Patents by Inventor Dennis E. Discher
Dennis E. Discher 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).
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Publication number: 20210220401Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods that provide novel therapies in cancer. The invention includes a phagocytic cell modified with a repressor of signal regulatory protein-alpha (SIRP?) and bound to a targeting antibody to enhance phagocytic activity of the phagocytic cell toward tumor tissue. Methods of enhancing phagocytic activity and treating a tumor are also included.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Dennis E. Discher, Kyle R. Spinler, Cory Alvey
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Patent number: 10946042Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods that provide novel therapies in cancer. The invention includes a phagocytic cell modified with a repressor of signal regulatory protein-alpha (SIRP?) and bound to a targeting antibody to enhance phagocytic activity of the phagocytic cell toward tumor tissue. Methods of enhancing phagocytic activity and treating a tumor are also included.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: The Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Kyle R. Spinler, Cory Alvey
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Patent number: 9920295Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioreactor apparatus, and methods of use, for the isolation of rare blood cells, including hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocytes. The apparatus includes a soft substrate and an anti-contractility agent, thereby providing a soft microenvironment to cultured cells. The apparatus of the invention is permissive for the survival of non-dividing cells while dividing cells are eliminated. This unique property allows for the simple isolation of rare blood cells without the use of costly equipment and antibodies.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: The Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Jae-Won Shin
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Publication number: 20170151282Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods that provide novel therapies in cancer. The invention includes a phagocytic cell modified with a repressor of signal regulatory protein-alpha (SIRP?) and bound to a targeting antibody to enhance phagocytic activity of the phagocytic cell toward tumor tissue. Methods of enhancing phagocytic activity and treating a tumor are also included.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2016Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: Dennis E. Discher, Kyle R. Spinler, Cory Alvey
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Patent number: 9566347Abstract: The present invention includes a method of modulating the phagocytic activity of at least one phagocyte in a subject. The present invention also includes a method of providing a composition resistant to phagocytosis to a subject. The present invention further includes a method of treating, ameliorating or preventing an inflammatory disease in a subject.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: The Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Pia L. Rodriguez Nunez, Diego A. Pantano
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Patent number: 9050269Abstract: The present invention relates to a viral particle. The viral particle has a radius of less than about 1 ?m, and at least one peptide comprising at least a biologically active portion of CD47. The present invention also includes a method of increasing the life of a particle in vivo in a mammal. The method includes the steps of expressing at least one peptide comprising at least a biologically active portion of CD47 in a viral particle, and administering the viral particle having CD47 expressed to a mammal, wherein the administered viral particle has a longer half life in the mammal than an otherwise identical viral particle that does not have CD47 expressed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: The Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Richard Kuo-An Tsai
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Publication number: 20140140926Abstract: The present invention includes a method of modulating the phagocytic activity of at least one phagocyte in a subject. The present invention also includes a method of providing a composition resistant to phagocytosis to a subject. The present invention further includes a method of treating, ameliorating or preventing an inflammatory disease in a subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2012Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: The Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Pia L. Rodriguez Nunez, Diego A Pantano
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Publication number: 20110105380Abstract: The present invention relates to a particle. The particle has a radius of less than about 1 ?m, and includes at least one peptide comprising at least a biologically active portion of CD47. The present invention also includes a method of increasing the life of a particle in vivo in a mammal, the method comprising attaching at least one peptide comprising at least a biologically active portion of CD47 to a particle and administering the particle having CD47 so attached to a mammal, wherein the administered particle has a longer half life in the mammal than an otherwise identical particle that does not have CD47 attached thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: DENNIS E. DISCHER, RICHARD K. TSAI
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Patent number: 7867512Abstract: The present invention provides biocompatible vesicles comprising semi-permeable, thin-walled encapsulating membranes which are formed in an aqueous solution, and which comprise one or more synthetic super-amphiphilic molecules. When at least one super-amphiphile molecule is a block copolymer, the resulting synthetic vesicle is termed a “polymersome.” The synthetic, reactive nature of the amphiphilic composition enables extensive, covalent cross-linking of the membrane, while maintaining semi-permeability. Cross-linking of the polymer building-block components provides mechanical control and long-term stability to the vesicle, thereby also providing a means of controlling the encapsulation or release of materials from the vesicle by modifying the composition of the membrane. Thus, the encapsulating membranes of the present invention are particularly suited for the reliable, durable and controlled transport, delivery and storage of materials.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignees: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Bohdana M. Discher, You-Yeon Won, James C-M Lee, Daniel A. Hammer, Frank Bates
