Patents by Inventor Martin J. D'Souza

Martin J. D'Souza 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).

  • Patent number: 11628208
    Abstract: A method for producing at least one microneedle containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery of the vaccine to a patient includes preparing microparticles or nanoparticles of encapsulated vaccine by preparing a solution comprising a vaccine antigen and a biocompatible polymer matrix; and spray drying the solution to form the microparticles or nanoparticles. The method includes the further steps of preparing a film composition including at least one pre-polymer solution; preparing a suspension comprising the microparticles or nanoparticles and the film composition; loading the suspension into a 3D printer; printing, via the 3D printer, at least one microneedle made from the suspension; and, converting the pre-polymer solution into a cross-linked biopolymer by exposing the at least one microneedle to UV light. Also disclosed are microneedles containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Patent number: 11524058
    Abstract: An oral dissolving film containing nano- or micro-encapsulated bioactive material and methods of forming the film. The film may be prepared by dispensing a mixture of a film-forming agent, a crosslinking agent, a solution of nano- or micro-encapsulated bioactive material, and a photoinitiator into a plurality of wells in a tray using a 3D printer. The dispensed material is exposed to radiation in order to crosslink the material and form a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Publication number: 20210100880
    Abstract: A method for producing at least one microneedle containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery of the vaccine to a patient includes preparing microparticles or nanoparticles of encapsulated vaccine by preparing a solution comprising a vaccine antigen and a biocompatible polymer matrix; and spray drying the solution to form the microparticles or nanoparticles. The method includes the further steps of preparing a film composition including at least one pre-polymer solution; preparing a suspension comprising the microparticles or nanoparticles and the film composition; loading the suspension into a 3D printer; printing, via the 3D printer, at least one microneedle made from the suspension; and, converting the pre-polymer solution into a cross-linked biopolymer by exposing the at least one microneedle to UV light. Also disclosed are microneedles containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Martin J. D'SOUZA
  • Publication number: 20210015909
    Abstract: An oral dissolving film containing nano- or micro-encapsulated bioactive material and methods of forming the film. The film may be prepared by dispensing a mixture of a film-forming agent, a crosslinking agent, a solution of nano- or micro-encapsulated bioactive material, and a photoinitiator into a plurality of wells in a tray using a 3D printer. The dispensed material is exposed to radiation in order to crosslink the material and form a film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventor: Martin J. D'SOUZA
  • Patent number: 10849962
    Abstract: A method for forming microspheres containing bioactive material, comprising dissolving a polymer matrix, such as albumin or beta-cyclodextrin, in an aqueous medium in a first vessel; contacting the dissolved polymer matrix with a crosslinking agent, such as glutaraldehyde, to crosslink the polymer matrix and the crosslinking agent; neutralizing with sodium bisulfate any excess crosslinking agent remaining after crosslinking is substantially complete; solubilizing in a second vessel a bioactive material in an aqueous solution; mixing the solubilized bioactive material together with the neutralized crosslinked polymer matrix in solution to form a mixture; and, spray drying the mixture to produce nanospheres, whereby substantial bioactivity of the biomaterial is retained upon cellular uptake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Patent number: 10786558
    Abstract: A method for forming microspheres containing bioactive material, comprising dissolving a polymer matrix, such as albumin or beta-cyclodextrin, in an aqueous medium in a first vessel; contacting the dissolved polymer matrix with a crosslinking agent, such as glutaraldehyde, to crosslink the polymer matrix and the crosslinking agent; neutralizing with sodium bisulfate any excess crosslinking agent remaining after crosslinking is substantially complete; solubilizing in a second vessel a bioactive material in an aqueous solution; mixing the solubilized bioactive material together with the neutralized crosslinked polymer matrix in solution to form a mixture; and, spray drying the mixture to produce nanospheres, whereby substantial bioactivity of the biomaterial is retained upon cellular uptake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Publication number: 20200016088
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating neurological disorders including Autism Spectrum disorder. The formulations include active compounds encapsulated in a nanoparticle, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a targeting ligand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Martin J. D'SOUZA, Kevin MURNANE
  • Patent number: 10463608
    Abstract: A transdermal delivery system of microneedles containing a bioactive material, comprising at least one layer of a support material; at least one biodegradable needle associated with the support material, each needle comprising at least one biodegradable polymer and at least one sugar, wherein each biodegradable needle is hollow and is adapted to retain a bioactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Publication number: 20190060426
    Abstract: A method for forming microspheres containing bioactive material, comprising dissolving a polymer matrix, such as albumin or beta-cyclodextrin, in an aqueous medium in a first vessel; contacting the dissolved polymer matrix with a crosslinking agent, such as glutaraldehyde, to crosslink the polymer matrix and the crosslinking agent; neutralizing with sodium bisulfate any excess crosslinking agent remaining after crosslinking is substantially complete; solubilizing in a second vessel a bioactive material in an aqueous solution; mixing the solubilized bioactive material together with the neutralized crosslinked polymer matrix in solution to form a mixture; and, spray drying the mixture to produce nanospheres, whereby substantial bioactivity of the biomaterial is retained upon cellular uptake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Martin J. D'SOUZA
  • Publication number: 20180303918
