Patents by Inventor Robert S. Langer

Robert S. Langer 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: 11191841
    Abstract: The modification of biomolecules, small molecules, and other agents of via conjugation of excipients, tags, or labels is of great importance. For example, the modification of therapeutic agents can confer improved stability, solubility, duration of action, or pharmacological properties. Supramolecular chemistry utilizes specific, directional, reversible, non-covalent molecular recognition motifs in order to achieve organization of molecules, and can be used to complex tags to agents of interest (e.g., insulin, glucagon, antibodies). The present invention provides useful supramolecular complexes wherein an agent of interest is specifically bound to a host via non-covalent interactions, and wherein the host is conjugated to a tag. The present invention also provides methods and compounds useful in preparing supramolecular complexes, and methods of treating diseases using the supramolecular complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Matthew J. Webber, Eric Andrew Appel, Robert S. Langer, Daniel Griffith Anderson
  • Publication number: 20210369633
    Abstract: Network materials which exhibit both shear thinning and self-healing properties are disclosed. The networks contain particles and gel-forming compounds. The networks are useful for a variety of biomedical uses, including drug delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Eric A. Appel, Mark W. Tibbitt, Robert S. Langer
  • Patent number: 11185626
    Abstract: Apparatus, kits, and methods for administering a substance are presented. A device for administering a substance includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated body defining an internal chamber extending between the proximal end and the distal end to direct the substance to the distal end, the distal end to connect with a tip, the tip to be at least partially inserted into an orifice of a body lumen of a subject, the tip having a shape configured to reduce leakage of the substance from the orifice upon the at least partial insertion. The tip includes an opening to pass the substance from the internal chamber into the body lumen; and a transducer to emit an ultrasound wave from the tip into the body lumen, thereby administering the substance to tissue in the body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Carl Magnus Schoellhammer, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Avraham Schroeder, Baris Polat, Daniel Blankschtein, Robert S. Langer, William Brugge
  • Publication number: 20210361919
    Abstract: Articles for rapid release of components including, for example, quick release capsules, are generally provided. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the articles described herein may be configured to prevent fluid from contacting a component h contained therein (e.g., tissue interfacing component) or payload contained therein until a desired time, e.g., the time at which the component is configured to release from the article to a location internal to a subject (e.g., localize to a tissue wall in the subject). In some embodiments, the article comprises a first compartment and a second compartment not in fluid communication with the first compartment. In some embodiments, the first compartment and second compartment are fluidically isolated. For example, in some cases, the first compartment comprises a mechanism for releasing a component contained within the article and the second compartment comprises the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Robert S. Langer, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Alex G. Abramson, David Dellal, Christoph Winfried Johannes Steiger, Niclas Roxhed, Ester Caffarel Salvador, Vance Soares, Daniel Minahan, Morten Revsgaard Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 11179341
    Abstract: Self-righting articles, such as self-righting capsules for administration to a subject, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may be configured such that the article may orient itself relative to a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). The self-righting articles described herein may comprise one or more tissue engaging surfaces configured to engage (e.g., interface with, inject into, anchor) with a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). In some embodiments, the self-righting article may have a particular shape and/or distribution of density (or mass) which, for example, enables the self-righting behavior of the article. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may comprise a tissue interfacing component and/or a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery of the active pharmaceutical agent to a location internal of the subject).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Alex G. Abramson, Ester Caffarel Salvador, Niclas Roxhed, Minsoo Khang, Taylor Bensel, Robert S. Langer
  • Publication number: 20210353174
