Abstract: Particles with a spatial and/or temporal release profile for delivery of different agents at different times to the same cells of a subject have been developed. The particles include a core polymeric particle containing a polymer and a first agent, a tethering moiety, covalent linker or covalent linkage attached to the core particle, and a tethered particle attached to the particle via the tethering moiety, covalent linker or covalent linkage and containing a second agent, where the agents are released at different times within or to the same cells. The first and second agents may be a therapeutic or prophylactic agent, such as an antigen, an immunomodulator, an anti-neoplastic agent, a hormone, an inhibitor, etc. The particles may form compositions for treating diseases with a spatial and/or temporal treatment regimen.

Abstract: It has been discovered that iron-platinum ferromagnetic particles can be dispersed in a polymer and coated into or onto, or directly linked to or embedded on to, medical devices and magnetized. The magnetized devices are used to attract, capture, and/or retain magnetically labeled cells on the surface of the device in vivo. The magnetic particles have an iron/platinum core. Annealing the Fe/Pt particle is very important for introducing a L10 interior crystalline phase. The Fe:Pt molar ratio for creation of the crystal phase is important and a molar range of 1.2-3.0 Fe to Pt (molar precursors, i.e. starting compounds) is desired for magnetization. The magnetic force as a whole can be measured with a “Super Conducting Quantum Interference Device”, which is a sensitive magnetometer. The overall magnetic force is in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 Tesla.

Abstract: Bioreactor devices for modulating cells, systems including the devices, and methods of using the devices and systems to modulate cells are provided. The bioreactor devices typically include (i) a base support; (ii) a scaffold having bound to or present on the surface thereof, one or more cell receptor ligands; and (iii) a biodegradable polymer, co-polymer, or blend of polymers including an active agent associated with, encapsulated within, surrounded by, and/or dispersed therein. The systems include a bioreactor device, and one or more additional components, such as a housing for the device, one or more flow lines, one or more ports, one or more valves or clamps, etc. Methods of using the devices and systems for modulating cells ex vivo and treating subjects with cell adaptive therapy are also provided.

Abstract: A method for ranking items may include determining a purchaseability score for each item of a specified type based on a number of impressions of the respective item provided to users during a time period, a quantity of the respective item purchased by the users, and a quantity of the respective item added to shopping carts of the users, The method may further include ranking the items based on the purchaseability scores, generating item feed data indicating an ordering of the items based on the rankings, and providing the item feed data to a user device. The user's device may display a scrollable feed of item panels corresponding to the items, with the item panels ordered according to the ordering of the corresponding items.

Abstract: Particles with a spatial and/or temporal release profile for delivery of different agents at different times to the same cells of a subject have been developed. The particles include a core polymeric particle containing a polymer and a first agent, a tethering moiety, covalent linker or covalent linkage attached to the core particle, and a tethered particle attached to the particle via the tethering moiety, covalent linker or covalent linkage and containing a second agent, where the agents are released at different times within or to the same cells. The first and second agents may be a therapeutic or prophylactic agent, such as an antigen, an immunomodulator, an anti-neoplastic agent, a hormone, an inhibitor, etc. The particles may form compositions for treating diseases with a spatial and/or temporal treatment regimen.

Abstract: A method for ranking items may include determining a purchaseability score for each item of a specified type based on a number of impressions of the respective item provided to users during a time period, a quantity of the respective item purchased by the users, and a quantity of the respective item added to shopping carts of the users. The method may further include ranking the items based on the purchaseability scores, generating item feed data indicating an ordering of the items based on the rankings, and providing the item feed data to a user device. The user's device may display a scrollable feed of item panels corresponding to the items, with the item panels ordered according to the ordering of the corresponding items.

Abstract: Multivalent CT or MR contrast agents and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The agents contain a moiety, such as a polymer, that provides multivalent attachment of CT or MR contrast agents. Examples include, but are not limited to, multivalent linear polymers, branched polymers, or hyperbranched polymers, such as dendrimers, and combinations thereof. The dendrimer is functionalized with one or more high Z-elements, such as iodine. The high Z-elements can be covalently or non-covalently bound to the dendrimer. The dendrimers are confined in order to enhance CT contrast. In some embodiments, the moiety is confined by encapsulating the dendrimers in a material to form particles, such as nanoparticles. In other embodiments, the dendrimer is confined by conjugating the moiety to a material, such as a polymer, which forms a gel upon contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Nanoparticulate compositions are disclosed. The nanoparticulate compositions typically include at least one, preferably two or more, active agent(s), one of which is an immunomodulatory compound, loaded into, attached to the surface of and/or enclosed within a delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicles can be nanolipogels including a polymeric core and a lipid shell or a biodegradable polymeric nanoparticle such as a PLGA nanoparticle. Typically, at least one of the active agents is an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response or decreases an immune suppressive response. In some embodiments, the particle includes both an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response and an immunomodulator that decreases an immune suppressive response. The particles can be decorated with a targeting moiety that improves delivery to a target cell. Methods of using the compositions to enhance an immune response and treat diseases such as cancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided compositions and methods for treatment of neurodegeneative diseases and CNS injury. The compositions a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier solution; and a plurality of biodegradable nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise a targeting moiety that is able to bind selectively to the surface of a neural stem cell and wherein the nanoparticles further comprise factors such as leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF); XAV939 and/or one or more of: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or an agonist thereof; epidermal growth factor (EGF) or an agonist thereof; glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or an agonist thereof; retinoic acid and derivatives thereof; ciliary neurotrophic factor (CTNF) or an agonist thereof; and Wnt5A. The biodegradable nanoparticles may deliver via controlled time release.

Abstract: Nanoparticulate compositions are disclosed. The nanoparticulate compositions typically include at least one, preferably two or more, active agent(s), one of which is an immunomodulatory compound, loaded into, attached to the surface of and/or enclosed within a delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicles can be nanolipogels including a polymeric core and a lipid shell or a biodegradable polymeric nanoparticle such as a PLGA nanoparticle. Typically, at least one of the active agents is an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response or decreases an immune suppressive response. In some embodiments, the particle includes both an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response and an immunomodulator that decreases an immune suppressive response. The particles can be decorated with a targeting moiety that improves delivery to a target cell. Methods of using the compositions to enhance an immune response and treat diseases such as cancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for ranking items may include determining a purchaseability score for each item of a specified type based on a number of impressions of the respective item provided to users during a time period, a quantity of the respective item purchased by the users, and a quantity of the respective item added to shopping carts of the users. The method may further include ranking the items based on the purchaseability scores, generating item feed data indicating an ordering of the items based on the rankings, and providing the item feed data to a user device. The user's device may display a scrollable feed of item panels corresponding to the items, with the item panels ordered according to the ordering of the corresponding items.

Abstract: Negatively charged nanoparticulate compositions are used to deliver therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agents to macrophages or other phagocytic cells in the brain and central nervous system. The negative charge of the nanoparticles increases circulation, increases internalization by macrophage or other phagocytic cells, increases release within the macrophage or other phagocytic cells, or a combination thereof, relative to charge-neutral or charge-positive nanoparticles.

Abstract: A composition containing a macrophage inhibitor may be administered in an effective amount to prevent, inhibit or reduce restenosis, thrombus or aneurysm formation in implanted polymeric vascular grafts. The composition may be administered prior to vascular graft implantation, at the same time as vascular graft implantation, following vascular graft implantation, or any combination thereof. Examplary macrophage inhibitors include bisphosphonates, anti-folate drugs and antibodies, preferably in a controlled release or liposomal formulation.

Abstract: Advantageous instruments, assemblies and methods are provided for undertaking surgical procedures (e.g., cardiovascular interventional procedures). The present disclosure provides advantageous devices, assemblies and methods in the field of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology procedures. Advantageous protection assemblies/devices (e.g., aortic arch embolic protection assemblies/devices) and related methods of use are provided. The present disclosure relates generally to embolic protection devices for use in the aortic arch to protect the distal vasculature during cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology procedures. An exemplary embolic protection device can take the form of an expandable/inflatable bladder member in a curved tube shape. The present disclosure provides advantageous (embolic) protection devices/assemblies, systems incorporating such devices/assemblies, and methods of use of such devices/assemblies for the benefit of such surgical practitioners and their patients.

Abstract: A method for ranking items may include determining a purchaseability score for each item of a specified type based on a number of impressions of the respective item provided to users during a time period, a quantity of the respective item purchased by the users, and a quantity of the respective item added to shopping carts of the users. The method may further include ranking the items based on the purchaseability scores, generating item feed data indicating an ordering of the items based on the rankings, and providing the item feed data to a user device. The user's device may display a scrollable feed of item panels corresponding to the items, with the item panels ordered according to the ordering of the corresponding items.

Abstract: There are provided compositions and methods for treatment of neurodegeneative diseases and CNS injury. The compositions a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier solution; and a plurality of biodegradable nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise a targeting moiety that is able to bind selectively to the surface of a neural stem cell and wherein the nanoparticles further comprise factors such as leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF); XAV939 and/or one or more of: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or an agonist thereof; epidermal growth factor (EGF) or an agonist thereof; glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or an agonist thereof; retinoic acid and derivatives thereof; ciliary neurotrophic factor (CTNF) or an agonist thereof; and Wnt5A. The biodegradable nanoparticles may deliver via controlled time release.

Abstract: Nanoparticulate compositions are disclosed. The nanoparticulate compositions typically include at least one, preferably two or more, active agent(s), one of which is an immunomodulatory compound, loaded into, attached to the surface of and/or enclosed within a delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicles can be nanolipogels including a polymeric core and a lipid shell or a biodegradable polymeric nanoparticle such as a PLGA nanoparticle. Typically, at least one of the active agents is an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response or decreases an immune suppressive response. In some embodiments, the particle includes both an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response and an immunomodulator that decreases an immune suppressive response. The particles can be decorated with a targeting moiety that improves delivery to a target cell. Methods of using the compositions to enhance an immune response and treat diseases such as cancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: It has been discovered that iron-platinum ferromagnetic particles can be dispersed in a polymer and coated into or onto, or directly linked to or embedded on to, medical devices and magnetized. The magnetized devices are used to attract, capture, and/or retain magnetically labeled cells on the surface of the device in vivo. The magnetic particles have an iron/platinum core. Annealing the Fe/Pt particle is very important for introducing a L10 interior crystalline phase. The Fe:Pt molar ratio for creation of the crystal phase is important and a molar range of 1.2-3.0 Fe to Pt (molar precursors, i.e. starting compounds) is desired for magnetization. The magnetic force as a whole can be measured with a “Super Conducting Quantum Interference Device”, which is a sensitive magnetometer. The overall magnetic force is in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 Tesla.

Abstract: It has been discovered that iron-platinum magnetic particles can be dispersed in a polymer and coated into or onto, or directly linked to, polymeric materials, especially hydrogels, and magnetized. The magnetized materials are used to attract, capture, and/or retain magnetically labeled cells in the material in vivo. The magnetic particles have an iron/platinum core. Annealing the Fe:Pt is very important for introducing a crystal structure LIO interior crystalline phase. The Fe:Pt molar ratio for creation of the crystal phase is important and a molar range of 1.2-3.0 Fe to Pt (molar precursors, i.e starting compounds) is desired for magnetization. The magnetic force as a whole can be measured with a “Super Conducting Quantum Interference Scaffold”, which is a sensitive magnetometer. The overall magnetic force is in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 Tesla.

Abstract: Nanoparticulate compositions are disclosed. The nanoparticulate compositions typically include at least one, preferably two or more, active agent(s), one of which is an immunomodulatory compound, loaded into, attached to the surface of and/or enclosed within a delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicles can be nanolipogels including a polymeric core and a lipid shell or a biodegradable polymeric nanoparticle such as a PLGA nanoparticle. Typically, at least one of the active agents is an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response or decreases an immune suppressive response. In some embodiments, the particle includes both an immunomodulator that increases an immune stimulatory response and an immunomodulator that decreases an immune suppressive response. The particles can be decorated with a targeting moiety that improves delivery to a target cell. Methods of using the compositions to enhance an immune response and treat diseases such as cancer are also disclosed.