Patents by Inventor Robert P. Lenk

Robert P. Lenk 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: 9233177
    Abstract: Endohedral metallofullerene compounds, which in water has a relaxivity of about 30 mM?1 S?1 to about 300 mM?1 S?1 and forms a dispersion in water with entities having an average hydrodynamic radius of less than about 20 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Darren K. Macfarland, Robert P. Lenk, Rajesh Shukla, Kenneth L. Walker, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140161733
    Abstract: A composition comprising: a liposome having a bilayer structure, a gadofullerene having a high relaxivity, and an amphiphilic receptor ligand. In the composition, the gadofullerene is embedded in the bilayer structure of the liposome. In addition, a method for detecting atherosclerotic plaque in an animal using the composition is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhiguo Zhou, Robert P. Lenk, Christopher L. Kepley
  • Patent number: 8680125
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating inflammatory disorders. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a synthetically modified fullerene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher L. Kepley, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou, Darren K. MacFarland
  • Patent number: 8563585
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating inflammatory disorders. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a synthetically modified fullerene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Luna Innovations, Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher L. Kepley, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou, Darren K. MacFarland
  • Patent number: 8241648
    Abstract: Described herein are synthetically modified fullerene molecules, wherein the fullerene is preferably ellipsoid in shape with an equatorial band and two opposing poles, comprising an adduct at one or both poles, at least one adduct being a hydrophobic chemical moiety capable of anchoring the fullerene on or in a lipid membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhiguo Zhou, Robert P. Lenk, Darren Macfarland, Kenneth L. Walker, Jing Zhang, Stephen R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110251158
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating inflammatory disorders or for inhibiting the build-up of arterial plaque. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a synthetically modified fullerene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher L. KEPLEY, Robert P. LENK, Darren K. MACFARLAND, Zhiguo ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20110190251
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting the build-up of arterial plaque in a subject in need thereof. These methods comprise administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of fullerenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher L. Kepley, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110124848
    Abstract: Endohedral metallofullerene compounds, which in water has a relaxivity of about 30 mM?1 S?1 to about 300 mM?1 S?1 and forms a dispersion in water with entities having an average hydrodynamic radius of less than about 20 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Darren K. Macfarland, Robert P. Lenk, Rajesh Shukla, Kenneth L. Walker, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110028522
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating inflammatory disorders. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a synthetically modified fullerene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christopher L. Kepley, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou, Darren K. MacFarland
  • Publication number: 20110021630
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating wounds. In one embodiment, the method comprises: administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a synthetically modified fullerene of the formula Zm—F—Yn wherein F is a fullerene of formula Cp or X@Cp, the fullerene having two opposing poles and an equatorial region; Cp represents a fullerene cage having p carbon atoms, and X@CP represents such a fullerene cage having a chemical group X within the cage; Z and Y are positioned near respective opposite poles of Cp; m=1-5 and Z is a hydrophilic, lipophilic, or amphiphilic chemical moiety; n=1-5 and Y is a lipophilic chemical moiety; p=60-200 and p is an even number; and X, if present, represents one or more metal atoms within the fullerene (F), optionally in the form of a trinitride of formula Gi=1?3Hk=3?iN in which G and H are metal atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher L. Kepley, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110009486
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating pruritus in a subject in need thereof. A method of treating pruritus comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of fullerenes to a subject in need thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Kepley, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110003773
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating lack of hair growth or a reduction or loss of existing hair by stimulating and/or restoring hair growth, or preventing hair loss. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a fullerene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher L. Kepley, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson, Zhiguo Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080214514
    Abstract: Described herein are steroid derivatives of fullerene moieties, for example fullerene derivatives in which cholesterol, or a cholesterol moiety, is attached via ester, amide, or ether bonds to one of a variety of “linkers,” e.g., chemical groups including alkyl chains and aromatic groups, which are then connected to the fullerene moiety. The steroid moiety can confers useful solubility in components of biological fluids and/or pharmacologically acceptable carriers and can also affect the biodistribution of the fullerenes which makes the derivatives useful in imaging, diagnosis and the treatment or management of disease or complications of disease states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Darren MacFarland, Jing Zhang, Zhiguo Zhou, Robert P. Lenk, Stephen R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20080213352