    Abstract: A method for forming microspheres containing bioactive material, comprising dissolving a polymer matrix, such as albumin or beta-cyclodextrin, in an aqueous medium in a first vessel; contacting the dissolved polymer matrix with a crosslinking agent, such as glutaraldehyde, to crosslink the polymer matrix and the crosslinking agent; neutralizing with sodium bisulfate any excess crosslinking agent remaining after crosslinking is substantially complete; solubilizing in a second vessel a bioactive material in an aqueous solution; mixing the solubilized bioactive material together with the neutralized crosslinked polymer matrix in solution to form a mixture; and, spray drying the mixture to produce nanospheres, whereby substantial bioactivity of the biomaterial is retained upon cellular uptake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Martin J. D'SOUZA
  • Patent number: 10004790
    Abstract: A method of transdermal delivery of a vaccine, comprising preparing microparticles of encapsulated vaccine by spray drying a mixture of the vaccine and at least one polymer, and injecting the microparticles transdermally using a microneedle delivery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Publication number: 20170157036
    Abstract: A transdermal delivery system of microneedles containing a bioactive material, comprising at least one layer of a support material; at least one biodegradable needle associated with the support material, each needle comprising at least one biodegradable polymer and at least one sugar, wherein each biodegradable needle is hollow and is adapted to retain a bioactive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: Martin J. D'SOUZA
  • Publication number: 20170042987
    Abstract: A method of transdermal delivery of a vaccine, comprising preparing microparticles of encapsulated vaccine by spray drying a mixture of the vaccine and at least one polymer, and injecting the microparticles transdermally using a microneedle delivery apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventor: Martin J. D'SOUZA
  • Patent number: 9149441
    Abstract: A method for forming microspheres containing bioactive material, comprising dissolving a polymer matrix, such as albumin or beta-cyclodextrin, in an aqueous medium in a first vessel; contacting the dissolved polymer matrix with a crosslinking agent, such as glutaraldehyde, to crosslink the polymer matrix and the crosslinking agent; neutralizing with sodium bisulfate any excess crosslinking agent remaining after crosslinking is substantially complete; solubilizing in a second vessel a bioactive material in an aqueous solution; mixing the solubilized bioactive material together with the neutralized crosslinked polymer matrix in solution to form a mixture; and, spray drying the mixture to produce nanospheres, whereby substantial bioactivity of the biomaterial is retained upon cellular uptake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Publication number: 20100111984
    Abstract: A method for forming microspheres containing bioactive material, comprising dissolving a polymer matrix, such as albumin or beta-cyclodextrin, in an aqueous medium in a first vessel; contacting the dissolved polymer matrix with a crosslinking agent, such as glutaraldehyde, to crosslink the polymer matrix and the crosslinking agent; neutralizing with sodium bisulfate any excess crosslinking agent remaining after crosslinking is substantially complete; solubilizing in a second vessel a bioactive material in an aqueous solution; mixing the solubilized bioactive material together with the neutralized crosslinked polymer matrix in solution to form a mixture; and, spray drying the mixture to produce nanospheres, whereby substantial bioactivity of the biomaterial is retained upon cellular uptake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Publication number: 20090081306
    Abstract: A method of forming microspheres of a bioactive material, such as a protein polymer or drug by nebulizing a solubilized form of a material to be encapsulated and an encapsulating material, such as albumin, in a stirred chilled solvent system comprising a vegetable oil, mineral oil and/or a lower alcohol such that the formed microspheres demonstrate intracellular bioactivity when taken up by macrophages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Patent number: 7425543
    Abstract: A method of forming microspheres of a bioactive material, such as a protein polymer or drug by nebulizing a solubilized form of a material to be encapsulated and an encapsulating material, such as albumin, in a stirred chilled solvent system comprising a vegetable oil, mineral oil and/or a lower alcohol such that the formed microspheres demonstrate intracellular bioactivity when taken up by macrophages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: The Corporation of Mercer University
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Patent number: 7105158
    Abstract: Compositions useful in treating immune modulated disease comprising an anticytokine antibody or immune active drug capable of modifying cytokine activity or modulating the immune system microencapsulated with a biodegradable nonantigenic material, such as albumin or PLGA. When the composition is introduced into a subject, it is phagocytosed by the target organ, the target organ digests the microsphere, releasing the drug or an active form or fragment thereof intracellularly. The drug then modifies the target organ function, thereby modulating it's activity. A method is disclosed for preparation of the microencapsulated composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Corporation of Mercer University
    Inventors: Martin J. D'Souza, William Carl Oettinger, James Cameron Oliver
  • Publication number: 20040043079
    Abstract: A method of forming microspheres of a bioactive material, such as a protein polymer or drug by nebulizing a solubilized form of a material to be encapsulated and an encapsulating material, such as albumin, in a stirred chilled solvent system comprising a vegetable oil, mineral oil and/or a lower alcohol such that the formed microspheres demonstrate intracellular bioactivity when taken up by macrophages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza
  • Patent number: 6555110
    Abstract: Compositions useful in treating immune modulated disease comprising an anticytokine antibody or immune active drug capable of modifying cytokine activity or modulating the immune system microencapsulated with a biodegradable nonantigenic material, such as albumin or PLGA. When the composition is introduced into a subject, it is phagocytosed by the target organ, the target organ digests the microsphere, releasing the drug or an active form or fragment thereof intracellularly. The drug then modifies the target organ function, thereby modulating it's activity. A method is disclosed for preparation of the microencapsulated composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Corporation of Mercer University
    Inventor: Martin J. D'Souza