Abstract: The present disclosure provides an alginate-based 3D cell culture as an in vitro system for enriching and maintaining the stemness properties of a cancer cell line and a reliable in vitro system for the development and evaluation of CSC-targeting agents.

Abstract: A porous hydrogel sensor that is responsive to the presence of one or more target compounds in solution is synthesized based on demixing of certain molecules in the presence of a target compound. The porous hydrogel sensor may include fluorescently tagged antibodies that are noncovalently bound to the gel and then released in the presence of the target antigen. The porous hydrogel sensor may alternatively include dissolvable cross-links using polymerized antibody and antigen complexes so that, in the presence of the target antigen, the cross-links will be displaced and the hydrogel will dissolve.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing protein aggregation is developed by covalent modification of proteins with organic molecules that can preserve the native protein folding. Proteins are covalently modified with sugar alcohols or cyclodextrins (organic Kosmotropes) or other small molecule drugs by water-driven bioorganic reactions in water. In the water-driven bioorganic reactions, the reagent is stable in water and can modify lysine residues or cysteine residue of a protein at physiological conditions with high yield and fast rate. Proteins and antibodies will be modified by non-natural sugar alcohols. As a result, the efficacy of protein drugs (reduction in aggregation and enzymatic degradation, and increase in blood stream life time) may be improved.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing protein aggregation is developed by covalent modification of proteins with organic molecules that can preserve the native protein folding. Proteins are covalently modified with sugar alcohols or cyclodextrins (organic Kosmotropes) or other small molecule drugs by water-driven bioorganic reactions in water. In the water-driven bioorganic reactions, the reagent is stable in water and can modify lysine residues or cysteine residue of a protein at physiological conditions with high yield and fast rate. Proteins and antibodies will be modified by non-natural sugar alcohols. As a result, the efficacy of protein drugs (reduction in aggregation and enzymatic degradation, and increase in blood stream life time) may be improved.

Abstract: A side-view mirror attachment for a pair of spectacles constructed of a pair of mirrors each having a hemispherical shape, a center frame that has two opposite ends each fixedly connected to one of the pair of mirrors, and a mounting device for either detachably or permanently mount the attachment to a pair of spectacles.