Patents by Inventor Samuel W. Thomas

Samuel W. Thomas 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: 10675362
    Abstract: A composition, as well as methods using the composition, for detection or quantification of a molecule at a singlet state (e.g., singlet oxygen). The composition includes one or more nanoparticles, and the nanoparticle has an energy donor, an energy acceptor associated with the energy donor, and an energy transfer mechanism between the energy donor and the energy acceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: Samuel W. Thomas, III, Fanny Frausto, Jingjing Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180036434
    Abstract: A composition, as well as methods using the composition, for detection or quantification of a molecule at a singlet state (e.g., singlet oxygen). The composition includes one or more nanoparticles, and the nanoparticle has an energy donor, an energy acceptor associated with the energy donor, and an energy transfer mechanism between the energy donor and the energy acceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Samuel W. Thomas, III, Fanny Frausto, Jingjing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9664679
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: George M. Whitesides, Scott T. Phillips, Andres W. Martinez, Manish J. Butte, Amy Wong, Samuel W. Thomas, Hayat Sindi, Sarah J. Vella, Emanuel Carrilho, Katherine A. Mirica, Yanyan Liu
  • Publication number: 20160274105
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: George M. WHITESIDES, Scott T. PHILLIPS, Andres W. MARTINEZ, Manish J. BUTTE, Amy WONG, Samuel W. THOMAS, Hayat SINDI, Sarah J. VELLA, Emanuel CARRILHO, Katherine A. MIRICA, Yanyan LIU
  • Patent number: 9429522
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to emissive materials, devices, and related methods. In some cases, the present invention provides sensors and methods for the determination of analytes, wherein the analytes may be determined by monitoring, for example, a change in an optical signal of an emissive material upon exposure to an analyte. The analyte and the emissive material may interact via a chemical reaction, such as an oxidative addition reaction, or other chemical, biochemical or biological interaction (e.g., recognition), to form a new emissive species. In some cases, the present invention may be useful in the detection of a wide variety of analytes, such as toxins, chemical warfare agents, and explosives. The present invention also provides emissive compounds, and related methods, including metal complexes that are capable of interacting with an analyte to produce a change in the emission of the compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Samuel W. Thomas, III, Koushik Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 9193988
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: George M. Whitesides, Scott T. Phillips, Andres W. Martinez, Manish J. Butte, Amy Wong, Samuel W. Thomas, Hayat Sindi, Sarah J. Vella, Emanuel Carrilho, Katherine A. Mirica, Yanyan Liu
  • Publication number: 20150247805
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to emissive materials, devices, and related methods. In some cases, the present invention provides sensors and methods for the determination of analytes, wherein the analytes may be determined by monitoring, for example, a change in an optical signal of an emissive material upon exposure to an analyte. The analyte and the emissive material may interact via a chemical reaction, such as an oxidative addition reaction, or other chemical, biochemical or biological interaction (e.g., recognition), to form a new emissive species. In some cases, the present invention may be useful in the detection of a wide variety of analytes, such as toxins, chemical warfare agents, and explosives. The present invention also provides emissive compounds, and related methods, including metal complexes that are capable of interacting with an analyte to produce a change in the emission of the compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Samuel W. Thomas, III, Koushik Venkatesan
  • Publication number: 20140234881
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: George M. WHITESIDES, Scott T. PHILLIPS, Andres W. MARTINEZ, Manish J. BUTTE, Amy WONG, Samuel W. THOMAS, Hayat SINDI, Sarah J. VELLA, Emanuel CARRILHO, Katherine A. MIRICA, Yanyan LIU
  • Patent number: 8603832
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: George M. Whitesides, Scott T. Phillips, Andreas W. Martinez, Manish J. Butte, Amy Wong, Samuel W. Thomas, Hayat Sindi, Sarah J. Vella, Emanuel Carrilho, Katherine A. Mirica, Yanyan Liu
  • Publication number: 20130287961
    Abstract: A method for modifying surface charges created by contact electrification includes providing a polymer formed of a plurality of monomers each containing a functional group capable of reversibly switching between a first structure and a second structure different from the first structure, the functional group having the first structure; contact-charging the polymer with a surface such that the polymer carries a first net surface charge; and converting the first structure of the functional group to the second structure. The sequence of the contact-charging and converting steps can be switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Tufts University
    Inventors: Samuel W. Thomas, III, Simone Friedle
  • Patent number: 8377710
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: George M. Whitesides, Scott T. Phillips, Andres W. Martinez, Manish J. Butte, Amy Wong, Samuel W. Thomas, Hayat Sindi, Sarah J. Vella, Emanuel Carrilho, Katherine A. Mirica, Yanyan Liu
  • Patent number: 8158437
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for modulating the optical properties of a luminescent polymer via interaction with a species (e.g., an analyte). In some cases, the present invention provides methods for determination of an analyte by monitoring a change in an optical signal of a luminescent polymer upon exposure to an analyte. Methods of the present invention may be useful for the vapor phase detection of analytes such as explosives and toxins. The present invention also provides methods for increasing the luminescence intensity of a polymer, such as a polymer that has been photobleached, by exposing the luminescent polymer to a species such as a reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Samuel W. Thomas, III
