Patents by Inventor Viness Pillay
Viness Pillay 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).
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Patent number: 11883469Abstract: A polyacrylonitrile (PANi) based pharmaceutical composition providing a porous implant for use in treating spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury. Particularly a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi) and/or elastin (E) and/or collagen (C) to form a PANi-E and/or PANi-C and/or a PANi-EC polymer network. Particularly, a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), and collagen (C) together forming a polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), collagen (C) polymer network (PANi-E-C), wherein the polyacrylonitrile (PANi) may be crosslinked to form a crosslinked interpenetrating polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E) and collagen (C) polymer network (xpi-PANi-E-C), and wherein secondary protein structures of elastin (E) and collagen (C) reorientate. The disclosure extends to use of the pharmaceutical composition in the treatment of spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Pradeep Kumar, Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Girish Modi
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Patent number: 11197948Abstract: This invention relates to thermoresponsive hydrogels. Particularly, the invention relates to a thermoresponsive hydrogel comprising copolymer polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene fumerate (PPF). The thermoresponsive hydrogel may further comprise a poloxamer, particularly Pluronic F-127. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing thermoresponsive hydrogels, also extends to an ink for a three dimensional (3D) printer including the thermoresponsive hydrogels. The invention further extends to a thermoresponsive hydrogel for use in the treatment of a bone injury and/or a bone defect, and/or to a method of treating a bone injury and/or a bone defect. The thermoresponsive hydrogels may include dispersed therein an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), preferably an API falling in the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class II, further preferably a statin type drug, most preferably simvastatin.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgInventors: Yahya Essop Choonara, Pierre Pavan Demarco Kondiah, Pariksha Jolene Kondiah, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa Claire Du Toit, Thashree Marimuthu, Viness Pillay
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Patent number: 10973766Abstract: The invention relates to an oral polymeric pharmaceutical dosage form which comprises a thermoresponsive eutectic composition which is solid at or about room temperature and fluid at or about body temperature, the eutectic composition mixed together with a crosslinking agent and an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to form an API loaded region; and a porous polymeric composition at least partially surrounding the API loaded region to protect the API when the dosage form is in a stomach of the human or animal body, the porous polymeric composition allowing the ingress of water to contact the crosslinking agent thereby facilitating the crosslinking agent to cause crosslinking of the porous polymeric composition, which crosslinked porous polymeric composition allows controlled egress of API via egress of fluid thermoresponsive eutectic composition at the intestine. In a preferred embodiment, the dosage form further comprises a coating there around.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2016Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Viness Pillay, Lisa Claire Du Toit, Yahya Essop Choonara, Bibi F. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Pierre Pavan Demarco Kondiah
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Publication number: 20200405821Abstract: A polyacrylonitrile (PANi) based pharmaceutical composition providing a porous implant for use in treating spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury. Particularly a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi) and/or elastin (E) and/or collagen (C) to form a PANi-E and/or PANi-C and/or a PANi-EC polymer network. Particularly, a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), and collagen (C) together forming a polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), collagen (C) polymer network (PANi-E-C), wherein the polyacrylonitrile (PANi) may be crosslinked to form a crosslinked interpenetrating polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E) and collagen (C) polymer network (xpi-PANi-E-C), and wherein secondary protein structures of elastin (E) and collagen (C) reorientate. The disclosure extends to use of the pharmaceutical composition in the treatment of spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Pradeep KUMAR, Viness PILLAY, Yahya Essop CHOONARA, Girish MODI
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Publication number: 20200054791Abstract: This invention relates to thermoresponsive hydrogels. Particularly, the invention relates to a thermoresponsive hydrogel comprising copolymer polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene fumerate (PPF). The thermoresponsive hydrogel may further comprise a poloxamer, particularly Pluronic F-127. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing thermoresponsive hydrogels, also extends to an ink for a three dimensional (3D) printer including the thermoresponsive hydrogels. The invention further extends to a thermoresponsive hydrogel for use in the treatment of a bone injury and/or a bone defect, and/or to a method of treating a bone injury and/or a bone defect. The thermoresponsive hydrogels may include dispersed therein an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), preferably an API falling in the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class II, further preferably a statin type drug, most preferably simvastatin.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Yahya Essop Choonara, Pierre Pavan Demarco Kondiah, Pariksha Jolene Kondiah, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa Claire Du Toit, Thashree Marimuthu, Viness Pillay
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Patent number: 10478527Abstract: This invention relates to biodegradable implants comprising a hydrogel carrier matrix having dispersed therein a multitude of particles, wherein each of the multitude of particles and/or the hydrogel carrier matrix includes an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the treatment of transected peripheral nerve injuries. Each of the multitude of particles and/or the hydrogel carrier matrix includes pristine polymer particles, preferably the pristine polymer particles may be polymethylmethacrylate polymers and derivatives thereof, preferably poly(methacrylic-co-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The spheroidal particles may each be formed from an outer shell including a chitosan (CHT) poly(methacrylic-co-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polyelectrolyte complex (CHT-PMMA-PEC) and an inner core including crosslinked chitosan having dispersed therein PMMA nanoparticles.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgInventors: Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa Claire Du Toit, Poornima Ramburrun
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Publication number: 20190022281Abstract: This invention relates to biodegradable implants comprising a hydrogel carrier matrix having dispersed therein a multitude of particles, wherein each of the multitude of particles and/or the hydrogel carrier matrix includes an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the treatment of transected peripheral nerve injuries. Each of the multitude of particles and/or the hydrogel carrier matrix includes pristine polymer particles, preferably the pristine polymer particles may be polymethylmethacrylate polymers and derivatives thereof, preferably poly(methacrylic-co-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The spheroidal particles may each be formed from an outer shell including a chitosan (CHT) poly(methacrylic-co-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polyelectrolyte complex (CHT-PMMA-PEC) and an inner core including crosslinked chitosan having dispersed therein PMMA nanoparticles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2016Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Viness PILLAY, Yahya Essop CHOONARA, Pradeep KUMAR, Lisa Claire DU TOIT, Poornima RAMBURRUN
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Patent number: 10080816Abstract: This invention relates to a wound dressing, particularly to a stimuli responsive wound dressing comprising a lyophilized hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel, and a plurality of devices embedded within said lyophilized hyaluronic acid hydrogel. Each of the plurality of devices including chitosan and hypromellose and may be formed as biofilms and/or electrospun fiber mats.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgInventors: Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa Claire Du Toit, Naeema Mayet
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Publication number: 20180193271Abstract: The invention relates to an oral polymeric pharmaceutical dosage form which comprises a thermoresponsive eutectic composition which is solid at or about room temperature and fluid at or about body temperature, the eutectic composition mixed together with a crosslinking agent and an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to form an API loaded region; and a porous polymeric composition at least partially surrounding the API loaded region to protect the API when the dosage form is in a stomach of the human or animal body, the porous polymeric composition allowing the ingress of water to contact the crosslinking agent thereby facilitating the crosslinking agent to cause crosslinking of the porous polymeric composition, which crosslinked porous polymeric composition allows controlled egress of API via egress of fluid thermoresponsive eutectic composition at the intestine. In a preferred embodiment, the dosage form further comprises a coating there around.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2016Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Viness PILLAY, Lisa Claire DU TOIT, Yahya Essop CHOONARA, Bibi F. CHOONARA, Pradeep KUMAR, Pierre Pavan Demarco KONDIAH
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Patent number: 9808418Abstract: A pH responsive and mucoadhesive pharmaceutical dosage form for the release of a pharmaceutically active agent is described. The dosage form includes a mucoadhesive layer for site-specific mucoadhesion, a water-insoluble outer layer, and an intermediate layer including one or more pharmaceutically active agents for site-specific delivery. The different membranous layers perform different functions in order to create a drug delivery system which is able to deliver a drug to a specific site, for a particular period of time and with a specific drug release pattern. The dosage form can have two or more intermediate layers, each layer comprising an active agent. The mucoadhesive layer can also include an active agents. The dosage form is preferably an oral or buccal delivery form for release of the active agent into the gastro intestinal tract. The intermediate layer can be an electrospun fibrous membrane layer containing the active agent.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Viness Pillay, Rubina Perveen Shaikh, Yahya Essop Choonara, Lisa Claire Du Toit
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Publication number: 20170095589Abstract: This invention relates to a wound dressing, particularly to a stimuli responsive wound dressing comprising a lyophilized hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel, and a plurality of devices embedded within said lyophilized hyaluronic acid hydrogel. Each of the plurality of devices including chitosan and hypromellose and may be formed as biofilms and/or electrospun fiber mats.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2015Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa Claire Du Toit, Naeema Mayet
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Patent number: 9439863Abstract: This invention relates to pharmaceutical dosage forms, particularly to pH dependent pharmaceutical dosage forms with enhanced and/or prolonged distribution of a pharmaceutical compound at a target site. More specifically, this invention relates to a controlled release intravaginal pharmaceutical dosage form and, more particularly, to a pharmaceutical dosage form which comprises microspheres encapsulated and/or embedded within a bioerodible polymeric matrix, together the microspheres and the matrix are formed into a caplet and/or tablet.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgInventors: Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Felix Mashingaidse, Pradeep Kumar
