Patents Assigned to The University of Houston System
  • Publication number: 20230233674
    Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the reducing a risk of contracting a respiratory disease in a subject or reducing a risk of transmitting a respiratory disease from a first subject to a second subject. In some cases, a composition or method described herein can comprise a modulator (e.g., a pattern recognition receptor, such as a STING agonist, for instance cGAMP) In some cases, a composition or method described herein can comprise a liposome, which may be used to encapsulate one or more STING agonists. In some cases, a liposome of a composition or method described herein may comprise one or more antigens attached to, integrated into, or associated with a liposomal membrane of the liposome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Navin Varadarajan, Ankita Leekha
  • Publication number: 20230233691
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and formulations for treating a patient suffering from one or more of chronic inflammatory injury, metaplasia, dysplasia or cancer of esophageal tissue and gastric tissue, which method comprises administering to the patient an agent that selectively kills or inhibits the proliferation or differentiation of pathogenic Barrett's Esophagus stem cells (BESCs) or Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia stem cells (GIMSCs) relative to normal regenerative esophageal stem cells or gastric stem cells in the tissue in which the BESCs or GIMSCs are found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: University of Houston System, Tract Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Wa XIAN, Frank MCKEON, Shan WANG, Audrey-Ann LIEW, Matthew VINCENT
  • Publication number: 20230237227
    Abstract: A method for oil recovery by calculating, with a computer system, a current oil saturation of a reservoir, comparing, with the computer system, reservoir properties to screening criteria, determining, with the computer system, a minimum miscibility pressure based on correlations between the reservoir properties and the screening criteria; determining, with the computer system, if the minimum miscibility pressure is greater than a bubble point pressure of the reservoir and is less than or equal to an initial reservoir pressure, determining, with the computer system, a time to repressure the reservoir with water injection, performing a reservoir simulation with the computer system, and flooding the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Ganesh C. Thakur, Sriram Balasubramanian, Ahmed M. Alzahabi, Sushanta Bose
  • Publication number: 20230220570
    Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure provides time and energy-efficient synthesis of catalysts for water electrolysis. An exemplary synthesis method includes dissolving amounts of Fe(NO3)3.9H2O and Na2S2O3.5H2O in deionized water at ambient temperature to form a solution, placing Ni foam into the solution where the Ni foam serves as a substrate and a Ni source for growth of sulfur-doped (Ni,Fe)OOH (S—(Ni,Fe)OOH) catalysts, leaving the Ni foam in the solution at ambient temperature for a duration between one minute and five minutes to provide a treated foam where the S—(Ni,Fe)OOH catalysts grow on the substrate during the duration, and removing the treated foam from the solution after the duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Zhifeng REN, Luo YU, Shuo CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230218708
    Abstract: Described herein are pharmaceutical compositions containing peptoids of general formula (I), (II), or (III) capable of reducing proliferation of cancer stem cells in a subject and methods of treatment or prophylactic administration of these pharmaceutical compositions to treat cancer. Also provided herein are method of detecting and treating cancerous cell masses by use of peptoids of general formula (I), (II), or (III).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicants: University of Houston System, The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Damith Gomika UDUGAMASOORIYA, Aaron RAYMOND, John MINNA
  • Publication number: 20230210371
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods to measure the intraocular pressure, ocular tissue geometry and the biomechanical properties of an ocular tissue, such as an eye-globe or cornea, in one instrument. The system is an optical coherence tomography subsystem and an applanation tonometer subsystem housed as one instrument and interfaced with a computer for at least data processing and image display. The system utilizes an air-puff and a focused micro air-pulse to induce deformation and applanation and displacement in the ocular tissue. Pressure profiles of the air puff with applanation times are utilized to measure intraocular pressure. Temporal profiles of displacement and/or spatio-temporal profiles of a displacement-generated elastic wave are analyzed to calculate biomechanical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Kirill V. Larin, Manmohan Singh, Jiasong Li, Zhaolong Han, Michael D. Twa
  • Patent number: 11694006
    Abstract: A method for enhanced oil recovery may comprise inputting into a computer system data related to properties of a hydrocarbon reservoir and depletion of the hydrocarbon reservoir; calculating, with the computer system, a current oil saturation and a current gas saturation of the hydrocarbon reservoir based on the data; determining, with the computer system, that the current reservoir pressure is less than a bubble point pressure based on the data; calculating, with the computer system, a time to repressure the hydrocarbon reservoir by waterflooding based on the data; comparing, with the computer system, the data related to properties of the hydrocarbon reservoir to oil recovery screening criteria; selecting a flooding technique from a plurality of flooding techniques, with the computer system, based on satisfying the oil recovery screening criteria with the data related to properties of the hydrocarbon reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Ganesh C. Thakur, Sriram Balasubramanian, Ahmed M. Alzahabi, Sushanta Bose
  • Patent number: 11692155
    Abstract: A cleaning composition is provided herein. The cleaning composition includes a plurality of metal particles and a base fluid. The plurality of metal particles have an average size in a range of from about 1 nanometer (nm) to about 10,000 micrometers (?m), and are dispersed in the base fluid. The cleaning composition is configured to generate an exothermic reaction when contacted with one or more components on a surface and water to facilitate removal of the one or more components from the surface. Methods of making and utilizing the cleaning composition are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventor: Zhifeng Ren
  • Patent number: 11679995
    Abstract: Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventor: Debora F. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20230181728
    Abstract: The adjuvanted conjugate opioid vaccine described herein is a conjugate of a protein carrier and at least one opioid backbone component or hapten conjugated thereto, admixed with at least one adjuvant. Anti-opioid effects are demonstrated after administration of a vaccine made up of the CRM197 protein carrier linked to a FEN backbone, combined with adjuvants such as dmLT or LTA1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicants: University of Houston System, Tulane University
