: A REBCO superconductor tape that can achieve a lift factor greater than or equal to approximately 3.0 or 4.0 in an approximately 3 T magnetic field applied perpendicular to a REBCO tape at approximately 30 K. In an embodiment, the REBCO superconductor tape can include a critical current density less than or equal to approximately 4.2 MA/cm2 at 77 K in the absence of an external magnetic field. In another embodiment, the REBCO superconductor tape can include a critical current density greater than or equal to approximately 12 MA/cm2 at approximately 30 K in a magnetic field of approximately 3 T having an orientation parallel to a c-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventor: Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Publication number: 20180269509
    Abstract: Electrochemical devices including solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) or thin film solid oxide fuel cells (TFSOFCs) having a porous metallic anode with nanoporous surface structure enabling the deposition of a dense, impermeable thin film electrolyte layer on the porous anode. Fabricating methods include forming a mixture of nanopowder metallic agents and nanopowder proppant that are sintered, smoothed and etched to form the nanoporous surface structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Rabi Ebrahim, Mukhtar Yeleuov, Alex Ignatiev
  • Patent number: 10039796
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the composition and use of a modified Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) as a medicament in the treatment of cancer. The modified HSV-2 has fusogenic activity, and comprises a modified/mutated ICP10 polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having ribonucleotide reductase activity and lacking protein kinase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Xiaoliu Zhang, Xinping Fu
  • Publication number: 20180061542
    Abstract: A superconductor tape may be fabricated via Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) to achieve peel strengths greater than approximately 4.5 N/cm. The superconductor tape may be fabricated via MOCVD with a REBCO composition that includes the elements Samarium (Sm)-Barium(Ba)-Copper(Cu)-Oxygen(O). Varying levels of Copper (Cu) content can achieve peel strengths ranging between approximately 4.5 N/cm to approximately 8.0 N/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: The University of Houston System
    Inventor: Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Publication number: 20170337343
    Abstract: A new cardiac risk factors are disclosed along with method for deriving the components of the factors, for developing the factors and for using the factors. Methods for computing pericardial fat and abdominal fat are also disclosed as well as methods for motion compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Ioannis A. Kakadiaris, Morteza Naghavi
  • Patent number: 9770482
    Abstract: A compound can destabilize an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein and a sodium/glucose co-transporter 1 (SGLT 1) protein. In one embodiment, the compound is a peptide derived from the interacting domain of EGFR. In another embodiment, the peptide is administered to a patient to treat cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventor: Zhang Weihua
  • Patent number: 9555135
    Abstract: Novel, non-toxic cobalt-based contrast and imaging agents for use in enhanced medical imaging modalities and processes are described, as well the manufacture of markers containing such contrast agents is described, and uses for such imaging markers and contrast agents in a variety of therapeutic applications and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Steven J. Frank, Karen Martirosyan
  • Patent number: 9450123
    Abstract: A design of a quantum well region that allows faster and more efficient carrier collection in quantum well solar cells. It is shown that for a quantum well material system displaying a negligible valence band offset, the conduction band confinement energies and barrier thicknesses can be designed to favor a sequential thermionic promotion and resonant tunneling of electrons to the conduction band continuum resulting in faster carrier collection rates than for a conventional design. An evaluation of the proposed design in the context of devices incorporating GaAs/GaAsN quantum wells shows a collection of all photo-generated carriers within several to tenths of ps (10?12 s) from deep quantum wells rather than several ns, as it is the case for conventional designs. The incorporation of the proposed design in single and multijunction solar cells is evaluated with efficiency enhancements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Alexandre Freundlich, Andenet Alemu
  • Publication number: 20160172080
    Abstract: A REBCO superconductor tape that can achieve a lift factor greater than or equal to approximately 3.0 or 4.0 in an approximately 3 T magnetic field applied perpendicular to a REBCO tape at approximately 30 K. In an embodiment, the REBCO superconductor tape can include a critical current density less than or equal to approximately 4.2 MA/cm2 at 77 K in the absence of an external magnetic field. In another embodiment, the REBCO superconductor tape can include a critical current density greater than or equal to approximately 12 MA/cm2 at approximately 30 K in a magnetic field of approximately 3 T having an orientation parallel to a c-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: The University of Houston System
