Abstract: By use of the vias a microfluidic autoregulator is fabricated comprising an origin of a fluid, a sink for the fluid, a main flow channel coupling the origin and the sink, a valve communicated to the main flow channel to selectively control flow of fluid therethrough, and means dependent on flow through the main flow channel for creating a pressure differential across the valve to at least partially activate the valve to control flow of fluid through the main flow channel. The means for dependent on flow for creating a pressure differential comprises either a dead-end detour channel from the flow channel to the valve, or a loop channel fed back to the control chamber of the valve.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing or stimulating hematopoiesis including the step of administering Interleukin-12 (IL-12) to yield hematopoietic recovery in a mammal in need. Preferred methods include the step of administering IL-12 as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate the hematopoietic toxicities associated with one or more treatment regimens used to combat a disease state. Other methods include administering IL-12 to ameliorate various hematopoietic deficiencies. Still other methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for in-vivo proliferation of hematopoietic repopulating cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Other disclosed methods are directed to uses of Il-12 for bone marrow preservation or recovery.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing or stimulating hematopoiesis including the step of administering Interleukin-12 (IL-12) to yield hematopoietic recovery in a mammal in need. Preferred methods include the step of administering IL-12 as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate the hematopoietic toxicities associated with one or more treatment regimens used to combat a disease state. Other methods include administering IL-12 to ameliorate various hematopoietic deficiencies. Still other methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for in-vivo proliferation of hematopoietic repopulating cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Other disclosed methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for bone marrow preservation or recovery.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing or stimulating hematopoiesis including the step of administering Interleukin-12 (IL-12) to yield hematopoietic recovery in a mammal in need. Preferred methods include the step of administering IL-12 as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate the hematopoietic toxicities associated with one or more treatment regimens used to combat a disease state. Other methods include administering IL-12 to ameliorate various hematopoietic deficiencies. Still other methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for in-vivo proliferation of hematopoietic repopulating cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Other disclosed methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for bone marrow preservation or recovery.

Abstract: Component microfluidic devices which are integrated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips, include designs for an electrical and optical pressure gauge, valve, electrostatic and magnetic pumps, alternating or mixing pumps, a solenoid, a magnetometer, a magnetically actuated reversible filter and valve, and a hydrolysis valve. These devices enhance and miniaturize microfluidic control, thereby expanding the available capabilities and allowing complete system miniaturization for handheld diagnostic apparatuses.

Abstract: A method of treating a tumor (in particular osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma) in a host by administering to a host or to the tumor cells an agent which inhibits cyclin G1 protein in an amount effective to inhibit cyclin G1 protein in tumor cells of the host. The agent may be an antisense polynucleotide which is complementary to at least a portion of a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein, or an antibody or fragment or derivative thereof which recognizes cyclin G1 protein. Also contemplated within the scope of the present invention are (i) the immortalization of cell lines by transducing cells with a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein; (ii) increasing the receptiveness of cells to retroviral infection by transducing cells with a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein; and (iii) the detection of cancer by detecting cyclin G1 protein or a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein in cells.

Abstract: Component microfluidic devices which are integrated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips, include designs for an electrical and optical pressure gauge, valve, electrostatic and magnetic pumps, alternating or mixing pumps, a solenoid, a magnetometer, a magnetically actuated reversible filter and valve, and a hydrolysis valve. These devices enhance and miniaturize microfluidic control, thereby expanding the available capabilities and allowing complete system miniaturization for handheld diagnostic apparatuses.

Abstract: Novel and improved compositions and methods for gene therapy are provided. In particular, a targeted artificial gene delivery (“TAGD”) vehicle is provided, comprising a multifunctional artificial surface moiety surrounding a recombinant viral particle (nucleocapsid) or recombinant core for gene delivery.

Abstract: A method comprises the steps of providing a first mold with a high and low features. A first layer is formed over the features. The high feature extends a predetermined height through the first layer to define a via or extends near to the first layer to define a membrane of predetermined thickness. The low feature defines a lower channel in the first layer which is communicated with the via or membrane. The second layer has an upper channel formed therein, so that the high feature extends into the upper channel in the second layer or is positioned adjacent to the upper channel in the second layer. The first mold is removed. The partially completed structure is assembled onto a substrate to result in a via, septum or microfuse formed between different, adjacent vertical levels in the multilayer microfluidic circuit.

