Abstract: This invention concerns imageable, radiopaque embolic beads, which are particularly useful for monitoring embolization procedures. The beads comprise iodine containing compounds which are covalently incorporated into the polymer network of a preformed hydrogel bead. The beads are prepared by activating pre-formed hydrogel beads towards nucleophilic attack and then covalently attaching iodinated compounds into the polymer network. The radiopaque beads may be loaded with chemotherapeutic agents and used in methods of embolizing hyperplastic tissue or solid tumors.

Abstract: Several embodiments relate to engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) using the membrane cloaking platform technology described herein, the cloaking imparting to the EVs enhanced delivery to tissues of interest, such as damaged or dysfunctional tissue. Several embodiments relate to engineering exosomes derived from cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) using the membrane cloaking platform technology described herein to confer enhanced tissue homing specificities, thereby leading to repair and regeneration at sites of injury. Uses of engineered EV compositions to treat diseases are also provided for in several embodiments.

Abstract: Shielding enzymes are made by modifying the enzyme surface with silica precursors and then depositing silica to a desired thickness while retaining biological activity of the enzyme.

Abstract: A bioartificial device, such as a bioartificial pancreas, for implantation in a patient's vascular system. The bioartificial pancreas includes a scaffold adapted to engage an interior wall of a blood vessel, a cellular complex support by the scaffold and extending longitudinally within the interior cavity of the scaffold so as to be exposed to the blood flow when the scaffold is engaged with the blood vessel, the cellular complex support comprising one or more pockets bordered by thin film; and cellular complex comprising pancreatic islets disposed in the one or more pockets, the thin film being adapted to permit oxygen and glucose to diffuse from flowing blood into the one or more pockets at a rate sufficient to support the viability of the islets. The invention also includes methods of making and using a bioartificial pancreas.

Abstract: Conjugates comprising a drug, cell or biological molecule bound to a photoluminescent polymer nanoparticle, in particular a cross-linked polyfluorene nanoparticle, are described herein, as well as their methods of manufacture and their uses in biological imaging and sensing applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides multi-armed high MW polymers containing hydrophilic groups conjugated to Factor VIII, and methods of preparing such polymers.

Abstract: Methods of varying the stiffness of polymeric medical tubes.

Abstract: A phosphor-containing drug activator activatable from a Monte Carlo derived x-ray exposure for treatment of a diseased site. The activator includes an admixture or suspension of one or more phosphors capable of emitting ultraviolet and visible light upon interaction with x-rays, wherein a distribution of the phosphors in the diseased target site is based on a Monte Carlo derived x-ray dose distribution. A system for treating a disease in a subject in need thereof, includes the drug activator and a photoactivatable drug, one or more devices which infuse the photoactivatable drug and the activator including the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier into a diseased site in the subject; and an x-ray source which is controlled to deliver the Monte Carlo derived x-ray exposure to the subject for production of ultraviolet and visible light inside the subject to activate the photoactivatable drug and induce a persistent therapeutic response, the dose comprising a pulsed sequence of x-rays delivering from 0.

Abstract: The present inventions provides drug-drug conjugates, drug-porphyrin conjugates, nanoparticles of the conjugates, as well as modified nanoparticles having PEGylated exteriors or encapsulated by red blood cell vesicles. The conjugates, nanoparticles and nanocarriers are useful for treating cancers and other diseases, as well as for imaging diseased tissue or organs.

Abstract: A hair fixative composition comprising a film forming polymer that is prepared from monomers comprising (a) 10-30% by weight of one or more copolymerizable comonomers selected from the group consisting of N-alkyl (meth)acrylamide wherein the alkyl group thereof contains from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein for at least one of said copolymerizable comonomers the alkyl group contains from 5 to 12 carbon atoms; (b) 14-21% by weight of copolymerizable comonomers comprising acrylic acid and optionally one or more acidic copolymerizable comonomers selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, and the (C1-C4)alkyl half esters of maleic and fumaric acids; and (c) 40-76% by weight two or more copolymerizable comonomers selected from the group consisting of (C1-C12)alkyl(meth)acrylates, wherein at least one of said two or more copolymerizable comonomers is a (C1-C2)alkyl(meth)acrylate; said film forming polymer being optionally completely or partially neu

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of crosslinking protein fibers, including wool fibers, by (i) providing a crosslinking agent including an oxidized sugar mixture having a plurality of different oxidized sugars of different molecular lengths and having at least two aldehyde groups (e.g., oxidized soy flour sugars); and (ii) infiltrating a plurality of non-crosslinked protein fibers with the crosslinking agent under conditions effective to cause protein molecules contained in the non-crosslinked protein fibers to become crosslinked. This method yields a population of crosslinked protein fibers, where the protein molecules of the non-crosslinked protein fibers include amine groups that react with the aldehyde groups of the oxidized sugars to achieve the crosslinking of the protein molecules to yield the crosslinked protein fibers.