    Inventor: Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 9355267
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for an Integrated File Level Cryptographical Access Control (IFLCAC). The system comprises, on a local computer, an encryption database to store information relating to encrypted files and encryption algorithms, a user interface communicatively linked to the encryption database, an administrator interface communicatively linked to the encryption database independently of the user interface, and a file system gateway communicatively linked to the encryption database that resides above and operates independently of the file system and transparently to any calling application on the local computer. Also provided are methods of using the IFLCAC system and a computer program product comprising a memory tangibly storing computer executable instructions for the IFLCAC system and method and one or more computer readable media tangibly storing computer executable instructions for the IFLCAC system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventor: Ryan Seifert
  • Patent number: 9345790
    Abstract: Novel, non-toxic cobalt-based contrast and imaging agents for use in enhanced medical imaging modalities and processes are described, as well the manufacture of markers containing such contrast agents is described, and uses for such imaging markers and contrast agents in a variety of therapeutic applications and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Steven J. Frank, Karen Martirosyan
  • Patent number: 9334307
    Abstract: A compound can destabilize a binding interaction between an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and a sodium/glucose co-transporter 1 (SGLT 1). In one embodiment, the compound is a peptide derived from the interacting domain of EGFR. In another embodiment, the peptide is administered to a patient to treat cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventor: Zhang Weihua
  • Patent number: 9259390
    Abstract: Provided herein are drug delivery systems, such as self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems and parenteral microemulsion formulations, suitable for parenteral or oral delivery to a subject. The drug delivery systems may comprise a benzimidazole derivative, e.g., mebendazole, an oil, a surfactant, a cosurfactant and a dipolar aprotic solvent in a microemulsion formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Diana Shu-Lian Chow, Pranav Gupta, Yulan Qi, Dong Liang
  • Patent number: 9259391
    Abstract: Provided herein are drug delivery systems, such as self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems and parenteral microemulsion formulations, suitable for parenteral or oral delivery to a subject. The drug delivery systems may comprise a benzimidazole derivative, e.g., mebendazole, an oil, a surfactant, a cosurfactant and a dipolar aprotic solvent in a microemulsion formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Diana Shu-Lian Chow, Pranav Gupta, Yulan Qi, Dong Liang
  • Publication number: 20150357090
    Abstract: An MOCVD system fabricates high quality superconductor tapes with variable thicknesses. The MOCVD system can include a gas flow chamber between two parallel channels in a housing. A substrate tape is heated and then passed through the MOCVD housing such that the gas flow is perpendicular to the tape's surface. Precursors are injected into the gas flow for deposition on the substrate tape. In this way, superconductor tapes can be fabricated with variable thicknesses, uniform precursor deposition, and high critical current densities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Goran Majkic, Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 9145295
    Abstract: A graphene nano-sensor with a suspended graphene flake electrically connected to metal electrodes. The graphene nano-sensor is capable of detecting single molecules in an atmosphere through a change in electrical conductance through the graphene flake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Houston Systems
    Inventor: Haibing Peng
  • Patent number: 9023642
    Abstract: A bioreactor and method that permits continuous and simultaneous short, moderate, or long term cell culturing of one or more cell types or tissue in a laminar flow configuration is disclosed, where the bioreactor supports at least two laminar flow zones, which are isolated by laminar flow without the need for physical barriers between the zones. The bioreactors of this invention are ideally suited for studying short, moderate and long term studies of cell cultures and the response of cell cultures to one or more stressors such as pharmaceuticals, hypoxia, pathogens, or any other stressor. The bioreactors of this invention are also ideally suited for short, moderate or long term cell culturing with periodic cell harvesting and/or medium processing for secreted cellular components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Stanley J. Kleis, Sandra K. Geffert, Steve R. Gonda