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Publication number: 20100316570Abstract: The present invention relates to a viral particle. The viral particle has a radius of less than about 1 ?m, and at least one peptide comprising at least a biologically active portion of CD47. The present invention also includes a method of increasing the life of a particle in vivo in a mammal. The method includes the steps of expressing at least one peptide comprising at least a biologically active portion of CD47 in a viral particle, and administering the viral particle having CD47 expressed to a mammal, wherein the administered viral particle has a longer half life in the mammal than an otherwise identical viral particle that does not have CD47 expressed thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventors: DENNIS E. DISCHER, RICHARD KUO-AN TSAI
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Publication number: 20100305201Abstract: Provided are filomicelle nanocarrier systems for the controlled transport and bioselective delivery of encapsulatable, cytotoxic active agents contained therein, particularly anticancer agents. Further provided are methods for controlling destabilization of the filomicelle membrane and the resulting hydrolysis-triggered, controlled release of the active agent(s) encapsulated therein by controlling the blend ratio (mol %) of hydrolysable PEO-block copolymer of the hydrophilic component(s) and of the more hydrophobic PEO-block copolymer component(s), wherein bioselective release of the encapsulated cytotoxic agents is distributed intracellularly, and wherein lowered dosage of the drug was delivered to the non-tumor organs. Thus, the filomicelle system offers enhanced tumor-selective biodistribution of a drug, and a reduced toxicity of the encapsulated drug to other organs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Dennis E. Discher, Shenshen Cai, Yan Geng, Paul Dalhaimer
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Publication number: 20100255112Abstract: Provided is a biocompatible polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymersome system for the delivery of oligonucleotides, including antisense RNA, siRNA and RNAi, to a cell or tissue target, and method of use therefore, wherein the method comprises encapsulating the oligonucleotide in a biodegradable neutral, nano-transforming polymersome delivery vehicle and delivering the encapsulated oligonucleotide to the cell or tissue target in vitro or in vivo, particularly for treating a disease, such cancer or cellular hyperproliferation. The degradable polymersome, and the oligonucleotides stably encapsulated therein are taken up passively by cells and delivered into endolysosomes, wherein the polymersomes decompose at a known rate at a known pH, thereby releasing encapsulated oligonucleotides in a controlled manner within the cell and facilitating delivery of antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA or RNAi into the nucleus of the cell target.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Dennis E. Discher, Manorama Tewari, Younghoon Kim
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Publication number: 20100015709Abstract: Provided are methods for the selection and regulation of the mechanical properties of 2D or 3D biocompatible substrates or tissue microenvironments as a technique to regulate in vitro differentiation, cell shape and/or lineage commitment of anchorage-dependent cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells into, e.g., neurogenic-, myogenic-, and osteogenic-type cells. Substrate mechanical properties include elasticity, tension, adhesion, and myosin-based contractile mechanisms. Inhibitors can be introduced to further regulate differentiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventors: Florian Rehfeldt, Shenshen Cai, Dennis E. Discher
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Publication number: 20080181939Abstract: Provided are methods for preparing and delivering stable, purely synthetic, self-assembling, controlled release, polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymersome vesicles, and the resulting PEO-based polymersomes capable of such controlled release, and methods of use therefor for the controlled transport and delivery of encapsulatable, cytotoxic, anticancer active agents contained therein. Further provided are methods for controlling destabilization of the vesicle membrane and the resulting hydrolysis-triggered, controlled release of active agent(s) encapsulated in the vesicle by controlling the blend ratio (mol %) of hydrolysable PEO-block copolymer of the hydrophilic component(s) and of the more hydrophobic PEO-block copolymer component(s) to produce amphiphilic high molecular weight PEO-based polymersomes, wherein the PEO volume fraction (fEO) and chain chemistry control encapsulant release kinetics from the copolymer vesicles and the polymersome carrier membrane destabilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Dennis E. Discher, Fariyal Ahmed
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Patent number: 7217427Abstract: The present invention provides biocompatible vesicles comprising semi-permeable, thin-walled encapsulating membranes which are formed in an aqueous solution, and which comprise one or more synthetic super-amphiphilic molecules. When at least one super-amphiphile molecule is a block copolymer, the resulting synthetic vesicle is termed a “polymersome.” The synthetic, reactive nature of the amphiphilic composition enables extensive, covalent cross-linking of the membrane, while maintaining semi-permeability. Cross-linking of the polymer building-block components provides mechanical control and long-term stability to the vesicle, thereby also providing a means of controlling the encapsulation or release of materials from the vesicle by modifying the composition of the membrane. Thus, the encapsulating membranes of the present invention are particularly suited for the reliable, durable and controlled transport, delivery and storage of materials.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignees: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Bohdana M. Discher, You-Yeon Won, James C-M Lee, Daniel A. Hammer, Frank Bates
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Patent number: 6835394Abstract: The present invention provides biocompatible vesicles comprising semi-permeable, thin-walled encapsulating membranes which are formed in an aqueous solution, and which comprise one or more synthetic super-amphiphilic molecules. When at least one super-amphiphile molecule is a block copolymer, the resulting synthetic vesicle is termed a “polymersome.” The synthetic, reactive nature of the amphiphilic composition enables extensive, covalent cross-linking of the membrane, while maintaining semi-permeability. Cross-linking of the polymer building-block components provides mechanical control and long-term stability to the vesicle, thereby also providing a means of controlling the encapsulation or release of materials from the vesicle by modifying the composition of the membrane. Thus, the encapsulating membranes of the present invention are particularly suited for the reliable, durable and controlled transport, delivery and storage of materials.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: The Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaInventors: Dennis E. Discher, Bohdana M. Discher, You-Yeon Won, James C-M. Lee, Frank S. Bates, Daniel A. Hammer