Patents by Inventor Ponisseril Somasundaran

Ponisseril Somasundaran 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: 20220264887
    Abstract: Provided are foams and foamable formulations for the decontamination of surfaces, such as disinfection from COVID-19. The formulations can allow deposition of a uniform layer of foam on a given surface without spontaneous drainage of water and with near zero flowability. The foam can adhere to slanted surfaces and surfaces comprised of a variety of materials, including wood, glass, and stone, enabling safe and effective viral decontamination in a number of settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Partha Patra
  • Publication number: 20160128322
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a bleach foam formulation, and to methods of use of the bleach foam formulation for the decontamination of surfaces exposed to infectious agents. disclosed subject matter provides a method for the delivery of the bleach foam formulation for the decontamination of surfaces, and specifically for the decontamination of health workers' personal protection suits, exposed to Ebola, SARS or other infectious agents. In certain embodiments, the use of the bleach foam formulation involves the delivery of the bleach foam from distances for the safe disinfection of contaminated surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Partha Patra, Jun Wu
  • Patent number: 9096984
    Abstract: Fibrillar bacterial proteins can be mixed with oil in or on water. The interaction of the proteins at the oil-water interface can result in oil dispersion in water in the form of droplets surrounded by an aggregated protein film. The film may be formed by multiple layers of the fibrillar proteins with water between adjacent protein layers. The proteins may be derived from bacterial cells, such as Bacillus subtilis. The encapsulated oil droplets can be collected from the water, for example, as part of an oil spill clean-up or oil storage. The oil may be removed from the collected droplets, for example, by evaporation to produce a three-dimensional network composed of the aggregated films. The three-dimensional network material can be used as a coating for transplant material, grafted onto implant material to improve biocompatibility, as a precursor for tissue growth or engineering, or provided into a human or animal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Partha Patra
  • Patent number: 8814950
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a detergent composition including a poly(maleic acid/vinyl octyl ether) (PMAOVE) hydrophobically modified polymer; and a heavy duty liquid detergent. In addition, embodiments relate to a method of cleaning a substrate, including contacting a substrate with a poly(maleic acid/vinyl octyl ether) (PMAOVE) hydrophobically modified polymer solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Yajuan Li
  • Publication number: 20130273124
    Abstract: Fibrillar bacterial proteins can be mixed with oil in or on water. The interaction of the proteins at the oil-water interface can result in oil dispersion in water in the form of droplets surrounded by an aggregated protein film The film may be formed by multiple layers of the fibrillar proteins with water between adjacent protein layers. The proteins may be derived from bacterial cells, such as Bacillus subtilis. The encapsulated oil droplets can be collected from the water, for example, as part of an oil spill clean-up or oil storage. The oil may be removed from the collected droplets, for example, by evaporation to produce a three-dimensional network composed of the aggregated films. The three-dimensional network material can be used as a coating for transplant material, grafted onto implant material to improve biocompatibility, as a precursor for tissue growth or engineering, or provided into a human or animal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Partha Patra
  • Publication number: 20110259361
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a detergent composition including a poly(maleic acid/vinyl octyl ether) (PMAOVE) hydrophobically modified polymer; and a heavy duty liquid detergent. In addition, embodiments relate to a method of cleaning a substrate, including contacting a substrate with a poly(maleic acid/vinyl octyl ether) (PMAOVE) hydrophobically modified polymer solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Yajuan Li
  • Patent number: 8002988
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the removal of contaminants from water using sugar based surfactant enhanced ultrafiltration. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process for removal of an at least slightly water-soluble organic compound from an organic-contaminated water solution to provide a purified water solution, including: adding a surfactant to the organic-contaminated water solution in sufficient quantity to achieve at least a critical micellar concentration of the surfactant in the organic-contaminated water solution, wherein the surfactant comprises an alkylglycoside, to provide a micellar water solution comprising micelles comprising the surfactant and the organic compound; contacting an ultrafiltration membrane with the micellar water solution under pressure and temperature conditions sufficient for liquid flow through the ultrafiltration membrane to take place; and collecting liquid permeating the ultrafiltration membrane to provide the purified water solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Shaohua Lu
  • Publication number: 20080308495
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the removal of contaminants from water using sugar based surfactant enhanced ultrafiltration. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process for removal of an at least slightly water-soluble organic compound from an organic-contaminated water solution to provide a purified water solution, including: adding a surfactant to the organic-contaminated water solution in sufficient quantity to achieve at least a critical micellar concentration of the surfactant in the organic-contaminated water solution, wherein the surfactant comprises an alkylglycoside, to provide a micellar water solution comprising micelles comprising the surfactant and the organic compound; contacting an ultrafiltration membrane with the micellar water solution under pressure and temperature conditions sufficient for liquid flow through the ultrafiltration membrane to take place; and collecting liquid permeating the ultrafiltration membrane to provide the purified water solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Shaohua Lu
