Abstract: There is provided compound for use in therapy, the compound comprising repeating units of hydrophilic heterocyclic amine monomers that are coupled by hydrophobic linkers selected to confer a therapeutic effect. There is also provided the use of the above compound in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a fungal infection and a method of treating a fungal infection using the above compound.

Abstract: There is provided a microfluidic device comprising: a plurality of wells, each well comprising one opening to function as an inlet and an outlet for the well, wherein each opening is in fluid communication with a common fluidic channel, and wherein each opening is connected to the common fluidic channel via an isolation channel, and wherein the plurality of wells is arranged on the device in a radially symmetrical pattern. There is also provided a system and method comprising the device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a polymer material comprising mesopores extending between melamine-formaldehyde co-polymer nano-particles and wherein micropores extend within the co-polymer nano-particles, methods of producing the same and uses thereof.

Abstract: There is presently provided methods for delivering an anti-fibrotic or anti-cancer agent to a cell. The methods comprise contacting a cell with an effective amount of imidazolium and imidazolinium compounds as described herein, including imidazolium and imidazolinium salts.

Abstract: There is provided compound for use in therapy, the compound comprising repeating units of hydrophilic heterocyclic amine monomers that are coupled by hydrophobic linkers selected to confer a therapeutic effect. There is also provided the use of the above compound in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a fungal infection and a method of treating a fungal infection using the above compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polyisocyanurate comprising isocyanurate rings linked by linker groups coupled to the nitrogen atoms of said rings. The polyisocyanurate may be microporous or mesoporous or both microporous and mesoporous.

Abstract: There is provided a method of differentiating an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) into a renal proximal tubular cell (PTC)-like cell. The method comprises culturing an undifferentiated iPSC in a renal epithelial cell culture medium in the presence of one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7), for a period of from about 8 to about 10 days, under conditions sufficient to induce differentiation of the iPSC into a PTC-like cell. A cell population of differentiated PTC-like cells is also provided, as well as uses and methods of use of the cell population.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to modified substrates such as membranes for use in bioartificial organs, such as bioartificial kidneys, and other applications. Certain aspects are generally directed to a membrane or other substrate modified to facilitate the attachment of cells. In one set of embodiments, the substrate or membrane may be at least partially coated with an adhesive such as 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (DOPA), poly(dopamine), or other adhesive comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety, for example on one side of the membrane or substrate. On at least a portion of the adhesive coated portion of the substrate, a protein may be coated, such as an extracellular matrix protein (for example, a collagen), to which cells such as primary human renal proximal tubule cells may be adhered. Surprisingly, such a dual coating may be used to promote the attachment of such cells to a membrane or other substrate that otherwise may not promote cell adhesion.

Abstract: A colorimetric-based DNA diagnostic system which includes a detector module, a processor and a memory is provided. The detector module is disposed to record an image of a DNA sample illuminated by a light source. The memory includes computer program code which along with the memory is configured, with the processor, to perform (a) sending a signal to adjust the temperature of the DNA sample to be within an approximate temperature range over which the color of the DNA sample changes, (b) sending a signal to the detector module to capture an image of the DNA sample at defined intervals within the approximate temperature range, (c) processing the captured images to extract color information, and (d) processing the extracted color information to objectively determine a melting temperature within the approximate temperature range at which the color of the DNA sample changes.

Abstract: There is provided a microfluidic device comprising: a plurality of wells, each well having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlets are in fluid communication with one or more entry channels and the outlets are in fluid communication with one or more exit channels, wherein said outlet is connected to the exit channel via an outlet connecting channel and said inlet is connected to the entry channel via an inlet connecting channel wherein the dimension of the outlet connecting channel is configured such that the surface tension of a liquid comprised in the well prevents the release of the liquid through the outlet connecting channel. There is also provided a system, method and use of the device.

Abstract: A method and kit for detecting a genetic variant associated with a disease or disorder, including incompatibility with a pharmaceutical. The method and kit using a first nano-particle coupled to at least one morpholino nucleic acid probe comprising a target complimentary region base sequence that is a perfect match to a genetic variant sequence.

Abstract: A multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA detection system and a method for DNA detection within the PCR system are provided. The PCR DNA detection system includes a color charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, fluorophore-quencher probes and an imaging chamber. The fluorophore-quencher probes are selected in response to fluorophores quenched by the fluorophore-quencher probes corresponding to three selected primary colors and peak channel responses of the CCD camera such that emission profiles of the fluorophores substantially match the three selected primary colors and peak emission profiles of the fluorophores correspond to the peak RGB channel responses of the CCD camera. A DNA sample and the fluorophore-quencher probes are located within the imaging chamber. The color CCD camera is focused on the imaging chamber for simultaneous detection of up to three targets from fluorescence of the DNA sample and the fluorophore-quencher probes.

Abstract: A method of acetalizing an aldehyde comprising reacting said aldehyde with an alcohol in the presence of a polymeric catalyst to form an acetal wherein the polymeric catalyst is a mesoporous poly-melamine-formaldehyde polymer.

Abstract: A wet spinning process for forming a tubular fiber membrane is provided. The tubular fiber membrane has a nanoporous skin layer and a microporous lumen layer. The skin layer defines an outer surface of the fiber membrane and the lumen layer defines a lumen surface of the fiber membrane. The pores in the skin layer may have an average pore size of less than about 7 nm, and pores in the lumen layer may have an average pore size of from about 0.5 to about 3 ?m. The fiber membranes may be used in artificial renal proximal tubules, artificial kidneys, bioreactors, or fiber cartridges.

Abstract: There is provided a delivery vehicle comprising an anti-cancer agent together with a conjugate of a delivery agent containing a free aldehyde and a flavonoid, having the delivery agent conjugated at the C6 and/or the C8 position of the A ring of the flavonoid. The resulting delivery vehicles may be used to deliver an anti-cancer agent to a cell.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods of detecting a mutation in a target nucleic acid molecule. Two phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer probes that differ by at least one base are each covalently coupled to a nano article and hybridised to a target sequence. The melting temperature of the complexes between each of the two probes and the target nucleic acid are measured and compared to determine whether the sample contains a nucleic acid with the mutation. Further, the present invention relates to kits comprising a first and second conjugate as described herein and to the use of such kits for the detection of mutations in a target nucleic acid molecule or for assigning a genotype to a target nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: There is provided a delivery vehicle comprising an anti-cancer agent together with a conjugate of a delivery agent containing a free aldehyde and a flavonoid, having the delivery agent conjugated at the C6 and/or the C8 position of the A ring of the flavonoid. The resulting delivery vehicles may be used to deliver an anti-cancer agent to a cell.

Abstract: There is presently provided methods for delivering an anti-fibrotic or anti-cancer agent to a cell. The methods comprise contacting a cell with an effective amount of imidazolium and imidazolinium compounds as described herein, including imidazolium and imidazolinium salts.

Abstract: The specification describes a substance comprising a plurality of microparticles. The microparticles comprise a core comprising a first polymer and a shell surrounding said core and comprising the first polymer and a second polymer, wherein the second polymer is less rapidly degradable than the first polymer. A process for making the microparticles and uses of the microparticles are also described.

Abstract: Methods for synthesis of nanocrystalline apatites are presented, as well as a series of specific reaction parameters that can be adjusted to tailor, in specific ways, properties in the recovered product. Particulate apatite compositions having average crystal size of less than 150 nm are provided. Products also can have a surface area of at least 40 m2/g and can be of high density. Hydroxyapatite material is investigated in particular detail. Compositions of the invention can be used as prosthetic implants and coatings for prosthetic implants.