  • Patent number: 8124743
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of purifying bivalent antibodies or antibody fragments that are active at both Fab sites from a source of antibodies or antibody fragments using a non-chromatographic method that includes inducing the formation of cyclic immunoglobulin aggregates by addition of multivalent hapten to a salt solution of soluble antibodies or antibody fragments, wherein the multivalent hapten possesses a linker between the two haptens effective to prevent the binding of both haptens of the ligand to the same antibody or antibody fragment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Vijay M. Krishnamurthy, Lara A. Estroff, Vincent Semetey, Samuel W. Thomas, George K. Kaufman, Zihni Basar Bilgicer, George M. Whitesides
  • Patent number: 7862775
    Abstract: The present invention provides sensors and methods for determination of an analyte. The analytes may be determined by monitoring, for example, a change in an optical signal of an emissive material upon exposure to an analyte. In some embodiments, the analyte and the emissive material may interact via a chemical reaction, or other chemical, biochemical or biological interaction (e.g., recognition), to form a new emissive species. In some cases, the present invention may be used for the detection of analytes such as explosives (e.g., RDX, PETN). Methods of the present invention may be advantageous in that the high sensitivity of luminescence (e.g., fluorescence) spectroscopy can allow for the reliable detection of small changes in luminescence intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Trisha L. Andrew, Samuel W. Thomas, III, Jean Bouffard
  • Publication number: 20100303672
    Abstract: The present invention provides sensors and methods for determination of an analyte. The analytes may be determined by monitoring, for example, a change in an optical signal of an emissive material upon exposure to an analyte. In some embodiments, the analyte and the emissive material may interact via a chemical reaction, or other chemical, biochemical or biological interaction (e.g., recognition), to form a new emissive species. In some cases, the present invention may be used for the detection of analytes such as explosives (e.g., RDX, PETN). Methods of the present invention may be advantageous in that the high sensitivity of luminescence (e.g., fluorescence) spectroscopy can allow for the reliable detection of small changes in luminescence intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Trisha L. Andrew, Samuel W. Thomas, Jean Bouffard
  • Publication number: 20100112715
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for modulating the optical properties of a luminescent polymer via interaction with a species (e.g., an analyte). In some cases, the present invention provides methods for determination of an analyte by monitoring a change in an optical signal of a luminescent polymer upon exposure to an analyte. Methods of the present invention may be useful for the vapor phase detection of analytes such as explosives and toxins. The present invention also provides methods for increasing the luminescence intensity of a polymer, such as a polymer that has been photobleached, by exposing the luminescent polymer to a species such as a reducing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Samuel W. Thomas, III
  • Patent number: 7666684
    Abstract: The present invention provides sensors and methods for determination of an analyte. The analytes may be determined by monitoring, for example, a change in an optical signal of an emissive material upon exposure to an analyte. In some embodiments, the analyte and the emissive material may interact via a chemical reaction, or other chemical, biochemical or biological interaction (e.g., recognition), to form a new emissive species. In some cases, the present invention may be used for the detection of analytes such as explosives (e.g., RDX, PETN). Methods of the present invention may be advantageous in that the high sensitivity of luminescence (e.g., fluorescence) spectroscopy can allow for the reliable detection of small changes in luminescence intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Trisha L. Andrew, Samuel W. Thomas, Jean Bouffard
  • Publication number: 20100022011
    Abstract: The present invention provides sensors and methods for determination of an analyte. The analytes may be determined by monitoring, for example, a change in an optical signal of an emissive material upon exposure to an analyte. In some embodiments, the analyte and the emissive material may interact via a chemical reaction, or other chemical, biochemical or biological interaction (e.g., recognition), to form a new emissive species. In some cases, the present invention may be used for the detection of analytes such as explosives (e.g., RDX, PETN). Methods of the present invention may be advantageous in that the high sensitivity of luminescence (e.g., fluorescence) spectroscopy can allow for the reliable detection of small changes in luminescence intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy M. Swager, Trisha L. Andrew, Samuel W. Thomas, Jean Bouffard
  • Publication number: 20090298191
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: George M. WHITESIDES, Scott T. PHILLIPS, Andres W. MARTINEZ, Manish J. BUTTE, Amy WONG, Samuel W. THOMAS, Hayat SINDI, Sarah J. VELLA, Emanuel CARRILHO, Katherine A. MIRICA, Yanyan LIU
  • Publication number: 20090240040
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of purifying bivalent antibodies or antibody fragments that are active at both Fab sites from a source of antibodies or antibody fragments using a non-chromatographic method that includes inducing the formation of cyclic immunoglobulin aggregates by addition of multivalent hapten to a salt solution of soluble antibodies or antibody fragments, wherein the multivalent hapten possesses a linker between the two haptens effective to prevent the binding of both haptens of the ligand to the same antibody or antibody fragment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Vijay M. Krishnamurthy, Lara A. Estroff, Vincent Semetey, Samuel W. Thomas, George K. Kaufman, Zihni Basar Bilgicer, George M. Whitesides