Abstract: An optical sensor is used to detect a target in a sample liquid. The optical sensor has an optical sensing layer including, in the same layer, a fluorescent reporter, a fluorescent reference, and an optical isolating reagent. The optical sensing layer has an outer surface that contacts the sample liquid and an opposing surface through which a light source irradiates the optical sensing layer with excitation light, and a detector detects fluorescence emitted from within the optical sensing layer. The optical isolating reagent reduces the amount of (i) excitation light that passes through the optical sensing layer and reaches the sample liquid and (ii) background fluorescence that is emitted within the sample liquid and passes back through the optical sensing layer to the detector. Accordingly, the optical reporter and optical reference fluorescence can be detected with higher signal to noise ratios than in the absence of the optical isolating reagent.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides which specifically bind to preselected pre-miRNA or pri-miRNA targets, methods of down-regulating EMT in a cell using such peptides, and methods of preparing such peptides. Also provided are therapeutic compositions comprising peptides that specifically bind a preselected cancer marker which is a peptide or which is a pre-miRNA or a pri-miRNA and methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods to generate and screen peptides that exhibit drug like stabilities in vitro and in vivo. By selecting for enzyme resistance, Applicants are able to derive peptides that are not only stable to a broad spectrum of proteases, but also stable to other drug processing enzymes such as cytochrome P450s. This approach provides a general method to the rapid development of highly stable peptides for therapeutic development and diagnosis. The peptides are further modified for oral bioavailability.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods to generate and screen peptides that exhibit drug like stabilities in vitro and in vivo. By selecting for enzyme resistance, Applicants are able to derive peptides that are not only stable to a broad spectrum of proteases, but also stable to other drug processing enzymes such as cytochrome P450s. This approach provides a general method to the rapid development of highly stable peptides for therapeutic development and diagnosis. The peptides are further modified for oral bioavailability. The methods can be applied to similar peptides for the making of therapeutic compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptide-mRNA fusion products, oligoribonucleotide structures, and methods of producing and using the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides which specifically bind to preselected pre-miRNA or pri-miRNA targets, methods of down-regulating EMT in a cell using such peptides, and methods of preparing such peptides. Also provided are therapeutic compositions comprising peptides that specifically bind a preselected cancer marker which is a peptide or which is a pre-miRNA or a pri-miRNA and methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods to generate and screen peptides that exhibit drug like stabilities in vitro and in vivo. By selecting for enzyme resistance, Applicants are able to derive peptides that are not only stable to a broad spectrum of proteases, but also stable to other drug processing enzymes such as cytochrome P450s. This approach provides a general method to the rapid development of highly stable peptides for therapeutic development and diagnosis. The peptides are further modified for oral bioavailability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions comprising the insertion of a single N-methyl amino acid into functional peptides. More specifically, the invention discloses methods referred to as N-methyl scanning mutagenesis, where one or more N-methyl amino acid substitutions into functional peptides enhances protease resistance while retaining binding affinity.