    Inventors: Colin N. Haile, Gregory Cuny, Elizabeth B. Norton, Therese Kosten
  • Patent number: 11660325
    Abstract: Described herein are pharmaceutical compositions containing peptoids of general formula (I), (II), or (III) capable of reducing proliferation of cancer stem cells in a subject and methods of treatment or prophylactic administration of these pharmaceutical compositions to treat cancer. Also provided herein are method of detecting and treating cancerous cell masses by use of peptoids of general formula (I), (II), or (III).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: University of Houston System, The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Damith Gomika Udugamasooriya, Aaron Raymond, John Minna
  • Publication number: 20230160950
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are for remaining useful life prediction in electronics and include measuring a plurality of circuit parameters for each of a plurality of circuit components at a plurality of different temperatures, determining a probability density function of failure as a function of time for each of the plurality of circuit components and combining the probability density functions for each of the plurality of circuit components as a function of a circuit that contains the plurality of circuit components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicants: University of Houston System, NSWC Crane
    Inventors: Harish Krishnamoorthy, Joshua Hawke
  • Publication number: 20230160003
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of utilizing force-modulated hybridization to determine the length of an analyte strand, to determine an unknown nucleic acid sequence, or to determine the binding of a nucleotide to an active agent. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to sample holder devices and methods of utilizing such devices. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to detection devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Shoujun Xu, Qiongzheng Hu, Yuhong Wang
  • Publication number: 20230149295
    Abstract: The present disclosure addresses IBD from the standpoint of inhibiting or ablating pathogenic mucosal stem cells cloned from defined regions of disease in the gastrointestinal tract. In the case of Crohn's disease, for example, isolation of those stem cells according to the methods of the present disclosure reveals a pattern of inflammatory gene expression in stem cells from the terminal ileum and colon that is epigenetically maintained despite months of continuous cultivation in the absence of immune or stromal cells, or of intestinal microbes. Superimposed on this distributed inflammatory phenotype is a differentiation defect that profoundly and specifically alters the mucosal barrier properties of the terminal ileum. The co-existence of diseased and normal stem cells within the same endoscopic biopsies of Crohn's disease patients implicates an epigenetically enforced heterogeneity among mucosal stem cells in the dynamics of this condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicants: University of Houston System, The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, Tract Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank McKEON, Rahul NEUPANE, Jingzhong XIE, Wa XIAN, Matthew VINCENT, Shan WANG
  • Publication number: 20230151224
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of coating a substrate to impart antiviral and water resistance to the substrate. In general, the method includes obtaining a substrate and applying a coating composition to the substrate. In some embodiments, the coating composition imparts antiviral and water resistance properties to the substrate. In some embodiments, the coating composition has an antiviral method of action against a virus by causing damage to at least one of a capsid of the virus, an outer envelope of a protein layer of the virus, a spike protein of the virus, a cellular membrane of the virus, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Kang-Shyang Liao, Surendra Maharjan, Alexander Wang, Eileen Mellon
  • Publication number: 20230133393
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a micropatterned substrate that combines Si and TiB2, promoting preferential and selective cell growth behavior via substrate-mediated protein adsorption. The combination of Si and TiB2, differing in material stiffness, hardness, roughness, wettability and surface charges, is amenable to microfabrication processes and supports extended 2D and 3D cell culture. While versatile in the variety of customizable geometric patterns, the micropatterned substrate is a particularly appropriate platform for viable tissue culture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Fatima MERCHANT, Wanda WOSIK, Jefferson FRIGUGLIGETTI
  • Publication number: 20230117728
    Abstract: A method of polymerizing a first, and a second class of monomers to form product polymer. The first class of monomers polymerize via a radical pathway in the presence of light, and the second class of monomers polymerize via an insertion pathway in the absence of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Eva M. Harth, Dain B. Beezer, Anthony Keyes, Glen Richard Jones
  • Publication number: 20230110695
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a circuit, comprising a device under test, such as a power field effect transistor or capacitor, coupled to a power source and a signal source and configured to generate a power output using the signal source, a current output, a voltage output and an end of life detector coupled to the current output and the voltage output and configured to generate a first impedance as a function of the current output and the voltage output, to compare the first impedance to a second impedance and to generate an indicator if the first impedance exceeds the second impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicants: University of Houston System, NSWC Crane
    Inventors: Harish Krishnamoorthy, Joshua Hawke
  • Patent number: 11627691
    Abstract: Systems and methods discussed herein relate to Zintl-type thermoelectric materials, including a p-type thermoelectric material according to the formula AMyXy, and includes at least one of calcium (Ca), europium (Eu), ytterbium (Yb), and strontium (Sr), and has a ZT of the above about 0.60 above 675K. The n-type thermoelectric component includes magnesium (Mg), tellurium (Te), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) according to the formula Mg3.2Sb1.3Bi0.5-xTex that has an average ZT above 0.8 from 400K to 800K. The p-type and n-type materials discussed herein may be used alone, in combination with other materials, or in combination with each other in various configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Zhifeng Ren, Jing Shuai
  • Patent number: 11621420
    Abstract: An improved rechargeable battery may utilize materials that are entirely solid-state. The battery may utilize at least one organic active material for an electrode. The battery may utilize a cathode that comprises quinone(s). An electrolyte of the battery may be an ion-conducting inorganic compound. An anode of the battery may comprise an alkali metal. Further, a carbonyl group of the quinone(s) of the cathode may be reduced into a phenolate and coordinated to an alkali metal ion during discharge and vice versa during charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Yan Yao, Yanliang Liang