Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocarrier having an interior and an exterior, the nanocarrier comprising at least one conjugate, wherein each conjugate includes a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer. Each conjugate also includes at least two amphiphilic compounds having both a hydrophilic face and a hydrophobic face. In addition, each conjugate includes an oligomer, wherein at least 2 of the amphiphilic compounds are covalently attached to the oligomer which is covalently attached to the PEG. The nanocarrier is such that each conjugate self-assembles in an aqueous solvent to form the nanocarrier such that a hydrophobic pocket is formed in the interior of the nanocarrier by the orientation of the hydrophobic face of each amphiphilic compound towards each other, and wherein the PEG of each conjugate self-assembles on the exterior of the nanocarrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of a peptidomimetic ligand, e.g. LLP2A, conjugated with a bisphosphonate drug, e.g. Alendronate. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are useful in the treatment of osteoporosis and for the promotion of bone growth due to their specificity for the ?4?1 integrin on mesenchymal stem cells and for the surface of bone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to bladder cancer specific ligand peptides, comprising the amino acid sequence X1DGRX5GF (SEQ ID NO:1), and methods of their use, e.g., for imaging detection for diagnosis of bladder, tumor localization to guide transurethral resection of bladder cancer, imaging detection of bladder cancer for follow-up after the initial treatment that can replace or complement costly cystoscopy, imaging detection of metastatic bladder cancer, and targeted therapy for superficial and metastatic bladder cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides kits and methods for detecting peptides that change of the fluorescence of dyes upon binding to the dye. In addition, the invention provides methods for identifying said peptides.

Abstract: A one-bead-one-compound (OBOC) assay technique and associated components and kits are disclosed herein. With the described assay, target macromolecules that are bound to compound beads, and the compounds can be identified and separated without labeling the compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating a subject having a primary inflammatory disease or disorder comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a conjugate of an LLP2A peptidomimetic ligand and a bisphosphonate drug, wherein the composition comprising the LLP2A-bisphosphonate conjugate enhances the delivery of mesenchymal stem cells to a site of inflammation. Methods of enhancing an anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory property of mesenchymal stem cells, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the mesenchymal stem cells and a composition comprising a conjugate of an LLP2A peptidomimetic ligand and a bisphosphonate drug, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell adhesion matrix having poly(vinyl alcohol) chains crosslinked via carboxy phenyl boronic acid crosslinkers. The cell adhesion matrix can also include a molecular recognition element bound to the poly(vinyl alcohol) chains via a carboxy phenyl boronic acid group, as well as including cells. The present invention also provides a method for making and de-gelling the cell adhesion matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of a peptidomimetic ligand, e.g. LLP2A, conjugated with a bisphosphonate drug, e.g. Alendronate. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are useful in the treatment of osteoporosis and for the promotion of bone growth due to their specificity for the ?4?1 integrin on mesenchymal stem cells and for the surface of bone.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to cyclic RGD peptides linked via a disulfide bond, where the terminal cysteines are preferably in the D configuration. These peptides target ?v?3 integrin on tumor cells and neovasculatures and function as targeting agents for tumor diagnostic imaging and therapy. Compared with the commonly used RGD ligands, compounds of the present invention have improved targeting efficacy and lower nonspecific binding to normal organs. Moreover, the compounds of the present invention can be functionalized to conjugate imaging payload without decreasing binding strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of a peptidomimetic ligand, e.g. LLP2A, conjugated with a bisphosphonate drug, e.g. Alendronate. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are useful in the treatment of osteoporosis and for the promotion of bone growth due to their specificity for the ?4?1 integrin on mesenchymal stem cells and for the surface of bone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to bladder cancer specific ligand peptides, comprising the amino acid sequence X1DGRX5GF (SEQ ID NO:1), and methods of their use, e.g., for imaging detection for diagnosis of bladder, tumor localization to guide transurethral resection of bladder cancer, imaging detection of bladder cancer for follow-up after the initial treatment that can replace or complement costly cystoscopy, imaging detection of metastatic bladder cancer, and targeted therapy for superficial and metastatic bladder cancer.