Patents by Inventor Aleksei AKSIMENTIEV

Aleksei AKSIMENTIEV has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11944966
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus comprising: a membrane, wherein the membrane has a first side and a second side, wherein the membrane has a first pore disposed therein, wherein the first pore extends through the membrane from the first side of the membrane to the second side of the membrane, wherein the membrane has a second pore disposed therein, and wherein the second pore extends through the membrane from the first side of the membrane to the second side of the membrane; a first channel disposed on the first side of the membrane, wherein the first channel is along a first longitudinal axis; a second channel disposed on the first side of the membrane, wherein the second channel is along a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the first channel and the second channel are disposed side by side adjacent to each other; a third channel disposed on the second side of the membrane, wherein the third channel is along a third longitudinal axis, wherein the third channel is in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventor: Aleksei Aksimentiev
  • Publication number: 20230420045
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to data storage using DNA sequences comprising synthetic nucleotides. In particular, the disclosure provides for a DNA data storage system comprising a covalently linked sequence of nucleotides, wherein the sequence of nucleotides comprises a modification region, wherein the nucleotides comprise synthetic nucleotides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Olgica Milenkovic, Charles M. Schroeder, Seyedkasra Tabatabaei, Aleksei Aksimentiev, Alvaro Gonzalo Hernandez, Chao Pan, Jingqian Liu, Shubham Chandak, Bach Pham, Min Chen, Spencer A. Shorkey
  • Publication number: 20230109020
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for transferring phospholipids and other molecules between the leaflets of a cell membrane. The compositions comprise at least one nucleic acid or compound having a hydrophilic region, where the composition is able to form a nanostructure that forms a toroidal pore in a lipid membrane. The nucleic acid or hydrophilic region-containing compound further contains an attached molecule capable of inserting the nanostructure into the lipid membrane. The invention also provides methods for scrambling lipids and other molecules in a cell membrane, which can be used to alter the function of a selected cell or to facilitate the death of the cell. The scrambling activity of synthetic scramblases described herein outperforms previously known enzymatically active DNA nanostructures and naturally occurring scramblases, in some cases by several orders of magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Aleksei AKSIMENTIEV, Ulrich F. KEYSER
  • Publication number: 20220381734
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus comprising: a membrane having a first side and a second side, wherein the membrane has first and second pores disposed therein, a processing system; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: setting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause a first end of a molecule having the first end and a second end to be moved through the first pore; setting a second physical characteristic in a vicinity of the second pore to cause the second end of the molecule to be moved through the second pore; and adjusting the first physical characteristic to cause the molecule to be tightened, with a first given amount of force, between the first pore and the second pore. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicants: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, Technische Universiteit Delft
    Inventors: Aleksei Aksimentiev, Cornelis Dekker
  • Patent number: 11441118
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for transferring phospholipids and other molecules between the leaflets of a cell membrane. The compositions comprise at least one nucleic acid or compound having a hydrophilic region, where the composition is able to form a nanostructure that forms a toroidal pore in a lipid membrane. The nucleic acid or hydrophilic region-containing compound further contains an attached molecule capable of inserting the nanostructure into the lipid membrane. The invention also provides methods for scrambling lipids and other molecules in a cell membrane, which can be used to alter the function of a selected cell or to facilitate the death of the cell. The scrambling activity of synthetic scramblases described herein outperforms previously known enzymatically active DNA nanostructures and naturally occurring scramblases, in some cases by several orders of magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CAMBRIDGE ENTERPRISE LIMITED
    Inventors: Aleksei Aksimentiev, Ulrich F. Keyser
  • Publication number: 20220283140
    Abstract: A method and system for performing single molecule proteomics utilizing a nanopore sensor to measure an electronic signature of protein or peptide being transported through the nanopore from a first chamber to a second chamber. The protein's electronic signature is a function of ionic current over time. The method and system utilizing an agent, such as guanidinium chloride, to bind to the nanopore's interior and provide an electroosmotic force within the nanopore. The electroosmotic force, in some embodiments, enables stretching and unfolding of the protein during transport through the nanopore. The agent may also or alternatively induce the unfolding of the protein before transport through the nanopore and/or provide force moving the protein through the nanopore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Meni Wanunu, Luning Yu, Aleksei Aksimentiev, Behzad Mehrafrooz
