Abstract: Provided herein are anti-infective peptides and uses thereof. Such anti-infective peptides are useful against bacteria and viruses. Also provided herein are compositions comprising said anti-infective peptides.

Abstract: Provided herein are anti-infective peptides and uses thereof. Such anti-infective peptides are useful against bacteria and viruses. Also provided herein are compositions comprising said anti-infective peptides.

Abstract: A new type of biomaterial that can be generated from pollen, methods for its production, the various uses thereof in, for example, biological, medicinal, cosmetic, nutritional and printing applications and the materials/devices that comprise this new material are provided. The biomaterial comprises microgels of sporoderm polymer complex microcapsules (SPC-MCs), produced by deproteinizing the pollen from eudicot plants, in particular of genus Baccharis, Helianthus or Camellia, by contacting it with an aqueous base solution at elevated temperatures for up to 10 hours to obtain porous SPC-MCs, and hydrolytically degrading the SPC-MCs by contacting it with an aqueous base solution for periods up to 60 days to obtain microgels of SPC-MCs.

Abstract: A microfluidic device is disclosed that is used to process cells for the intracellular delivery of molecules or other cargo. The device includes one or more microchannels disposed in a substrate or chip and is fluidically coupled to an inlet configured to receive a solution containing the cells and the molecules or other cargo to be delivered intracellularly to the cells. Each of the one or more microchannels has one or more constriction regions formed therein, wherein the inner surface(s) of the microchannels and the one or more constriction regions have a lipid bilayer disposed thereon. In some embodiments, multiple microfluidic devices operating in parallel are used to process large numbers of cells. The device and method have particularly applicability to delivering gene-editing molecules intracellularly to cells.

Abstract: A new type of biomaterial that can be generated from pollen, methods for its production, the various uses thereof in, for example, biological, medicinal, cosmetic, nutritional and printing applications and the materials/devices that comprise this new material are provided. Said biomaterial comprises microgels of sporoderm polymer complex microcapsules (SPC-MCs), produced by deproteinizing the pollen from eudicot plants, in particular of genus Baccharis, Helianthus or Camellia, by contacting it with an aqueous base solution at elevated temperatures for up to 10 hours to obtain porous SPC-MCs, and hydrolytically degrading the SPC-MCs by contacting it with an aqueous base solution for periods up to 60 days to obtain microgels of SPC-MCs.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solid-supported phospholipid bilayer is provided. The method includes a) a first step of providing a solution comprising a bicellar mixture of a long-chain phospholipid and a short-chain phospholipid; b) at least one second step of decreasing the temperature of the solution to below 0° C., increasing the temperature to above room temperature and causing the solution to be blended; and c) a third step of depositing the solution obtained after the second step on a surface of a support, wherein the concentration of the long-chain phospholipid in the solution is at most 0.1 mg/mL, for obtaining a solid-supported phospholipid bilayer. A solid-supported phospholipid layer obtained by the method as defined above is also provided.

Abstract: Supramolecular structures comprising noncovalently associated peptide amphiphiles and lipids are provided. In particular, provided herein are supramolecular nanostructures of peptide amphiphiles and lipids, co-assembly of which is driven by anion-? interactions, and methods of preparation and use (e.g., as an antimicrobial agent) thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are anti-infective peptides and uses thereof. Such anti-infective peptides are useful against bacteria and viruses. Also provided herein are compositions comprising said anti-infective peptides.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solid-supported phospholipid bilayer is provided. The method includes a) a first step of providing a solution comprising a bicellar mixture of a long-chain phospholipid and a short-chain phospholipid; b) at least one second step of decreasing the temperature of the solution to below 0° C., increasing the temperature to above room temperature and causing the solution to be blended; and c) a third step of depositing the solution obtained after the second step on a surface of a support, wherein the concentration of the long-chain phospholipid in the solution is at most 0.1 mg/mL, for obtaining a solid-supported phospholipid bilayer. A solid-supported phospholipid layer obtained by the method as defined above is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling adsorption of lipid molecules onto a solid support by tuning the steric-hydration force of the lipid vesicles and the surface of the solid support, such that the solid support either has a stabilized lipid bilayer adsorbed thereon or is resistant to adsorption of lipid molecules.

Abstract: Provided herein are anti-infective peptides and uses thereof. Such anti-infective peptides are useful against bacteria and viruses. Also provided herein are compositions comprising said anti-infective peptides.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a measuring apparatus having a reduced size by a substitution of an optical measuring device. A measuring apparatus for measuring micro-fluid or floating particles therein according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a micro-tube containing the micro-fluid; an actuator vibrating the micro-tube; and a tuning fork converting vibration of the micro-tube into an electrical signal.

Abstract: Provided herein are anti-infective peptides and uses thereof. Such anti-infective peptides are useful against bacteria and viruses. Also provided herein are compositions comprising said anti-infective peptides.

Abstract: Supramolecular structures comprising noncovalently associated peptide amphiphiles and lipids are provided. In particular, provided herein are supramolecular nanostructures of peptide amphiphiles and lipids, co-assembly of which is driven by anion-n interactions, and methods of preparation and use (e.g., as an antimicrobial agent) thereof.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a measuring apparatus having a reduced size by a substitution of an optical measuring device. A measuring apparatus for measuring micro-fluid or floating particles therein according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a micro-tube containing the micro-fluid; an actuator vibrating the micro-tube; and a tuning fork converting vibration of the micro-tube into an electrical signal.

Abstract: A method for forming a hydration layer/lipid bilayer structure on a solid support is provided. The method includes contacting a solution comprising at least one polar lipid and a water-miscible alcohol as a solvent with the solid support; and adding water to said solution at a predetermined rate, thus inducing formation of a hydration layer on the solid support surface and formation of a planar lipid bilayer on the hydration layer, wherein the hydration layer has an average thickness of at least 2 nm as well as the thus obtained solid supports with a hydration layer/lipid bilayer structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling adsorption of lipid molecules onto a solid support by tuning the steric-hydration force of the lipid vesicles and the surface of the solid support, such that the solid support either has a stabilized lipid bilayer adsorbed thereon or is resistant to adsorption of lipid molecules.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the manufacture and use of hydrogels with increased permeability to macromolecules with minimum loss of matrix mechanical strength and prepolymer viscosity for patternability. The hydrogels of the invention are formed from a prepolymer, which is polymerized in the presence of hydrophobic nanoparticles. In some embodiments of the invention cells are present during polymerization, and are encapsulated by the hydrogel. A high interfacial energy between the hydrophobic substrate and the aqueous polymerizing solution disrupts the hydrogel network structure, leading to network defects that increase permeability without loss of patternability.

Abstract: Interaction of a specific viral domain with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP-2) is shown to mediate viral replication. Basic Amino Acid PIP-2 Pincer (BAAPP) domains are described herein, including, without limitation, NS5A protein of HCV, NS4B protein of HCV, poliovirus, and rhinovirus.

Abstract: The invention features methods and compositions that exploit the ability of amphipathic alpha-helical (AH) peptides to cause disruption of lipid-containing vesicles, such as enveloped viruses, in a size-dependent manner.