Abstract: The present disclosure relates to protocells that are useful in the treatment and prevention of viral infections, including but not limited to infections caused by a Hendra virus and Nipah virus (NiV). The present disclosure relates to protocells that are useful in the treatment of bacterial infections, including antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The protocells are coated with a lipid bi- or multilayer comprising at least one moiety that targets a viral cellular receptor and at least one moiety that ruptures a virally-infected cell membrane. The present disclosure further relates to novel mesoporous metal oxide nanoparticles and related protocells that are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of a wide variety of disorders, including a cancer or a bacterial or viral infection. Such nanoparticles and protocells can be functionalized to allow for synergistic loading of a wide variety of active ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g.

Abstract: A messaging management system and method for enhanced user engagement are disclosed, which includes generation of a personalized multimedia message for a first consumer electronic (CE) device of a plurality of CE devices. The first CE device is associated with a first subscriber account of a plurality of subscriber accounts. The personalized multimedia message is generated based on a plurality of segmentation parameters for a plurality of users. Display of the personalized multimedia message on the first CE device associated with the first subscriber account, is controlled to enhance user engagement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protocells, which have a core and a lipid bilayer surrounding the core, with at least one CD47 molecule or an active fragment thereof in or conjugated to the lipid bilayer. The CD47 present on the lipid bilayer allows the protocell to evade phagocytosis by macrophages, and can be conjugated to the lipid bilayer via a crosslinker. The protocell can be loaded with a diagnostic or therapeutic cargo, such as a polypeptide, a nucleic acid, or a drug. The protocell can also include a targeting species for targeted delivery of the cargo to a cell. The protocell can also include an endosomolytic peptide, which promotes endosomal escape after uptake by the targeted cell. The protocells with CD47 on the lipid bilayer provide better circulation after in vivo administration compared to protocells without CD47, and are therefore particularly useful as a cargo delivery vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the delivery of polynucleotides and/or oligonucleotides using silica delivery platforms, e.g., silica carriers or protocells. In particular, in the present disclosure, polynucleotides in the form of plasmids expressing siRNA may be administered as cargo in the silica delivery platform to a patient or subject to inhibit and/or treat cancer in a patient. In one aspect, the silica delivery platform that have been charged with cargo comprising plasmid DNA (in particular, CRISPR ds plasmid DNA) which expresses siRNA, shRNA, mRNA and other RNA which may be used to administer these plasmids to patients in order to effect inhibition of cancer cells (especially including apoptosis of those cancer cells) and effective and/or prophylaxis of cancer, as well as numerous pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and/or other disease states and/or conditions. In another aspect, the silica delivery platform comprises a biological package (e.g.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the delivery of polynucleotides and/or oligonucleotides using silica delivery platforms, e.g., silica carriers or protocells. In particular, in the present disclosure, polynucleotides in the form of plasmids expressing siRNA may be administered as cargo in the silica delivery platform to a patient or subject to inhibit and/or treat cancer in a patient. In one aspect, the silica delivery platform that have been charged with cargo comprising plasmid DNA (in particular, CRISPR ds plasmid DNA) which expresses siRNA, shRNA, mRNA and other RNA which may be used to administer these plasmids to patients in order to effect inhibition of cancer cells (especially including apoptosis of those cancer cells) and effective and/or prophylaxis of cancer, as well as numerous pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and/or other disease states and/or conditions. In another aspect, the silica delivery platform comprises a biological package (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides novel antibiotic protocells comprising mesoporous nanoparticles encapsulated within a lipid bi- or multilayer. The nanoparticles have pore sizes and surface chemistries that enable facile adsorption and intracellular presentation of antibiotics which are effective in the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections, including F. tularensis, B. pseudomallei and P. aeruginosa-related infections. Related pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g.

Abstract: A method and system of collecting and storing information relating to a players participation in a Role Playing Game wherein a server is used to transform the information into an electronic notebook. The method and system includes a game client configured as an application on an electronic device of a player. The electronic notebook comprises a plurality of Web pages that can be edited, searched, and sorted. The notebook includes social tools, such as the ability to invite other players to join a players game and to join the role playing game of another, and the ability to transfer a player's notebook to the notebook of another player. Web pages of the notebook will be generated relating to quests and campaigns the player participates in, non-player characters utilized in the game, places and items utilized in the game, and notes relating to the game.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials and methods for synthesizing protocells for use in targeted delivery of cargo components to cancer cells. In one embodiment, the lipid bilayer can be fused to the porous particle core to form a protocell. The lipid bilayer can be modified with targeting ligands or other ligands to achieve targeted delivery of cargo components that are loaded within the protocell to a target cell, e.g., a type of cancer. Shielding materials can be conjugated to the surface of the lipid bilayer to reduce undesired non-specific binding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of corralling one or more die when rolled or thrown is disclosed. The apparatus comprises identical segments locked together creating a compartment to receive rolled or thrown dice. The identical segments form the walls of the compartment. The bottom of the compartment is the surface that the compartment is placed upon during use. The apparatus can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled by a user. The method comprises rolling or throwing one or more die into a compartment formed by locking a plurality of identical segments. The identical segments form the walls of the compartment and the bottom of the compartment is formed by the surface that the compartment is positioned upon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mesoporous alum nanoparticles which can be used as a universal platform for antigen adsorption, presentation and delivery to provide immune compositions, including vaccines and to generate an immune response (preferably, both humoral and cell mediated immune response), preferably a heightened immune response to the presentation of one or more antigens to a patient or subject.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery platform that can be used to genetically modify a target in a plant or an alga. In one instance, polypeptides and/or polynucleotides can be delivered using silica delivery platforms, e.g., silica carriers or protocells. Such platforms can be employed to control gene activation and repression in the plant or alga.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials and methods for synthesizing protocells for use in targeted delivery of cargo components to cancer cells. In one embodiment, the lipid bilayer can be fused to the porous particle core to form a protocell. The lipid bilayer can be modified with targeting ligands or other ligands to achieve targeted delivery of cargo components that are loaded within the protocell to a target cell, e.g., a type of cancer. Shielding materials can be conjugated to the surface of the lipid bilayer to reduce undesired non-specific binding.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials and methods for synthesizing protocells for use in targeted delivery of cargo components to cancer cells. In one embodiment, the lipid bilayer can be fused to the porous particle core to form a protocell. The lipid bilayer can be modified with targeting ligands or other ligands to achieve targeted delivery of cargo components that are loaded within the protocell to a target cell, e.g., a type of cancer. Shielding materials can be conjugated to the surface of the lipid bilayer to reduce undesired non-specific binding.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials and methods for synthesizing protocells for use in targeted delivery of cargo components to cancer cells. In one embodiment, the lipid bilayer can be fused to the porous particle core to form a protocell. The lipid bilayer can be modified with targeting ligands or other ligands to achieve targeted delivery of cargo components that are loaded within the protocell to a target cell, e.g., a type of cancer. Shielding materials can be conjugated to the surface of the lipid bilayer to reduce undesired non-specific binding.