Abstract: The present invention discloses antisense poly-2?-O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) oligoribonucleotides which are capable of down regulating the expression of the RI? subunit of protein kinase A. An example is 5?-GGCUGCGUGCCUCCUCACUGG (named antisense poly-DNP RNA-21) or a sequence which has a one-base mismatch therewith. The antisense oligoribonucleotide can be synthesized by in vitro transcription followed by chemical derivatization. The base sequence of the oligoribonucleotides is complementary to that of nt 110 to 130 in RI?/PKA mRNA. The antisense poly-DNP RNA-21 was found to inhibit cell growth with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. These oligonucleotides can be used as effective anti-cancer agents.

Abstract: One or more highly-oriented, multi-walled carbon nanotubes are grown on an outer surface of a substrate initially disposed with a catalyst film or catalyst nano-dot by plasma enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition of a carbon source gas and a catalyst gas at temperatures between 300° C. and 3000° C. The carbon nanotubes range from 4 to 500 nm in diameter and 0.1 to 50 ?m in length depending on growth conditions. Carbon nanotube density can exceed 104 nanotubes/mm2. Acetylene is used as the carbon source gas, and ammonia is used as the catalyst gas. Plasma intensity, carbon source gas to catalyst gas ratio and their flow rates, catalyst film thickness, and temperature of chemical vapor deposition affect the lengths, diameters, density, and uniformity of the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications as well as in electron emission, structural composite, material storage, and microelectrode applications.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and for improving the stability or efficacy of the double stranded siRNAs by replacing either one or both of its native RNA strands with homologous RNase-resistant poly-DNP-RNA to form poly-DNP-siRNA, where DNP denotes a 2′-O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) represented by the structure: 1

Abstract: The present invention discloses antisense poly-2′-O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) oligoribonucleotides which are capable of down regulating the expression of the RI&agr; subunit of protein kinase A. An example is 5′-GGCUGCGUGCCUCCUCACUGG (named antisense poly-DNP RNA-21) or a sequence which has a one-base mismatch therewith. The antisense oligoribonucleotide can be synthesized by in vitro transcription followed by chemical derivatization. The base sequence of the oligoribonucleotides is complementary to that of nt 110 to 130 in RI&agr;/PKA mRNA. The antisense poly-DNP RNA-21 was found to inhibit cell growth with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. These oligonucleotides can be used as effective anti-cancer agents.

Abstract: One or more highly-oriented, multi-walled carbon nanotubes are grown on an outer surface of a substrate initially disposed with a catalyst film or catalyst nano-dot by plasma enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition of a carbon source gas and a catalyst gas at temperatures between 300° C. and 3000° C. The carbon nanotubes range from 4 to 500 nm in diameter and 0.1 to 50 &mgr;m in length depending on growth conditions. Carbon nanotube density can exceed 104 nanotubes/mm2. Acetylene is used as the carbon source gas, and ammonia is used as the catalyst gas. Plasma intensity, carbon source gas to catalyst gas ratio and their flow rates, catalyst film thickness, and temperature of chemical vapor deposition affect the lengths, diameters, density, and uniformity of the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications as well as in electron emission, structural composite, material storage, and microelectrode applications.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, antisense oligonucleotides are provided with enhanced membrane permeability and stability. This is accomplished in accordance with the invention through conjugating oligoribonucleotides with a hydrophobic carrier agent at the 2′-O position of the oligonucleotides. The hydrophobic carrier agent comprises a compound of the following general structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently H, NO2, halide, linear or branched alkyl, linear or branched acyl, linear or branched alkylene, linear or branched O-alkyl, linear or branched amido, linear or branched S-alkyl, mono or disubstituted amine, linear or branched thioamido, phosphothionate, or phosphothioate. In a preferred embodiment, R1 and R3 are NO2. In such embodiment, it will be appreciated that when R2, R4, and R5 are H, the compound is DNP and when R4 is F, the compound is FDNP.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, antisense oligonucleotides are provided with enhanced membrane permeability and stability. This is accomplished in accordance with the invention through conjugating oligoribonucleotides with a hydrophobic carrier agent at the 2'-O position of the oligonucleotides. The hydrophobic carrier agent comprises a compound of the following general structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are independently H, NO.sub.2, halide, linear or branched alkyl, linear or branched acyl, linear or branched alkylene, linear or branched O-alkyl, linear or branched amido, linear or branched S-alkyl, mono or disubstituted amine, linear or branched thioamido, phosphothionate, or phosphothioate.In a preferred embodiment, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are NO.sub.2. In such embodiment, it will be appreciated that when R.sup.2, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are H, the compound is DNP and when R.sup.4 is F, the compound is FDNP.

Abstract: Novel polyadenylic acid (5') derivatives with 2'-0-(3-fluoro-4,6-dinitrophenyl) groups and/or 2'-0-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) groups have been synthesized and discovered to act as mutation-insensitive and function-specific inhibitors of viral reverse transcriptase.