Abstract: A nanoplatelet serves as a substrate for immobilizing enzymes involved in consecutive reactions as a cascade. This results in a significant increase in the rate of catalysis as well as final product yield compared to non-immobilized enzymes or enzymes immobilized to quantum dots.

Abstract: Lipase activity can be detected with a biosensor that includes a quantum dot adhered to a construct having a lipase-cleavable ester to attach a fluorophore acceptor configured as a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptor to the QD when the construct is bound thereto. Cleavage of the ester by a lipase results in a measurable reduction in FRET. In further embodiments, the cleavable ester can be used to detect esterase activity, or the ester could be replaced with a glycosidic linkage to detect glycoside activity.

Abstract: Lipase activity can be detected with a biosensor that includes a quantum dot adhered to a construct having a lipase-cleavable ester to attach a fluorophore acceptor configured as a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptor to the QD when the construct is bound thereto. Cleavage of the ester by a lipase results in a measurable reduction in FRET. In further embodiments, the cleavable ester can be used to detect esterase activity, or the ester could be replaced with a glycosidic linkage to detect glycoside activity.

Abstract: Addition of nanoparticles to a cell-free transcription/translation system significantly enhanced the efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A nanoplatelet serves as a substrate for immobilizing enzymes involved in consecutive reactions as a cascade. This results in a significant increase in the rate of catalysis as well as final product yield compared to non-immobilized enzymes or enzymes immobilized to quantum dots.

Abstract: The presently disclosed delivery systems utilize microtools, also referred to as theragrippers, to deliver a drug or other therapeutic agent to targeted tissue. More particularly, the drug delivery system and methods provide a delivery system that is capable of anchoring to a tissue site and then delivering a drug or therapeutic agent to the tissue directly to or in the vicinity of the site over an extended period of time. Any number of theragrippers may be deployed as desired to deliver different doses of a desired drug or therapeutic agent. The theragrippers also can be biodegradable such that they remain in place for an extended period of time and then degrade without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Nanoparticles (and optionally a cargo such as a drug) can be delivered to cells by attaching just a single dendritic peptide to the nanoparticle. The dendritic peptide includes a polyhisitidine motif and a hinge and a spacer connecting the polyhistidine to a lysine-based dendritic wedge displaying at least two copies of a cell-penetrating peptide motif.

Abstract: Nanoparticles (and optionally a cargo such as a drug) can be delivered to cells by attaching just a single dendritic peptide to the nanoparticle. The dendritic peptide includes a polyhisitidine motif and a hinge and a spacer connecting the polyhistidine to a lysine-based dendritic wedge displaying at least two copies of a cell-penetrating peptide motif.

Abstract: The presently disclosed delivery systems utilize microtools, also referred to as theragrippers, to deliver a drug or other therapeutic agent to targeted tissue. More particularly, the drug delivery system and methods provide a delivery system that is capable of anchoring to a tissue site and then delivering a drug or therapeutic agent to the tissue directly to or in the vicinity of the site over an extended period of time. Any number of theragrippers may be deployed as desired to deliver different doses of a desired drug or therapeutic agent. The theragrippers also can be biodegradable such that they remain in place for an extended period of time and then degrade without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue.