Patents by Inventor Tuan Vo-Dinh

Tuan Vo-Dinh 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: 10493296
    Abstract: Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by placing a nanoparticle having a metallic shell on at least a fraction of a surface in a vicinity of a target structure in a subject and applying an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The nanoparticle is configured, upon exposure to a first wavelength ?1, to generate a second wavelength ?2 of radiation having a higher energy than the first wavelength ?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC, DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Jonathan P. Scaffidi, Venkata Gopal Reddy Chada, Benoit Lauly, Yan Zhang, Molly K. Gregas, Ian Nicholas Stanton, Joshua T. Stecher, Michael J. Therien, Frederic A. Bourke, Jr., Harold Walder, Zak Fathi, Jennifer A. Ayres, Zhenyuan Zhang, Joseph H. Simmons, Stephen John Norton
  • Publication number: 20190336785
    Abstract: Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by placing a nanoparticle having a metallic shell on at least a fraction of a surface in a vicinity of a target structure in a subject and applying an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The nanoparticle is configured, upon exposure to a first wavelength ?1, to generate a second wavelength ?2 of radiation having a higher energy than the first wavelength ?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicants: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC, DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tuan VO-DINH, Jonathan P. Scaffidi, Venkata Gopal Reddy Chada, Benoit Lauly, Yan Zhang, Molly K. Gregas, Ian Nicholas Stanton, Joshua T. Stecher, Michael J. Therien, Frederic A. Bourke, JR., Harold Walder, Zak Fathi, Jennifer A. Ayres, Zhenyuan Zhang, Joseph H. Simmons, Stephen John Norton
  • Publication number: 20190336786
    Abstract: Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by application of an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The methods may further be performed by application of an initiation energy to a subject in situ to activate a pharmaceutical agent directly or via an energy modulation agent, optionally in the presence of one or more plasmonics active agents, thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure. Kits containing products or compositions formulated or configured and systems for use in practicing these methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicants: Immunolight, LLC., Duke University
    Inventors: Frederic A. BOURKE, JR., Tuan VO-DINH, Harold WALDER
  • Publication number: 20190308030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating cell proliferation disorders comprising: (1) administering to the subject at least one activatable pharmaceutical agent that is capable of activation by a simultaneous two photon absorption event and of effecting a predetermined cellular change when activated; (2) administering at least one plasmonics-active agent to the subject, and (3) applying an initiation energy from an initiation energy source to the subject, wherein the plasmonics-active agent enhances or modifies the applied initiation energy, such that the enhanced or modified initiation energy activates the activatable pharmaceutical agent by the simultaneous two photon absorption event in situ, thus causing the predetermined cellular change to occur, wherein said predetermined cellular change treats the cell proliferation related disorder; and the use of plasmonics enhanced photospectral therapy (PEPST) and exiton-plasmon enhanced phototherapy (EPEP) in the treatment of various cell prolifer
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicants: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC., DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Frederic A. Bourke, JR., Tuan Vo-Dinh
  • Patent number: 10391330
    Abstract: Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by application of an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The methods may further be performed by application of an initiation energy to a subject in situ to activate a pharmaceutical agent directly or via an energy modulation agent, optionally in the presence of one or more plasmonics active agents, thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure. Kits containing products or compositions formulated or configured and systems for use in practicing these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignees: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC, DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Frederic A. Bourke, Jr., Tuan Vo-Dinh, Harold Walder
  • Patent number: 10384071
    Abstract: System for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The system can be used in methods which can be performed by application of an initiation energy to a subject in situ to activate a pharmaceutical agent directly or via an energy modulation agent, optionally in the presence of one or more plasmonics active agents, thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC., DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Jonathan P. Scaffidi, Venkata Gopal Reddy Chada, Benoit Lauly, Yan Zhang, Molly K. Gregas, Ian Nicholas Stanton, Joshua T. Stecher, Michael J. Therien, Frederic A. Bourke, Jr., Harold Walder, Zak Fathi, Jennifer A. Ayres, Zhenyuan Zhang, Joseph H. Simmons, Stephen John Norton
  • Patent number: 10358680
    Abstract: Plasmonics-active nanoprobes are provided for detection of target biomolecules including nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules. The nucleic acids that can be detected include RNA, DNA, mRNA, microRNA, and small nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The nanoproprobes can be used in vito in sensitive detection methods for diagnosis of diseases and disorders including cancer. Multiplexing can be performed using the nanoprobes such that multiple targets can be detected simultaneously in a single sample. The methods of use of the nanoprobes include detection by a visible color change. The nanoprobes can be used in vivo for treatment of undesireable cells in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Hsin-Neng Wang
  • Patent number: 10300299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating cell proliferation disorders comprising: (1) administering to the subject at least one activatable pharmaceutical agent that is capable of activation by a simultaneous two photon absorption event and of effecting a predetermined cellular change when activated; (2) administering at least one plasmonics-active agent to the subject, and (3) applying an initiation energy from an initiation energy source to the subject, wherein the plasmonics-active agent enhances or modifies the applied initiation energy, such that the enhanced or modified initiation energy activates the activatable pharmaceutical agent by the simultaneous two photon absorption event in situ, thus causing the predetermined cellular change to occur, wherein said predetermined cellular change treats the cell proliferation related disorder; and the use of plasmonics enhanced photospectral therapy (PEPST) and exiton-plasmon enhanced phototherapy (EPEP) in the treatment of various cell prolifer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: Immunolight, LLC, Duke University
    Inventors: Frederic A. Bourke, Jr., Tuan Vo-Dinh
  • Publication number: 20190134595
    Abstract: A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicants: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC., DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Frederic A. BOURKE, JR., Tuan VO-DINH
  • Publication number: 20190134596
    Abstract: A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places inavicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Frederic A. BOURKE, JR., Tuan VO-DINH
  • Patent number: 10213763
    Abstract: A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC., DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Frederic Avery Bourke, Jr., Tuan Vo-Dinh
  • Patent number: 10201796
    Abstract: A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC., DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Frederic Avery Bourke, Jr., Tuan Vo-Dinh
  • Publication number: 20180230523
    Abstract: Gold nanorattle probes are provided that are highly tunable, physiologically stable, and ultra-bright Raman probes for in vitro and in vivo surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. The nanorattles contain an essentially uniform gap between core and shell that is tunable and can range from 2nm to 10nm in width. This provides numerous advantages including allowing for increased loading with a variety of dye molecules that exhibit SERS in various spectral regions, including the “tissue optical window” for in vivo studies. In addition, the nanorattle probes provide an internal label when used in diagnostic methods to detect nucleic acids, proteins and other biotargets. The nanorattles have an essentially spherical gold metal nanoparticle core, a porous material of silver metal of an essentially uniform width surrounding the nanoparticle core that is loaded with one or more SERS reporter molecules, and an outer gold metal shell encapsulating the porous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Naveen Gandra, Hoan T. Ngo
  • Patent number: 9987358
    Abstract: A polymer-free synthesis method is provided for preparation of monodisperse nanostars. The nanostars can be used for treating and imaging cells in in vivo or ex vivo. The modes of treatment include use of a nanostar modified with a photo-activatable drug, which drug is activated by the photo-response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; use of a nanostar modified with a thermally-activatable drug, which drug is activated by a thermal response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; and the thermal response of the nanostar itself to electromagnetic stimulation, which can directly or indirectly cause the death of an undesirable cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Hsiangkuo Yuan, Andrew Fales, Christopher Khoury
  • Publication number: 20180133319