  • Publication number: 20080260851
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymeric nanoparticles and nanogels, which can contain, deliver, and/or release one or more active agents, such as biologically active molecules or fragrance molecules, and methods of preparing the polymeric nanoparticles and nanogels. The nanoparticles are crosslinked utilizing radiation (g-radiation) as the catalyst for free radical polymerization (see FIG. 1) rather than by toxic chemical means. The nanoparticles and nanogels can be modified, without limitation, with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or ionic groups or moieties. or with enzymes. Methods of preparing nanoparticles and nanogels containing or encapsulating a variety of molecules, including biologically active molecules and fragrance molecules, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Soma Chakraborty
  • Publication number: 20070111222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions that can detect the presence of specific entities or substances in an environment, and provide an amplified response to the detection as manifested by release of enzymes, reporter signals or drugs. The detection and response is based on nucleic acid functionalities, such as aptamer regions that are designed to specifically bind almost any entity or ligand, and enzymatic regions that can cleave nucleic acids at specific sequences. The response can be amplified on a first order through creating an allosteric relationship between the different nucleic acid functionalities present on the same nucleic acid molecule and on a second order through the release of active cargo molecules capable of generating molecules detectable by their color, fluorescence, luminescence, or ability to modulate an electric signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Lawrence Chasin, Ponisseril Somasundaran, Collin Nuckolls
  • Patent number: 6051143
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for flocculating particles in a liquid suspension by mixing the suspension with a pyrrolidone having alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, and arylalkyl radicals from 1 to 18 carbon atoms to form a mixture at a temperature above a minimum flocculation temperature for the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Maltesh Chidambaram, Brian A. Pethica, Xiang Yu, Anjing Lou
  • Patent number: 5705222
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a process for preparing composite particles. More specifically, this invention relates to a process for preparing polymer-coated composite particle dispersions wherein excess polymer is removed by a controlled washing step. This invention further relates to a process for preparing composite particles wherein the particles have an inner core particle coated with at least one polymer coating and at least one shell particle coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Tsung-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 5476660
    Abstract: Compositions to deposit an active substance on a target surface (i.e. fabric, sun, hair, teeth). The active substance is left on the surface, after the product is rinsed off the surface. The preferred deposition is from compositions containing an anionic or nonionic active in the co-presence of an anionic surfactant. The compositions contain carrier particles having a zwitterionic or cationic surface and a plurality of outwardly protruding filaments containing charged organocarbyl groups. The active substance is contained within the carrier particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Kavssery P. Ananthapadmanabhan, Mitsuko Fujiwara, Liang S. Tsaur
  • Patent number: 4563285
    Abstract: A method for dewatering phosphate slimes and recovering a liquid solution involves adding a calcium sulfate hemihydrate to the slimes, mixing the resulting admixture to effect formation of calcium sulfate dihydrate crystals in the admixture, and recovering a liquid solution from the resulting crystal-containing admixture.The calcium sulfate hemihydrate addition may be followed by addition of calcium sulfate dihydrate. The calcium sulfate hemihydrate addition may be preceded by acidification of the slimes to pH 1-3 with sulfuric acid, which addition may be followed by the addition of other calcium salts to the slimes.A sufficient amount of calcium oxide or calcium carbonate or both may be added to the recovered liquid solution to raise the pH of the liquid solution to a value above about 6.0. Mixing permits calcium phosphate salts to precipitate, allowing for separately recovering the calcium phosphate salts and a dephosphated liquid portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Krishnapillai V. Nair, Ponisseril Somasundaran
  • Patent number: 4256571
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to silicon carbide whisker recovery from a mixture of silicon carbide whiskers and carbonaceous silicon carbide particles. The invention involves shredding the mixture down to a specified size, dispersing the mixture in water to form an aqueous mixture, mixing in an effective amount of flocculating agent, agitating the aqueous mixture, mixing the aqueous mixture with an immiscible organic liquid, agitating the resulting water-organic liquid mixture, allowing settling of the aqueous mixture and organic liquid so as to establish two liquid phases, separating the two liquid phases into an organic liquid phase and an aqueous phase and, lastly, performing a solid-liquid separation on the aqueous phase, thereby obtaining from the aqueous phase the desired silicon carbide whiskers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: Silag, Inc.
    Inventors: Ponisseril Somasundaran, Kavssery P. Ananthapadmanabhan
  • Patent number: 4130415
    Abstract: The disclosure is of the use of a class of chelating agents having active nitrogen and oxygen chelating atoms and which form insoluble chelates with copper, as reagents for the recovery of for example copper values from copper-bearing materials by froth flotation and like techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Inventors: D. R. Nagaraj, Ponisseril Somasundaran