Abstract: A retroviral vector comprising a first retroviral envelope protein and at least one modified retroviral envelope protein, wherein the first retroviral envelope protein includes a surface protein comprising (i) a receptor binding region; (ii) a hypervariable polyproline region; and (iii) a body portion, and the modified retroviral envelope protein, prior to modification, includes a surface protein which includes (i) a receptor binding region; (ii) a hypervariable polyproline region; and (iii) a body portion, characterized in that the modified retroviral envelope protein has been modified such that at least 90% of the amino acid residues of the receptor binding region of the surface protein of the modified retroviral envelope protein have been removed and replaced with a non-retroviral protein or peptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides new compositions and methods to induce therapeutic angiogenesis locally utilizing a collagen binding domain to target an angiogenesis modulating agents. Fusion polypeptides containing a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent are provided, as are nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptides. Also included are methods for locally altering circulation by administering a fusion polypeptide consisting of a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent, or by administering a nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptide. Tissue grafts in which isolated tissue is treated with a fusion polypeptide consisting of a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent, or with a nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptide are also provided, as are methods of making the grafts.

Abstract: A recombinant replication competent retrovirus for gene deliver and gene therapy is provided. The recombinant retrovirus has a heterologous nucleic acid sequence, a sequence encoding a cell- or tissue-specific ligand or a sequence for transcriptional targeting, or a combination of both a cell- or tissue-specific ligand and a cell- or tissue-specific transcriptional targeting sequence.

Abstract: A method of treating ocular disorders (such as, for example, proliferative vitreoretinopathy or PVR) associated with replicating ocular cells by transfecting replicating ocular cells in vivo with a polynucleotide encoding an agent which is capable of providing for the inhibition, prevention, or destruction of the growth of the replicating ocular cells upon expression of the agent. The agent may be a viral thymidine kinase, and the polynucleotide encoding the agent may be contained in a retroviral vector. Once the replicating ocular cells are transduced with the retroviral vector, the patient is given a chemotherapeutic or interaction agent, such as ganciclovir, which kills the transfected replicating ocular cells.

Abstract: A viral or non-viral vector particle having a modified viral surface protein wherein the viral surface protein is modified to include a targeting polypeptide including a binding region which binds to an extracellular matrix component. Such vector particles are useful in delivering genes encoding therapeutic agents to cells located at the site of an exposed extracellular matrix component.

Abstract: A method for expressing a recombinant protein from bone marrow-derived cells comprises the steps of treating the bone marrow-derived cells in vitro with a TGF?1 protein, which selects a population of the cells for further treatment. The selected cells can then be expanded, after which a gene encoding a therapeutic protein can be inserted into the expanded cells and thereafter express the therapeutic protein. The transduced cells can then be introduced into a mammal to produce a therapeutic result.

Abstract: A vector, in particular a retroviral vector, which includes a heterologous or foreign gene and a gene encoding a negative selective marker. The negative selective marker enables one to kill cells which contain the gene encoding the negative selective marker, when a particular agent is administered to such cells.

Abstract: An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence derived from a viral envelope protein, wherein at least a portion of the amino acid sequence is located within the cytoplasmic tail or membrane-spanning region of a viral envelope protein. Such peptides are amphiphilic in nature, provide for the destabilization of membranes, and facilitate the entry of viral particles into cells and the efficient formation of viral particles. The peptides may, in another embodiment, be attached to the viral membrane, along with a targeting polypeptide, as part of an artificial viral envelope protein.

Abstract: A method of treating ocular disorders (such as, for example, proliferative vitreoretinopathy or PVR) associated with replicating ocular cells by transfecting replicating ocular cells in vivo with a polynucleotide encoding an agent which is capable of providing for the inhibition, prevention, or destruction of the growth of the replicating ocular cells upon expression of the agent. The agent may be a viral thymidine kinase, and the polynucleotide encoding the agent may be contained in a retroviral vector. Once the replicating ocular cells are transduced with the retroviral vector, the patient is given a chemotherapeutic or interaction agent, such as ganciclovir, which kills the transfected replicating ocular cells.

Abstract: A retroviral vector comprising a first retroviral envelope protein and at least one modified retroviral envelope protein, wherein said first retroviral envelope protein includes a surface protein comprising (i) a receptor binding region; (ii) a hypervariable polyproline region; and (iii) a body portion, and said modified retroviral envelope protein, prior to modification, includes a surface protein which includes (i) a receptor binding region; (ii) a hypervariable polyproline region; and (iii) a body portion, characterized in that said modified retroviral envelope protein has been modified such that at least 90% of the amino acid residues of the receptor binding region of said surface protein of said modified retroviral envelope protein have been removed and replaced with a non-retroviral protein or peptide.

Abstract: Primary human cells which are genetically engineered with DNA (RNA) encoding a marker or therapeutic which is expressed to be expressed in vivo. Such engineered cells may be used in gene therapy.