Abstract: A bioartificial device, such as a bioartificial pancreas, for implantation in a patient's vascular system. The bioartificial pancreas includes a scaffold adapted to engage an interior wall of a blood vessel, a cellular complex support by the scaffold and extending longitudinally within the interior cavity of the scaffold so as to be exposed to the blood flow when the scaffold is engaged with the blood vessel, the cellular complex support comprising one or more pockets bordered by thin film; and cellular complex comprising pancreatic islets disposed in the one or more pockets, the thin film being adapted to permit oxygen and glucose to diffuse from flowing blood into the one or more pockets at a rate sufficient to support the viability of the islets. The invention also includes methods of making and using a bioartificial pancreas.

Abstract: Disclosed are general and “substantially pure” branched discrete polyethylene glycol constructs useful in attaching to a variety of biologically active groups, for example, preferential locators, as well as biologics like enzymes, for use in diagnostics, e.g. imaging, therapeutics, theranostics, and moieties specific for other applications. In its simplest intermediate state, a branched discrete polyethylene glycol construct is terminated at one end by a chemically reactive moiety, “A”, a group that is reactive with a biologic material that creates “A”, which is a biologically reactive group, connected through to a branched core (BC) which has attached at least two dPEG-containing chains, indicated by the solid line, , having terminal groups, which can be charged, non-reactive or reactable moieties and containing between about 2 and 64 dPEG residues.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of targeted nanoparticles and cell delivery are described herein. In some embodiments methods described herein comprise coupling nanoparticles and cells to a carrier cell to form a nanoparticle-cell conjugate or cell-cell conjugate, disposing the nanoparticle-cell or cell-cell conjugate in a biological environment, and delivering the nanoparticles and cells to target cells or tissues located within the biological environment. The nanoparticles comprise a biodegradable photoluminescent polymer, and the nanoparticle-cell conjugate is formed using one or more click chemistry reaction products.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multifunctional nanoparticle compositions. The compositions can be useful for the treatment of cancer by enhancing the anti-tumor effectiveness of radiation directed to a tissue, cell or a tumor and the methods of use thereof. The multifunctional nanoparticle composition comprises a metal oxide nanoparticle core; a functional coating on the surface of the metal oxide nanoparticle core; and a matrix carrier in which the coated nanoparticle is embedded.

Abstract: Provided herein are porphyrinato-lanthanide complexes useful as theranostic agents and methods of preparation and use thereof. The porphyrinato-lanthanide complexes are useful in the treatment and imaging of cancer.

Abstract: Silica nanocarriers hybridized with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (“SPIONs”) and curcumin through equilibrium or enforced adsorption technique. Methods for dual delivery of SPIONs and curcumin to a target for diagnosis or therapy, for example, for SPION-based magnetic resonance imaging or for targeted delivery of curcumin to a cell or tissue. The technique can be extend to co-precipitation of mixed metal oxide involving Ni, Mn, Co and Cu oxide. The calcination temperature can be varied from 500-900° C. The nanocombination is functionalized with chitosan, polyacrylic acid, PLGA or another agent to increase its biocompatibility in vivo.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a gold/quantum dot nanoprobe for detecting active ricin in a complex matrix and application thereof. The gold/quantum dot nanoprobe is a nanoprobe formed by utilizing gold nanoparticles and quantum dots, which are modified by single strand oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODN), to form double strand oligodeoxynucleotides in a base pairing hybridizing mode and assembling the gold nanoparticles and the quantum dots into a core-satellite structure. According to the present disclosure, the gold/quantum dot nanoprobe is used for detecting the active ricin, has a limit of detection of 7.46 ng/mL, is high in accuracy and good in reliability, and does not require large-scale equipment and complex operations. In order to further eliminate the false positive result, the present disclosure further provides a method for enriching ricin in a complex sample by utilizing magnetic beads.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanoplexes comprising a payload selected from a protein and/or a polynucleic acid; and a plurality of copolymers comprising a first copolymer that is poly(N,N?-bis(acryloyl)cystamine-poly(aminoalkyl)) (PBAP), a second copolymer that is poly(C2-3 akylene glycol)-PBAP-poly(C2-3 akylene glycol), and a third copolymer that is TG-poly(C2-3 akylene glycol)-PBAP-poly(C2-3 akylene glycol)-TG wherein TG at each occurrence is independently a targeting ligand, a cell penetrating peptide, an imaging agent or a capping group, provided that a plurality of TG groups is a targeting ligand; wherein the payload is non-covalently complexed to one or more of the copolymers, one or more of the first, second, and/or third copolymers comprises an endosomal escape group having a pKa of about 4.5 to about 6.5, and optionally one or more of the first, second, and/or third copolymers comprises a host and a guest non-covalent crosslinker.

Abstract: An isotope production system, emanation generator, and process are disclosed for production of high-purity radioisotopes. In one implementation example, high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes are produced suitable for therapeutic applications. In one embodiment the process includes transporting gaseous radon-220 from a radium-224 bearing generator which provides gas-phase separation of the Rn-220 from the Ra-224 in the generator. Subsequent decay of the captured Rn-220 accumulates high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes suitable for direct therapeutic applications. Other high-purity product isotopes may also be prepared.