Patents Assigned to Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Patent number: 12291621
    Abstract: Drying polar solvents which do not form hydrogen bonds with a wet gel or aerogel, or eutectics or solvent mixtures with the drying solvents, are utilized in a solvent exchange with wet gels used in the formation of aerogels. Preferably the drying solvents are non-polar solvents. The drying solvent or solvent mixtures results in profoundly less shrinkage, thereby allowing for the production of aerogels of preferred materials properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Massimo Bertino, Tyler Selden
  • Patent number: 12272494
    Abstract: A three-dimensional bicontinuous nanoporous platinum-based (3D-BC—NP—Pt(Au)) electrode is prepared by co-electrodepositing Pt and Ag to form a Pt—Ag alloy thin film on a gold substrate, annealing the Pt—Ag alloy thin film deposited on the gold substrate to produce a Pt—Ag—Au alloy, and dealloying the Pt—Ag—Au alloy by dissolving Ag to produce the nanoporous three-dimensional bicontinuous Pt—Au electrode with or without: hierarchical porosity, cylindrical nanopores, and engineered nano-cracks. Electrodes comprising Pt—Au alloys are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Ahmed A. Farghaly, Maryanne M. Collinson
  • Patent number: 12239696
    Abstract: Provided herein are chimeric recombinant polypeptides (chimeritopes) for use in vaccines against Anaplasmosis, in assays for diagnosing Anaplasmosis and in assays for measuring antibody titers induced by vaccination. The chimeritopes comprise, for example, antigenic segments of three Anaplasma proteins (OmpA, AipA and Asp14) and a non-antigenic segment of a Borrelia Osp protein (e.g. OspC) that is 10 amino acids in length, proline rich and random coil in conformation. Compositions comprising the chimeritopes, optionally in combination with additional Anaplasma proteins of interest, are also provided, as are methods of using the compositions as vaccines and diagnostic tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Richard T. Marconi, Jason A. Carlyon
  • Patent number: 12226423
    Abstract: Compositions comprising 5-cholesten-3, 25-diol, 3-sulfate (25HC3S) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and at least one cyclic oligosaccharide, e.g., a cyclodextrin (CD), are provided. The compositions may be used to prevent and/or treat a variety of diseases and conditions, including organ failure (e.g. acute liver failure), high cholesterol/high lipids, and various inflammatory diseases and conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignees: Virginia Commonwealth University, Durect Corporation, The United States Government as Represented by The Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Shunlin Ren, Leyuan Xu, Yanxia Ning, Jin Koung Kim, WeiQi Lin, Andrew R. Miksztal, Hongwei Wu, Min L. Lee
  • Patent number: 12221406
    Abstract: Scaffold compounds are used to design small molecule compounds and structure-activity relationship studies identify inhibitors of inflammation. Methods include pharmaceutical compositions of the small molecule compounds to inhibit, prevent and treat diseases and conditions associated with inflammation, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, acute myocardial infarction, traumatic brain injury and autoinflammatory diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventor: Shijun Zhang
  • Patent number: 12217890
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to subwavelength antennas and, more particularly, extreme subwavelength antennas with high radiation efficiency. One embodiment and its derivatives achieve the objective of an extreme subwavelength dual acoustic and electromagnetic antenna by using spin-orbit torque in an array of nanomagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventor: Supriyo Bandyopadhyay
  • Patent number: 12171888
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to dextran fibers which are preferably electrospun and devices formed from such fibers. In particular, such devices may include substances of interest (such as therapeutic substances) associated with the electrospun fibers. Upon exposure to a liquid the electrospun fibers dissolve immediately and the substances of interest are released into the liquid. Exemplary devices include bandages formed from electrospun dextran fibers and associated agents that promote hemostasis, such as thrombin and fibrinogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignees: Virginia Commonwealth University, The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bowlin, David Simpson, James Bowman, Stephen Rothwell
  • Patent number: 12161862
    Abstract: An example device for repairing a tissue is described herein. The device can include a flexible carrier layer, and a support member including a plurality of micro-protrusions extending therefrom. The support member can be at least partially integrated with the flexible carrier layer. Additionally, the flexible carrier layer can be configured to cover at least a portion of the tissue, and the micro-protrusions can be configured to mechanically interface with the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignees: BioCircuit Technologies, Inc., Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Jonathan Isaacs, Isaac Perry Clements, Andrew Willsie, James David Ross, Alex Weidenbach
  • Patent number: 12071410
    Abstract: Cost effective, semi-continuous flow methods and systems for synthesizing the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in high yield are provided. The synthesis method that uses simple, inexpensive reagents to obtain the crucial intermediate 5-(ethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino)pentan-2-one, vertical-integration of the starting material 5-iodopentan-2-one and the integration of continuous stirred tank reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Frank B. Gupton, Saeed Ahmad, Hari P. R. Gunuru, Nakul S. Telang
  • Patent number: 11986361
    Abstract: An exemplary device is indicated for use in physically debriding thrombus fragments from a stent retriever, using hospital-grade saline, or heparinized saline, for example. This device may be used in the sterile field, during a mechanical thrombectomy procedure. An exemplary cleaning device for cleaning a stent retriever within a sterile surgical field may include a chamber configured to receive and enclose a stent retriever to be cleaned, at least one port configured for connection with a fluid source to enable inflow and/or outflow of a fluid to or from the chamber, and one or more support structures configured to support the stent retriever in a fixed position inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Dennis J. Rivet, II, Shane Diller, John F. Reavey-Cantwell
  • Patent number: 11986822