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of treating cancer, such as (but not limited to) metastatic bladder and breast cancer. The disclosed method comprises using two treatment modalities to synergistically treat primary and secondary tumor cells in a subject. The first element of the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a plasmonics-active metal nanoparticle to a subject comprising a primary cancer and a distant metastatic site, wherein the nanoparticle concentrates at the primary cancer. The method further comprises exposing the subject to photon radiation at the site of the primary cancer. The second element of the disclosed method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an immune checkpoint modulator to the subject. The synergistic combination provides a rapid, safe, and effective treatment of local and distant lesions, better than each modality alone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Brant A. Inman, Paolo Maccarini, Greg Palmer, Yang Liu, Douglas Weitzel
  • Publication number: 20180050077
    Abstract: Plasmonics-active metal nanostars are provided that can be used for treating and detecting cells in a subject. The modes of treatment include a photo-activated drug, which is activated by the photo-response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; a thermally-activated drug, which is activated by a thermal response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; and the thermal response of the nanostar itself to electromagnetic stimulation, which may directly or indirectly cause the death of an undesirable cell. Uptake of nanostars by undesirable cells may also aid in detection, by enhancing contrast or otherwise transforming electromagnetic stimulation during imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Hsiangkuo Yuan, Andrew Fales
  • Publication number: 20180036408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating cell proliferation disorders comprising: (1) administering to the subject at least one activatable pharmaceutical agent that is capable of activation by a simultaneous two photon absorption event and of effecting a predetermined cellular change when activated; (2) administering at least one plasmonics-active agent to the subject, and (3) applying an initiation energy from an initiation energy source to the subject, wherein the plasmonics-active agent enhances or modifies the applied initiation energy, such that the enhanced or modified initiation energy activates the activatable pharmaceutical agent by the simultaneous two photon absorption event in situ, thus causing the predetermined cellular change to occur, wherein said predetermined cellular change treats the cell proliferation related disorder; and the use of plasmonics enhanced photospectral therapy (PEPST) and exiton-plasmon enhanced phototherapy (EPEP) in the treatment of various cell prolifer
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicants: Immunolight, LLC, Duke University
    Inventors: Frederic A. BOURKE, Tuan VO DINH
  • Patent number: 9833634
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating cell proliferation disorders comprising (1) administering to the subject at least one activatable pharmaceutical agent that is capable of activation by a simultaneous two photon absorption event and of effecting a predetermined cellular change when activated, (2) administering at least one plasmonics-active agent to the subject, and (3) applying an initiation energy from an initiation energy source to the subject, wherein the plasmonics-active agent enhances or modifies the applied initiation energy, such that the enhanced or modified initiation energy activates the activatable pharmaceutical agent by the simultaneous two photon absorption event in situ, thus causing the predetermined cellular change to occur, wherein said predetermined cellular change treats the cell proliferation related disorder, and the use of plasmonics enhanced photospectral therapy (PEPST) and exiton-plasmon enhanced phototherapy (EPEP) in the treatment of various cell proliferation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: IMMUNOLIGHT, LLC, DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Frederic A. Bourke, Tuan Vo Dinh
  • Publication number: 20170321280
    Abstract: Plasmonics-active nanoprobes are provided for detection of target biomolecules including nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules. The nucleic acids that can be detected include RNA, DNA, mRNA, microRNA, and small nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The nanoproprobes can be used in vito in sensitive detection methods for diagnosis of diseases and disorders including cancer. Multiplexing can be performed using the nanoprobes such that multiple targets can be detected simultaneously in a single sample. The methods of use of the nanoprobes include detection by a visible color change. The nanoprobes can be used in vivo for treatment of undesireable cells in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Hsin-Neng Wang
  • Patent number: 9789154
    Abstract: Plasmonics-active metal nanostars are provided that can be used for treating and detecting cells in a subject. The modes of treatment include a photo-activated drug, which is activated by the photo-response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; a thermally-activated drug, which is activated by a thermal response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; and the thermal response of the nanostar itself to electromagnetic stimulation, which may directly or indirectly cause the death of an undesirable cell. Uptake of nanostars by undesirable cells may also aid in detection, by enhancing contrast or otherwise transforming electromagnetic stimulation during imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Hsiangkuo Yuan, Andrew Fales