Patents by Inventor Lizanne Nilewski

Lizanne Nilewski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230149567
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University, Durham University
    Inventors: James M. TOUR, Robert PAL, Victor GARCÍA LÓPEZ, Lizanne NILEWSKI
  • Patent number: 11565003
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignees: William Marsh Rice University, Durham University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Robert Pal, Victor García López, Lizanne Nilewski
  • Patent number: 11154623
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY, DURHAM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Robert Pal, Victor García-López, Lizanne Nilewski
  • Publication number: 20210252166
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University, Durham University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Robert Pal, Victor García López, Lizanne Nilewski
  • Publication number: 20200222453
    Abstract: Modified hydrophilic carbon clusters (HCCs), poly(ethylene glycol)-hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs) and similarly structured materials like graphene quantum dots (GQDs), PEGylated GQDs, small molecule antioxidants, and PEGylated small molecule antioxidants. These materials have been modified with an iron chelating moiety, deferoxamine, or a similar chelating moiety. By exploiting common binding sites, the carbon nanostructure facilitates intracellular transport including in mitochondria, reduces oxidative breakdown of the chelator moiety prior to treatment, and reduces both the cause and consequences of metal induced oxidative stress within the body thus providing a novel form of therapy for a range of oxidative and metal-related toxicities. Graphenic materials can be used for the treatment of acute and chronic mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicants: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY, BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, HOUSTON METHODIST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
    Inventors: James M. TOUR, Lizanne NILEWSKI, William SIKKEMA, Kimberly MENDOZA, Thomas Andrew KENT, William DALMEIDA, Jr., Paul J. DERRY, Ah-Lim TSAI, Muralidhar L. HEGDE, Prakash DHARMALINGAM, Pavana Dixit HEGDE, Sankar MITRA, Joy MITRA
  • Publication number: 20190290785
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicants: William Marsh Rice University, Durham University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Robert Pal, Victor Garcia, Lizanne Nilewski