    Abstract: Drug delivery articles, resident articles, and retrieval systems e.g., for gram-level dosing, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the residence articles are configured for transesophageal administration, transesophageal retrieval, and/or gastric retention to/in a subject. In certain embodiments, the residence article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal administration with a gastric resident system. In some cases, the residence article may be configured to control drug release e.g., with zero-order drug kinetics with no potential for burst release for weeks to months. In some embodiments, the residence articles described herein comprise biocompatible materials and/or are safe for gastric retention. In certain embodiments, the residence article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal retrieval. In some cases, the residence articles described herein may comprise relatively large doses of drug (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 gram).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Langer, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Malvika Verma, Feyisope Eweje, Christoph Winfried Johannes Steiger, Junwei Li, Nhi Phan, Hen-Wei Huang, Jacqueline Chu, John Ashraf Fou Salama
  • Publication number: 20210354984
    Abstract: Microparticulate compositions and methods for delivery and pulsatile release of one or more sting agonists and/or receptors have been developed. The compositions include polymeric microdevices formed from biodegradable and biocompatible polymers or co-polymers thereof including a shell and compartment(s) or discrete regions in the compartment(s) formed by an additive process such as micromolding, three dimensional printing and lithography. The compositions include microdevices that release individual doses of incorporated STING agonist and/or receptors at defined times, for example, in pulses up to several months after administration with essentially no leakage between releases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Robert S. Langer, Ana Jaklenec, Xueguang Lu
  • Publication number: 20210353781
    Abstract: Surface-modified cell containing a cell and a conformal coating on the extracellular surface of the cell are described. The conformal coating contains two or more layers containing particles (e.g. nanoparticles) or macromolecules. The cell is an islet cell, a B cell, or a T cell. The macromolecules or particles are formed from zwitterionic polymers. Covalent linkages are employed to link the particles or macromolecules to a cell surface molecule containing an abiotic functional group, or between macromolecules and/or particles in adjacent layers. Also described are methods of making and using a surface-modified cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Omid Veiseh, Volkan Yesilyurt, Andrew Bader, Whitney Loo, Daniel G. Anderson, Robert S. Langer
  • Patent number: 11167066
    Abstract: Drug-eluting devices and methods for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas, biliary system, gallbladder, liver, small bowel, or colon, are provided. Methods include deploying a drug-eluting device having a film which includes a mixture of a degradable polymer and a chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the film has a thickness from about 2 ?m to about 1000 ?m, into a tissue site and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of the chemotherapeutic drug from the film to treat the tumor, wherein the release of the therapeutically effective amount of the drug from the film is controlled by in vivo degradation of the polymer at the tissue site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Laura Indolfi, Elazer R. Edelman, Robert S. Langer, Jeffrey W. Clark, David T. Ting, Cristina Rosa Annamaria Ferrone, Matteo Ligorio
  • Publication number: 20210338789
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modified dendrimer nanoparticle (“MDNP”) delivery of therapeutic, prophylactic and/or diagnostic agent such as large repRNA molecules to the cells of a subject have been developed. MDNPs efficiently drive proliferation of antigen-specific T cells against intracellular antigen, and potentiate antigen-specific antibody responses. MDNPs can be multiplexed to deliver two or more different repRNAs to modify expression kinetics of encoded antigens and to simultaneous deliver repRNAs and mRNAs including the same UTR elements that promote expression of encoded antigens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Omar F. Khan, Jasdave S. Chahal, Daniel G. Anderson, Hidde Ploegh, Robert S. Langer, Tyler E. Jacks, David A. Canner
  • Publication number: 20210322507
    Abstract: Provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions for local administration of metabolic inhibitors, methods of locally administering such compositions, and rapid diagnostic methods for identifying mutant allele during the course of a surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The General Hospital Corporation, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Langer, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Ameya R. Kirtane, Daniel Cahill, Ganesh Shankar
  • Publication number: 20210290921
    Abstract: Microdevices with complex three-dimensional (3D) internal and external structures are described. The microdevices are made by a method combining micromolding and soft lithography with an aligned sintering process. The microfabrication method, termed StampEd Assembly of polymer Layers (SEAL), generates microdevices with complex geometries and with fully-enclosed internal cavities containing a solid or liquid. The microdevices are useful for biomedical, electromechanical, energy and environmental applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin McHugh, Ana Jaklenec, Robert S. Langer
