Patents by Inventor Paolo Actis

Paolo Actis 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: 11709148
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger
  • Publication number: 20230115785
    Abstract: A carrier molecule for the detection of a target analyte comprises a molecular frame which defines a central void, and a binding moiety which is specific for the target analyte. The binding moiety is bound to the frame and positioned such that the target analyte, when bound to the binding moiety, is located in the central void. The carrier molecule finds use in the detection and/or quantification of target analytes in a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mukhil Raveendran, Paolo Actis, Christopher Paul Walti, Andrew James Lee
  • Publication number: 20220229014
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger
  • Patent number: 11243188
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger
  • Patent number: 10696962
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for extracting cellular material from living cells and then depositing them into to a receptacle in a nanoliter scale. Using a nanopipette integrated into a scanning ion conductance microscope (SICM), extraction of mitochondrial DNA from human BJ fibroblasts and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) transcripts from HeLa/GFP cells was achieved with minimal disruption to the cellular milieu and without chemical treatment prior to obtaining the isolated sample. Success of the extraction was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and PCR analysis of the extracted material. The method and apparatus may be applied to many different cell types and intracellular targets, allowing not only single cell analysis, but single subcellular compartment analysis of materials extracted in their native state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Paolo Actis, Michelle M. Maalouf, Nader Pourmand
  • Patent number: 10513434
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for controlled ejection of desired material onto surfaces including in single cells using nanopipettes, as well as ejection onto and into cells. Some embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller for depositing a user defined pattern on an arbitrary substrate for the purpose of controlled cell adhesion and growth. Alternate embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller and electronic control of a voltage differential in a bore of the nanopipette electroosmotically injecting material into a cell in a high-throughput manner and with minimal damage to the cell. Yet other embodiments are directed to method and system comprising functionalized nanopipettes combined with scanning ion conductance microscopy for studying molecular interactions and detection of biomolecules inside a single living cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: R. Adam Seger, Paolo Actis, Boaz Vilozny, Nader Pourmand
  • Publication number: 20190369047
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger
  • Patent number: 10345260
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger
  • Publication number: 20180002170
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for controlled ejection of desired material onto surfaces including in single cells using nanopipettes, as well as ejection onto and into cells. Some embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller for depositing a user defined pattern on an arbitrary substrate for the purpose of controlled cell adhesion and growth. Alternate embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller and electronic control of a voltage differential in a bore of the nanopipette electroosmotically injecting material into a cell in a high-throughput manner and with minimal damage to the cell. Yet other embodiments are directed to method and system comprising functionalized nanopipettes combined with scanning ion conductance microscopy for studying molecular interactions and detection of biomolecules inside a single living cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: R. Adam Seger, Paolo Actis, Boaz Vilozny, Nader Pourmand
  • Patent number: 9598281
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for controlled ejection of desired material onto surfaces including in single cells using nanopipettes, as well as ejection onto and into cells. Some embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller for depositing a user defined pattern on an arbitrary substrate for the purpose of controlled cell adhesion and growth. Alternate embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller and electronic control of a voltage differential in a bore of the nanopipette electroosmotically injecting material into a cell in a high-throughput manner and with minimal damage to the cell. Yet other embodiments are directed to method and system comprising functionalized nanopipettes combined with scanning ion conductance microscopy for studying molecular interactions and detection of biomolecules inside a single living cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: R. Adam Seger, Paolo Actis, Boaz Vilozny, Nader Pourmand
  • Publication number: 20160032275
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for extracting cellular material from living cells and then depositing them into to a receptacle in a nanoliter scale. Using a nanopipette integrated into a scanning ion conductance microscope (SICM), extraction of mitochondrial DNA from human BJ fibroblasts and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) transcripts from HeLa/GFP cells was achieved with minimal disruption to the cellular milieu and without chemical treatment prior to obtaining the isolated sample. Success of the extraction was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and PCR analysis of the extracted material. The method and apparatus may be applied to many different cell types and intracellular targets, allowing not only single cell analysis, but single subcellular compartment analysis of materials extracted in their native state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Paolo ACTIS, Michelle M. MAALOUF, Nader POURMAND
  • Publication number: 20150177189
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger
  • Patent number: 8980073
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger, Bakthan Singaram
  • Publication number: 20120225435
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for controlled ejection of desired material onto surfaces including in single cells using nanopipettes, as well as ejection onto and into cells. Some embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller for depositing a user defined pattern on an arbitrary substrate for the purpose of controlled cell adhesion and growth. Alternate embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller and electronic control of a voltage differential in a bore of the nanopipette electroosmotically injecting material into a cell in a high-throughput manner and with minimal damage to the cell. Yet other embodiments are directed to method and system comprising functionalized nanopipettes combined with scanning ion conductance microscopy for studying molecular interactions and detection of biomolecules inside a single living cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: R. Adam Seger, Paolo Actis, Boaz Vilozny, Nader Pourmand
  • Publication number: 20120222958
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Nader Pourmand, Boaz Vilozny, Paolo Actis, R. Adam Seger, Bakthan Singaram