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices for analyzing cellular components from biological samples which contain more than one cell type are provided. The microdevice separates cells by type, releases cellular components such as DNA (e.g. by cell lysis) and processes the cellular components (for example, by amplification) to generate products of interest for further analysis. Samples that can be analyzed using the microfluidic devices include forensic samples such as samples from sexual assault victims, and the products of interest include short tandem repeat (STR) amplicons for DNA profiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Tracey Dawson Green, James Landers
  • Patent number: 11918801
    Abstract: An example device for repairing a tissue is described herein. The device can include a flexible carrier layer, and a support member including a plurality of micro-protrusions extending therefrom. The support member can be at least partially integrated with the flexible carrier layer. Additionally, the flexible carrier layer can be configured to cover at least a portion of the tissue, and the micro-protrusions can be configured to mechanically interface with the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: BioCircuit Technologies, Inc., Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Jonathan Isaacs, Isaac Perry Clements, Andrew Willsie, James David Ross, Alex Weidenbach
  • Patent number: 11801309
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to carbohydrate-functionalized nanoparticles and methods of treating cardiovascular disease (for example, atherosclerosis).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University Intellectual Property Foundation
    Inventors: Hu Yang, Shobha Ghosh, Hongliang He, Michael Lancina
  • Patent number: 11786585
    Abstract: Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 receptor (IGFBP-3R) agonists and methods of their use to treat diseases involving IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-3R are provided. The agonists may be antibodies or other molecules specific for binding to and activating IGFBP-3R. The agonists are used to treat e.g. cancer, metabolic syndrome and obstructive respiratory disorders. In addition, methods of diagnosing cancer and predicting the chance of recurrence, metastasis and/or survival by measuring the level of IGFBP-3R in tumor tissue are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Youngman Oh, Qing Cai
  • Publication number: 20230218639
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for treating at least one of depression, neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinocerebellar degeneration, Friedreich ataxia, ataxia-telangiectasia, progressive supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease, striatonigral degeneration, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, Shy-Drager syndrome, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, manic-depression (bipolar) disorder, disturbed or abnormal circadian entrainment, childhood Alice in Wonderland syndrome, childhood acute cerebellar ataxia, and Alzheimer's disease. In some instances, methods include treating an addiction to a drug, such as alcohol addiction, cocaine addiction or amphetamine addiction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Shunlin Ren, Yaping Wang, WeiQi Lin, James E. Brown, Felix Theeuwes
  • Patent number: 11690964
    Abstract: Containment units, dry powder inhalers, delivery systems, and methods for the same are disclosed. Exemplary devices are configured to have inlets and outlets which are formed with the containment walls of a containment unit. Air jets formed by the configuration of inlet(s) and outlet(s) inside the containment unit create significant turbulence and deaggregate the powder. Delivery system components downstream of the containment unit may integrate the exiting aerosol plume with a low flow nasal cannula air stream for delivery to a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Philip Worth Longest, Michael Hindle, Dale Farkas, Susan Boc
  • Patent number: 11673913
    Abstract: Tetrameric N-terminally acetylated ?-synuclein is prepared by transforming an expression system with an expression vector encoding ?-synuclein, wherein the expression system expresses a native NatB acetylase complex or ortholog thereof and/or wherein an exogenous NatB acetylase complex or ortholog thereof is co-expressed in the expression system, inducing protein expression in the transformed expression system, lysing cells in the transformed expression system to produce a cell lysate, performing salt precipitation of the cell lysate, recovering tetrameric N-terminally acetylated ?-synuclein by centrifugation, and purifying the tetrameric N-terminally acetylated ?-synuclein. Compositions comprising the same and methods for identifying compounds that stabilize natively folded tetrameric ?-synuclein are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Heather R. Lucas, Ricardo D. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 11654409
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing aerogels and cross-linked aerogels are described that incorporate freeze-drying in lieu of super-critical solvent drying. Advantages over supercritical drying include a reduction in hazard risks posed by drying at supercritical conditions as well as the ability to up-scale the process to accommodate large pieces of material without introducing risk. In addition, inexpensive and more sophisticated mold technologies, which are not impervious to super-critical conditions, can be used to produce aerogel materials according to the freeze-drying method of the invention. This introduces a level of freedom never before available for the production of aerogel components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Massimo Bertino, Lauren White, Dalton Echard, Tyler Selden
  • Patent number: 11612609
    Abstract: Methods of preventing and/or treating ischemia, organ dysfunction and/or organ failure, including multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and necrosis and apoptosis associated with organ dysfunction/failure, are provided. For instance, the methods involve contacting organ(s) with an oxygenated cholesterol sulfate (OCS), e.g. 5-cholesten-3,25-diol, 3-sulfate (25H-C3S). The organ(s) may be in vivo (e.g. in a patient that is treated with the OCS) or ex vivo (e.g. an organ that has been harvested from a donor and is to be transplanted).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Durect Corporation, Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Shunlin Ren, Felix Theeuwes, James E. Brown, WeiQi Lin
  • Patent number: 11590241
    Abstract: Provided herein are nanoparticle conjugated synthetic opioid prodrugs that target the peripheral mu opioid receptor (MOR). The prodrugs exhibit long-lived bioavailability, do not compromise the analgesic effects of opioids administered for pain relief (and in some cases can be used for pain relief), and do not induce opioid withdrawal symptoms, when their use is discontinued. Certain of the prodrugs are especially useful for the prevention and/or treatment of unwanted opioid-induced side effects such as opioid-induced constipation (OIC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Yan Zhang, Hu Yang, Dana Selley, William Dewey, Hamid Akbarali