  • Patent number: 11125739
    Abstract: Gene editing can be performed by introducing gene-editing components into a cell by mechanical cell disruption. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described. The methods and systems of the invention solve the problem of intracellular delivery of gene editing components and gene editing complexes to target cells. The results described herein indicate that delivery of gene editing components, e.g., protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), by mechanical disruption of cell membranes leads to successful gene editing. Because intracellular delivery of gene editing materials is a current challenge, the methods provide a robust mechanism to engineer target cells without the use of potentially harmful viral vectors or electric fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Armon R. Sharei, Marc Lajoie, Klavs F. Jensen, Robert S. Langer
  • Patent number: 11111472
    Abstract: A method and device for preferentially delivering a compound such as an antigen to the cytosol of an immune cell. The method comprises passing a cell suspension comprising the target immune cell through a microfluidic device and contacting the suspension with the compound(s) or payload to be delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Armon R. Sharei, Shirley Mao, George Hartoularos, Sophia Liu, Megan Heimann, Pamela Basto, Gregory Szeto, Siddharth Jhunjhunwala, Darrell Irvine, Robert S. Langer, Klavs F. Jensen, Ulrich H. Von Andrian
  • Publication number: 20210260195
    Abstract: The present invention provides inventive conjugated polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymers and conjugated aza-macrocycles (collectively referred to herein as “conjugated lipomers” or “lipomers”) containing one or more groups of the formula (iii): wherein R3 and R4 are as defined herein. Also provided are compositions comprising the inventive conjugated lipomers, and methods of preparation and use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James E. Dahlman, Avraham D. Schroeder, Daniel Griffith Anderson, Robert S. Langer, Christopher G. Levins
  • Patent number: 11090413
    Abstract: Covalently modified alginate polymers, possessing enhanced biocompatibility and tailored physiochemical properties, as well as methods of making and use thereof, are disclosed herein. The covalently modified alginates are useful as a matrix for coating of any material where reduced fibrosis is desired, such as encapsulated cells for transplantation and medical devices implanted or used in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER CORPORATON
    Inventors: Arturo Vegas, Joshua C. Doloff, Omid Veiseh, Minglin Ma, Robert S. Langer, Daniel G. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11083690
    Abstract: Enteric elastomers and related methods are generally provided. In some embodiments, the enteric elastomer is a polymer composite. Certain embodiments comprise a polymer composite in which hydrogen bonds within two carboxyl group-containing polymers cross-link the polymer networks into an elastic and pH-responsive polymer composite. Advantageously, this polymer composite has the capacity of being stable and elastic in an acidic environment such as that of the stomach but can be dissolved in a neutral pH environment such as that of the small and large intestines. In some embodiments, the polymer composites described herein comprise a mixture of two or more polymers with carboxyl functionality such that the two or more polymers form hydrogen bonds. In certain embodiments, the polymer composite has both enteric and elastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Tokitae LLC
    Inventors: Shiyi Zhang, Andrew Bellinger, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Dean Liang Glettig, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 11077056
    Abstract: Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bellinger, Shiyi Zhang, Carlo Giovanni Traverso, Robert S. Langer, Stacy Mo, Tyler Grant, Mousa Jafari, Dean Liang Glettig, Angela DiCiccio, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Philip A. Eckhoff
  • Publication number: 20210231645
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for determining multiplex interactions between drugs and drug transporters using an intestinal tissue explant are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Robert S. LANGER, Carlo Giovanni TRAVERSO, Yunhua SHI, Vance SOARES, Daniel REKER
  • Publication number: 20210230343
    Abstract: Among other things, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods for an elastomeric cross-linked polyester material. Such an elastomeric cross-linked polyester material, in some embodiments, comprises a plurality of polymeric units of the general formula (-A-B-)p, wherein p is an integer greater than 1; and a plurality of urethane cross-links each of which covalently links two polymeric units to one another, which two linked polymeric unit each had at least one free hydroxyl or amino group prior to formation of the crosslink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Robert S. Langer, Jeffrey M. Karp, Maria Jose Maio Nunes-Pereira, Ben Ouyang, Lino da Silva Ferreira, Debanjan Sarkar