Abstract: Water dispersible, multivalent ligand-lipid constructs that spontaneously and stably incorporate into membranes are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for effecting qualitative and quantitative changes in the functional moieties expressed at the surface of cells and multi-cellular structures, and functional lipid constructs for use in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is a carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: An antimicrobial surface treatment method comprising the step of contacting a stainless-steel surface with an aqueous dispersion of at least one functional-lipid construct where the lipid moiety is a phosphatidylethanolamine and the functional moiety confers the antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: Biocompatible methods of functionalising inert surfaces for use in biological applications are described. The methods employ the use of synthetic constructs of the generic structure F-S-L (where F is a functional moiety, S is a spacer selected to provide a construct that is dispersible in water, and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerophospholipid). An object of the invention is to localise or immobilise functional moieties to the inert surface of a substrate wherein the surface is comprised of glass, silver, polyamide, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethersulfone, polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride, and the substrate is comprised of a fibre, membrane, microsphere or nanosphere.

Abstract: Micro-dimensioned wafers for use in maintaining the traceability of biological samples are described.

Abstract: Method of functionalizing microspheres comprising immersing the microspheres in an aqueous dispersion of a construct of the structure F-S-L; and then washing the microspheres with an aqueous vehicle to provide the functionalized microspheres. The construct is of the structure: where F is a functional moiety, M is a monovalent cation, R1 and R2 are independently a C14-20 acyl, alkyl or alkenyl group, and S is a spacer selected to provide a construct that is dispersible in water.

Abstract: A facile method of localising sulfhydryl (—SH) group containing biomolecules, in particular peptides, to the membranes of living cells and enveloped viruses and a kit for use in a biological laboratory in accordance with the method.

Abstract: Biocompatible methods of functionalising inert surfaces for use in biological applications are described. The methods employ the use of synthetic constructs of the generic structure F-S-L (where F is a functional moiety, S is a spacer selected to provide a construct that is dispersible in water, and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerophospholipid). An object of the invention is to localise or immobilise functional moieties to the inert surface of a substrate wherein the surface is comprised of glass, silver, polyamide, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethersulfone, polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride, and the substrate is comprised of a fibre, membrane, microsphere or nanosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for effecting qualitative and quantitative changes in the functional moieties expressed at the surface of cells and multi-cellular structures, and functional lipid constructs for use in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is a carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of assaying Fc-function in an immunoglobulin containing sample by contacting the sample, in the presence of a complement, with red blood cells modified to incorporate a F-S-L peptide-lipid construct. The F-S-L peptide construct comprises a functional group (F) that is a target antigen for a complement activating immunoglobulin, a spacer group (S) covalently linking F to L and a lipid group (L). The present invention further discloses a specific construct, DOPE-Ad-CMG(2)-hCMV2 where the F group is an antigen of cytomegalovirus, that is used in assaying the Fc function of an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) product.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for effecting qualitative and quantitative changes in the functional moieties expressed at the surface of cells and multi-cellular structures, and functional lipid constructs for use in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is a carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of localizing biofunctional moieties (F) to surfaces and synthetic constructs of the general structure F-S-S? for use in such methods. F is the biofunctional moiety, S is a spacer covalently linking F to S?, and S? is sterol. In particular, the invention relates to the preparation of biofunctional surfaces and surface modified biological structures including cells (kodecytes), enveloped viruses (kodevirions) and liposomes or virosomes (kodesomes).

Abstract: Peptide-lipid constructs of the structure L-S-F are disclosed, where F is a peptide, S is a spacer covalently linking F to L via an oligomer of ethylene glycol, and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerolipid (including glycerophospholipids). The spacer ideally has 6 to 14 ethylene glycol repeats, corresponding to PEG with a molecular weight of approximately 250 to 600. Also disclosed is a method of detecting reactive antibodies in serum by contacting serum with cells modified to incorporate a peptide-lipid construct, where the peptide is an epitope of the antibody, and determining the degree of aggluthination of the cells.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing cards, strips and multiwell plates for use in diagnostic assays are described. The methods employ the use of synthetic constructs of the generic structure F-S-L (where F is an antigen for a reactive antibody, S is a spacer covalently linking F to L, and L is a lipid) as “ink” in inkjet printers. The cards, strips and multiwell plates provide a number of advantages including efficiency of manufacture and improved accuracy in determining and recording assay results.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for effecting qualitative and quantitative changes in the functional moieties expressed at the surface of cells and multi-cellular structures, and functional lipid constructs for use in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to functional lipid constructs and their use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including serodiagnosis, where the functional moiety is a carbohydrate, peptide, chemically reactive group, conjugator or fluorophore.

Abstract: Peptide-lipid constructs of the structure L-S—F are disclosed, where F is a peptide, S is a spacer covalently linking F to L via an oligomer of ethylene glycol, and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerolipid (including glycerophospholipids). The spacer ideally has 6 to 14 ethylene glycol repeats, corresponding to PEG with a molecular weight of approximately 250 to 600. Also disclosed is a method of detecting reactive antibodies in serum by contacting serum with cells modified to incorporate a peptide-lipid construct, where the peptide is an epitope of the antibody, and determining the degree of aggluthination of the cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs and their use as mimics of ligands for receptors expressed by virus. In particular, the invention relates to the use of selected carbohydrate-lipid constructs in methods of inhibiting virus infection and/or promoting clearance of virus from infected subjects. Carbohydrate-lipid constructs selected for use in these methods where the virus is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are provided.