  • Patent number: 11333655
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus comprising: a membrane having a first side and a second side, wherein the membrane has first and second pores disposed therein, a processing system; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: setting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause a first end of a molecule having the first end and a second end to be moved through the first pore; setting a second physical characteristic in a vicinity of the second pore to cause the second end of the molecule to be moved through the second pore; and adjusting the first physical characteristic to cause the molecule to be tightened, with a first given amount of force, between the first pore and the second pore. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
    Inventors: Aleksei Aksimentiev, Cornelis Dekker
  • Publication number: 20220134337
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus comprising: a membrane, wherein the membrane has a first side and a second side, wherein the membrane has a first pore disposed therein, wherein the first pore extends through the membrane from the first side of the membrane to the second side of the membrane, wherein the membrane has a second pore disposed therein, and wherein the second pore extends through the membrane from the first side of the membrane to the second side of the membrane; a first channel disposed on the first side of the membrane, wherein the first channel is along a first longitudinal axis; a second channel disposed on the first side of the membrane, wherein the second channel is along a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the first channel and the second channel are disposed side by side adjacent to each other; a third channel disposed on the second side of the membrane, wherein the third channel is along a third longitudinal axis, wherein the third channel is in
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventor: Aleksei Aksimentiev
  • Patent number: 10900067
    Abstract: Provided is a highly multiplex approach to disease condition diagnostics that combines nanopore sensing and nucleic acid nanoparticle (NANP) design and synthesis to detect multiple biomarkers to diagnose diseases. The system works by taking a sample containing biomarkers that is mixed with a plurality of nucleic acid nanoparticle (NANP) populations, with each population designed and synthesized to be able to detect a particular biomarker. Upon incubation, the mixture is used with nanopore measurements, with recordings of the ionic current through the nanopore. The ionic current recordings are analyzed, which determines the presence and/or concentration of biomarkers in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, University of North Carolina—Charlotte, Northeastern University
    Inventors: Aleksei Aksimentiev, Kirill A. Afonin, Meni Wanunu
  • Publication number: 20190127682
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for transferring phospholipids and other molecules between the leaflets of a cell membrane. The compositions comprise at least one nucleic acid or compound having a hydrophilic region, where the composition is able to form a nanostructure that forms a toroidal pore in a lipid membrane. The nucleic acid or hydrophilic region-containing compound further contains an attached molecule capable of inserting the nanostructure into the lipid membrane. The invention also provides methods for scrambling lipids and other molecules in a cell membrane, which can be used to alter the function of a selected cell or to facilitate the death of the cell. The scrambling activity of synthetic scramblases described herein outperforms previously known enzymatically active DNA nanostructures and naturally occurring scramblases, in some cases by several orders of magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Aleksei AKSIMENTIEV, Ulrich F. KEYSER
  • Publication number: 20190062814
    Abstract: Provided is a highly multiplex approach to disease condition diagnostics that combines nanopore sensing and nucleic acid nanoparticle (NANP) design and synthesis to detect multiple biomarkers to diagnose diseases. The system works by taking a sample containing biomarkers that is mixed with a plurality of nucleic acid nanoparticle (NANP) populations, with each population designed and synthesized to be able to detect a particular biomarker. Upon incubation, the mixture is used with nanopore measurements, with recordings of the ionic current through the nanopore. The ionic current recordings are analyzed, which determines the presence and/or concentration of biomarkers in the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Aleksei AKSIMENTIEV, Kirill A. AFONIN, Meni WANUNU
  • Publication number: 20180088104