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Publication number: 20160101176Abstract: A polymeric hydrogel pharmaceutical dosage form for drug delivery to a target site of a human or animal. The dosage form includes polyethylene-imine (PEI) and 1-vinylimidazole (1VA), the dosage form being electro-responsive in use. Also, methods of manufacturing the dosage form and methods of treating chronic pain utilizing the dosage form.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Viness PILLAY, Sunaina INDERMUN, Lisa Claire DU TOIT, Yahya Essop CHOONARA,, Pradeep KUMAR
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Publication number: 20160074329Abstract: This invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form for the delivery of at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or the pharmaceutically active salts and isomers thereof, to a desired absorpion location of the human or animal body, preferably the gastrointestinal tract, in predetermined rate-modulated manner. The dosage form is orally ingestible and is in the form of a multi-layered tablet or capsule containing a multiplicity of multi-layered granules. Each layer contains one or more APIs mixed or blended with at least one and preferably a matrix of polymers and, where appropriate, excipients, which, in use, inhibit release of an API in a region of the gastrointestinal tract other than the desired absorption location and, thus, facilitate release of the API in a rate controlled manner when in that desired absorption location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: ADCOCK INGRAM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (PTY) LIMITEDInventors: Kim Melissa Hobbs, Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Bradley Ryan Parsons
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Patent number: 9284341Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form which may comprise carbamoyl glycinated chitosan, and particularly it relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form comprising the novel polymer in a lyophilized polymeric wafer form which shows rapid disintegration and dissolution characteristics in use.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRANDInventors: Pradeep Kumar, Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara
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Patent number: 9220773Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for intraperitoneal delivery of an anti-neoplastic agent is provided for treating cancers associated with aberrant mucin expression, preferably ovarian cancer and pancreatic, prostate, metastatic breast, bladder and lung cancers. The composition comprises nanomicelles loaded with the anti-neoplastic agent, and antibodies such as anti-MUC16, anti-MUC1 or anti-MUC4 are conjugated to these nanomicelles. The antibody-bound nanomicelles are optionally embedded in a biodegradable pH- and thermo-responsive hydrogel capable of sol-gel transition at body temperature. The pharmaceutical composition is implantable in the peritoneum, where it transforms into a semi-solid gel at the body's core temperature. In response to pH, the hydrogel swells and releases the antibody-bound nanomicelles. The nanomicelles specifically target mucin antigens on cancer cells.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Nthato Chirwa, Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa Claire Du Toit
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Patent number: 9205049Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-configured, transmucosal pharmaceutical dosage form and, more particularly, to a pharmaceutical dosage form which has a single monolithic/heterogeneous layer or a plurality of such layers. The dosage form is suitable for the delivery of one or more pharmaceutical compositions via the buccal, sublingual, rectal, vaginal or transmucosal delivery route in a human or animal body. It provides for selected delivery profiles resulting from, but not limited to, a porosity-enabled composite matrix of one or more layers/components of the pharmaceutical composition/s. The invention also provides for a method of manufacturing said transmucosal pharmaceutical dosage form in a plurality of configurations.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgInventors: Deshika Reddy, Oluwatoyin Ayotomilola Adeleke, Viness Pillay, Yahya Choonara
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Publication number: 20150313837Abstract: A polymeric hydrogel composition is described for the delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent when an electrical stimulus is applied to the composition. The composition comprises a polymer which forms the hydrogel, such as poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) cross-linked with diethyl acetamidomalonate (DAA), an electroactive polymer such as polyaniline and a pharmaceutically active agent such as an analgesic, and in particular, indomethacin. The composition can be subcutaneously implanted at a targeted site and under normal conditions, the active agent will be entrapped in the hydrogel itself. However, upon the application of an electric current to the hydrogel, the active agent will be released. When the electric current is removed, the change is reversed and the active agent will cease to be released. In one embodiment of the invention, the hydrogel composition is for use in alleviating chronic pain.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Thomas Tsai, Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara, Lisa Claire Du Toit
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Publication number: 20150274765Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form which may comprise carbamoyl glycinated chitosan, and particularly it relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form comprising the novel polymer in a lyophilized polymeric wafer form which shows rapid disintegration and dissolution characteristics in use.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Pradeep Kumar, Viness Pillay, Yahya Essop Choonara
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Publication number: 20150209275Abstract: This invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form, particularly to a topical ocular pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a polymeric matrix of polyethylene oxide block copolymer, preferably polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer and hydroxpropyl cellulose, and a pharmaceutically active ingredient incorporated within the matrix. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing the pharmaceutical dosage form.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURGInventors: Yahya Essop Choonara, Lisa Claire du Toit, Pradeep Kumar, Viness Pillay, Raeesa M. Moosa, Rafeeq Jhetam