    Abstract: Described herein are pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising fullerene molecules dispersed in vesicles comprising phosphatidylcholine (PC) phospholipid molecules and non-PC phospholipid molecules suspended in aqueous solution. In preferred embodiments, the phospholipid molecules are substantially uniformly organized into vesicles composed of one or more lipid bilayers and the fullerene molecules are substantially uniformly distributed within the lipid bilayers of the vesicles. Methods of forming these fullerene containing liposomes are also described. Such fullerene containing liposomes provide carriers for delivery of fullerenes for cosmetic, therapeutic, and imaging applications among other uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert P. Lenk, Alexandru Dragos Petru Papoiu, Darren MacFarland, Stephen R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20080213324
    Abstract: Described herein are synthetically modified fullerene molecules, wherein the fullerene is preferably ellipsoid in shape with an equatorial band and two opposing poles, comprising an adduct at one or both poles, at least one adduct being a hydrophobic chemical moiety capable of anchoring the fullerene on or in a lipid membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Luna Innovations Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhiguo Zhou, Robert P. Lenk, Darren Macfarland, Kenneth L. Walker, Jing Zhang, Stephen R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20020119170
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for nonliposomal lipid complexes in association with toxic hydrophobic drugs such as the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B. Lipid compositions are preferably a combination of the phospholipids dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) in about a 7:3 mole ratio. The lipid complexes contain a bioactive agent, and may be made by a number of procedures, at high drug:lipid ratios. These compositions of high drug:lipid complexes (HDLCs) may be administered to mammals such as humans for the treatment of infections, with substantially equivalent or greater efficacy and reduced drug toxicities as compared to the drugs in their free form. Also disclosed is a novel liposome-loading procedure, which may also be used in the formation of the HDLCs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Andrew S. Janoff, Thomas D. Madden, Pieter R. Cullis, John J. Kearns, Anthony G. Durning, Lawrence Boni, Robert P. Lenk, Robert Klimchak, Joel Portnoff
  • Patent number: 5948441
    Abstract: Tangential flow filtration is used in the size separation of particles, such as liposomes and lipid particles. These particles may be passed through a tangential flow filtration device of any pore size desired. Tangential flow filter systems of various pore sizes may be used sequentially to obtain particles such as lipid particles or liposomes having a defined size range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: The Liposome Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Lenk, Anthony G. Durning, Robert J. Klimchak, Joel Portnoff, Michelle L. Tomsho
  • Patent number: 5925375
    Abstract: This invention provides a multilamellar liposome containing an arachidonic acid metabolite, two or more lipid-containing bilayers and two or more aqueous compartments containing a release-inhibiting buffer. Preferred arachidonic acid metabolites are the prostaglandins, particularly PGE.sub.1. The liposomal formulations can be used to treat animals, particularly humans, for diseases, disorders or conditions which can be ameliorated by prostaglandins, e.g., disorders characterized by cellular activation and adhesion, inflammation and/or toxemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: The Liposome Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Lenk, Michelle L. Tomsho, Robert L. Suddith, Robert J. Klimchak, Andrew S. Janoff, Sharma R. Minchey, Marc J. Ostro
  • Patent number: 5830498
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a stable preliposomal powder which, when reconstituted with water or saline solution, forms a suspension of liposomes containing a polyene drug, such as nystatin. The method involves the steps of combining at least one phospholipid with a first organic solvent to form a first solution, adding a clarifying amount of water to the first solution, combining a polyene with a second organic solvent to form a second solution, combining the first and second solutions to produce a substantially clear combined solution, and then removing the organic solvents, leaving a powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Lenk, Reeta Mehta, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
  • Patent number: 5811119
    Abstract: A reduced-toxicity formulation of carotenoids is disclosed which is stable in an aqueous environment. The formulation includes a carotenoid, lipid carrier particles (such as liposomes), and an intercalation promoter agent (such as a triglyceride), which causes the carotenoid to be substantially uniformly distributed with the lipid in the lipid carrier particles. The molar ratio of carotenoid to lipid is greater than about 1:10. Also disclosed is a method of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, which comprises administering to a living subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignees: Board of Regents, the University of Texas, Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil Mehta, Roman Perez-Soler, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, Robert P. Lenk, Alan C. Hayman, deceased