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus comprising: a membrane having a first side and a second side, wherein the membrane has first and second pores disposed therein, a processing system; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: setting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause a first end of a molecule having the first end and a second end to be moved through the first pore; setting a second physical characteristic in a vicinity of the second pore to cause the second end of the molecule to be moved through the second pore; and adjusting the first physical characteristic to cause the molecule to be tightened, with a first given amount of force, between the first pore and the second pore. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Aleksei Aksimentiev, Cornelis Dekker
  • Patent number: 9638661
    Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for generating an electric or pressure difference force that induces a plurality of particles to flow through a through-hole. Independently adjustable heat source in a vicinity of the through-hole induces a thermodynamic force for modifying the flow of the plurality of particles through the through-hole. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventor: Aleksei Aksimentiev
  • Patent number: 9404909
    Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for selectively applying an electrical potential to a top surface of a membrane having a nanopore to repel or attract a molecular strand from the top surface of the membrane, applying a second electrical potential to a bottom surface of the membrane to repel or attract the molecular strand from the bottom surface of the membrane, applying a third electrical potential to an electrolyte solution to apply a transport force on the molecular strand to displace a section of the molecular strand into the nanopore, arresting the section of the molecular strand in the nanopore by adjusting of the first electrical potential, the second electrical potential, the third electrical potential, or combinations thereof, and measuring a signal at the nanopore to identify the section of the molecular strand. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventor: Aleksei Aksimentiev
  • Publication number: 20140360876
    Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for selectively applying an electrical potential to a top surface of a membrane having a nanopore to repel or attract a molecular strand from the top surface of the membrane, applying a second electrical potential to a bottom surface of the membrane to repel or attract the molecular strand from the bottom surface of the membrane, applying a third electrical potential to an electrolyte solution to apply a transport force on the molecular strand to displace a section of the molecular strand into the nanopore, arresting the section of the molecular strand in the nanopore by adjusting of the first electrical potential, the second electrical potential, the third electrical potential, or combinations thereof, and measuring a signal at the nanopore to identify the section of the molecular strand. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Aleksei Aksimentiev
  • Patent number: 8748091
    Abstract: Methods of trapping a deformed portion of a double-stranded polynucleotide in a membrane nanopassage are provided. In an aspect, the membrane has a nanopassage that defines a confine region, wherein the membrane separates a first fluid compartment from a second fluid compartment, and the nanopassage is in fluid communication with the first and second compartments. A polynucleotide is provided to the first fluid compartment and optionally a threshold voltage for the membrane and the polynucleotide is determined. A driving voltage across the membrane that is greater than the threshold voltage is applied to force a portion of the polynucleotide sequence into the nanopassage confine region, and decreased to a holding voltage bias to trap the polynucleotide portion in the nanopassage confine region. In particular, at least one nucleotide base-pair is fixably positioned in the nanopassage confine volume. In further embodiments, any of the trapping methods are used to characterize or sequence double stranded DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, The John Hopkins University
    Inventors: Gregory Timp, Winston Timp, Utkur Mirsaidov, Aleksei Aksimentiev, Jeffrey Comer
  • Publication number: 20110226623
    Abstract: Methods of trapping a deformed portion of a double-stranded polynucleotide in a membrane nanopassage are provided. In an aspect, the membrane has a nanopassage that defines a confine region, wherein the membrane separates a first fluid compartment from a second fluid compartment, and the nanopassage is in fluid communication with the first and second compartments. A polynucleotide is provided to the first fluid compartment and optionally a threshold voltage for the membrane and the polynucleotide is determined. A driving voltage across the membrane that is greater than the threshold voltage is applied to force a portion of the polynucleotide sequence into the nanopassage confine region, and decreased to a holding voltage bias to trap the polynucleotide portion in the nanopassage confine region. In particular, at least one nucleotide base-pair is fixably positioned in the nanopassage confine volume. In further embodiments, any of the trapping methods are used to characterize or sequence double stranded DNA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory TIMP, Winston TIMP, Utkur MIRSAIDOV, Aleksei AKSIMENTIEV, Jeffrey COMER