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to cyclic RGD peptides linked via a disulfide bond, where the terminal cysteines are preferably in the D configuration. These peptides target ?v?3 integrin on tumor cells and neovasculatures and function as targeting agents for tumor diagnostic imaging and therapy. Compared with the commonly used RGD ligands, compounds of the present invention have improved targeting efficacy and lower nonspecific binding to normal organs. Moreover, the compounds of the present invention can be functionalized to conjugate imaging payload without decreasing binding strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides amphiphilic telodendrimers that aggregate to form nanocarriers characterized by a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic exterior. The nanocarrier core may include amphiphilic functionality such as cholic acid or cholic acid derivatives, and the exterior may include branched or linear poly(ethylene glycol) segments. Nanocarrier cargo such as hydrophobic drugs and other materials may be sequester in the core via non-covalent means or may be covalently bound to the telodendrimer building blocks. Telodendrimer structure may be tailored to alter loading properties, interactions with materials such as biological membranes, and other characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to bladder cancer specific ligand peptides, comprising the amino acid sequence X1DGRX5GF (SEQ ID NO:1), and methods of their use, e.g., for imaging detection for diagnosis of bladder, tumor localization to guide transurethral resection of bladder cancer, imaging detection of bladder cancer for follow-up after the initial treatment that can replace or complement costly cystoscopy, imaging detection of metastatic bladder cancer, and targeted therapy for superficial and metastatic bladder cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanodisc without a membrane scaffold protein. The nanodisc includes a telodendrimer and a lipid; the nanodisc does not include a membrane scaffold protein. The telodendrimer has the general formula PEG-L-D-(R)n, wherein D is a dendritic polymer; L is a bond or a linker linked to the focal point group of the dendritic polymer; each PEG is a poly(ethylene glycol) polymer; each R is and end group of the dendritic polymer, or and end group with a covalently bound hydrophobic group, hydrophilic group, amphiphilic compound, or drug; and subscript n is an integer from 2 to 20. Methods of making the nanodiscs are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides amphiphilic telodendrimers that aggregate to form nanocarriers characterized by a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic exterior. The nanocarrier core may include amphiphilic functionality such as cholic acid or cholic acid derivatives, and the exterior may include branched or linear poly(ethylene glycol) segments. Nanocarrier cargo such as hydrophobic drugs and other materials may be sequester in the core via non-covalent means or may be covalently bound to the telodendrimer building blocks. Telodendrimer structure may be tailored to alter loading properties, interactions with materials such as biological membranes, and other characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of a peptidomimetic ligand, e.g. LLP2A, conjugated with a bisphosphonate drug, e.g. Alendronate. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are useful in the treatment of osteoporosis and for the promotion of bone growth due to their specificity for the ?4?1 integrin on mesenchymal stem cells and for the surface of bone.

Abstract: The present invention provides ?4?1 integrin ligands that display high binding affinity, specificity, and stability. The ligands comprise a peptide having n independently selected amino acids, wherein at least one amino acid is an unnatural amino acid or a D-amino acid, and wherein n is an integer of from 3 to 20. Methods are provided for administering the ligands for treating cancer, inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Also provided are methods for administering the ligands for imaging a tumor, organ, or tissue in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to cyclic RGD peptides linked via a disulfide bond, where the terminal cysteines are preferably in the D configuration. These peptides target ?v?3 integrin on tumor cells and neovasculatures and function as targeting agents for tumor diagnostic imaging and therapy. Compared with the commonly used RGD ligands, compounds of the present invention have improved targeting efficacy and lower nonspecific binding to normal organs. Moreover, the compounds of the present invention can be functionalized to conjugate imaging payload without decreasing binding strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell adhesion matrix having poly(vinyl alcohol) chains crosslinked via carboxy phenyl boronic acid crosslinkers. The cell adhesion matrix can also include a molecular recognition element bound to the poly(vinyl alcohol) chains via a carboxy phenyl boronic acid group, as well as including cells. The present invention also provides a method for making and de-gelling the cell adhesion matrix.