Abstract: Methods for modifying therapeutic agents such as therapeutic biomolecules, such as proteins for improved oral, rectal or transmucosal delivery, as well as compositions made using such methods and methods of administering such compositions to a subject, are disclosed. Specifically, the therapeutic agents are conjugated to hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), such as hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG). When such conjugates are administered orally to a subject, the HBP protects the therapeutic agent from the acid environment of the stomach and protease attack in the gastro-intestinal tract, while facilitating the absorption of the therapeutic agent in the higher pH environment of the intestines. The methods and compositions are useful for the improved administration of a variety of therapeutic agents to a subject.

Abstract: A negative lithium-containing electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making such a negative lithium-containing electrode. The method includes depositing a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor deposition process onto one or more surface regions of a negative electrode material comprising lithium. The first precursor and the second precursor react to form an inorganic-organic composite surface coating on the one or more surface regions. The first precursor comprises an organic mercapto-containing silane and the second precursor comprises an inorganic silane.

Abstract: Novel siRNA and shRNA nanocapsules and delivery methods are disclosed herein. These siRNA and shRNA nanocapsules and delivery methods are highly robust and effective. This invention provides a platform for RNAi delivery with low toxicity and long intracellular half-life for practical therapeutic applications.

Abstract: An example electrolyte includes a solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive selected from the group consisting of a mercaptosilane, a mercaptosiloxane, and combinations thereof. The electrolyte may be used in a method for making a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of an electrode. A negative electrode structure may be formed from the method.

Abstract: Medical devices and related patient management systems and parameter modeling methods are provided. An exemplary method of operating a sensing device associated with a patient involves obtaining current operational context information associated with the sensing device, obtaining a parameter model associated with the patient, calculating a current parameter value based on the parameter model and the current operational context information, obtaining one or more signals from a sensing element configured to measure a condition in a body of the patient, and providing an output that is influenced by the calculated current parameter value and the one or more signals.

Abstract: Medical devices and related patient management systems and parameter modeling methods are provided. An exemplary method involves obtaining, by a computing device, historical measurements of a condition in a body of the patient previously provided by a sensing device, obtaining, by the computing device, historical operational context information associated with preceding operation of one or more of an infusion device and the sensing device, obtaining, by the computing device, historical values for a parameter from one or more of the infusion device and the sensing device, determining, by the computing device a patient-specific model of the parameter based on relationships between the historical measurements, the historical operational context information and the historical values, and providing, by the computing device via a network, the patient-specific model to one of the infusion device, the sensing device or a client device.

Abstract: A method for intracellular delivery of single proteins or other cargo molecules by encapsulation within nanocapsules formed by interfacial polymerization of one or more types of monomers and selected protease cleavable cross-linkers is provided. The thin positively charged capsules are readily brought into the cytosol of target cells by endocytosis. The capsules are degraded by the action of endogenous proteases or co-delivered proteases on the cross-linkers releasing the functional cargo unaltered. The cross-linkers can be adapted to be cleavable by specific enzymes selected from available intracellular enzymes within the target cell or co-delivered or self-cleaving when the cargo itself is a protease. The nanocapsules produced by the methods have been shown to have long-term stability, high cell penetration capability, low toxicity and efficient protease-modulated specific degradability without affecting cargo protein function.

Abstract: Vset-based systems and methods for performing sensor health diagnostics are disclosed. Methods and systems for in-body glucose sensor health diagnostics may use steady-state Isig characterization under full-range operating Vsets, transient Isig response characterization after Vset alternations, transient Vset characterization, and open circuit potential measurements for estimating sensor health and for monitoring sensor properties.

Abstract: Medical devices and related patient management systems and parameter modeling methods are provided. An exemplary method of operating a sensing device associated with a patient involves obtaining current operational context information associated with the sensing device, obtaining a parameter model associated with the patient, calculating a current parameter value based on the parameter model and the current operational context information, obtaining one or more signals from a sensing element configured to measure a condition in a body of the patient, and providing an output that is influenced by the calculated current parameter value and the one or more signals.

Abstract: A method for intracellular delivery of single proteins or other cargo molecules by encapsulation within nanocapsules formed by interfacial polymerization of one or more types of monomers and selected protease cleavable cross-linkers is provided. The thin positively charged capsules are readily brought into the cytosol of target cells by endocytosis. The capsules are degraded by the action of endogenous proteases or co-delivered proteases on the cross-linkers releasing the functional cargo unaltered. The cross-linkers can be adapted to be cleavable by specific enzymes selected from available intracellular enzymes within the target cell or co-delivered or self-cleaving when the cargo itself is a protease. The nanocapsules produced by the methods have been shown to have long-term stability, high cell penetration capability, low toxicity and efficient protease-modulated specific degradability without affecting cargo protein function.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a novel class of solid-state electrolytes with biomimetic ionic channels as ionic conductors for electrochemical devices, e.g., batteries. This is achieved by complexing the anions of an electrolyte to the open metal sites of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which renders the MOF scaffolds into ionic-channel analogs with fast lithium-ion conductivity and low activation energy.

Abstract: A single, optimal, fused sensor glucose value may be calculated based on respective sensor glucose values of a plurality of redundant working electrodes (WEs) of a glucose sensor. Respective electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) procedures may be performed for each of the WEs to obtain values of membrane resistance (Rmem) for each WE. A noise value and a calibration factor (CF) value may be calculated for each WE, and respective fusion weights may be calculated for Rmem, noise, and CF for each WE. An overall fusion weight may then be calculated based on the WE's Rmem fusion weight, noise fusion weight, and CF fusion weight, such that a single, optimal, fused sensor glucose value may be calculated based on the respective overall fusion weight and sensor glucose value of each of the plurality of redundant working electrodes.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: 1) an anode; 2) a cathode; and 3) an ion conducting membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode includes a tungsten oxide-containing layer.

Abstract: A single, optimal, fused sensor glucose value may be calculated based on respective sensor glucose values of a plurality of redundant working electrodes (WEs) of a glucose sensor. Respective electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) procedures may be performed for each of the WEs to obtain values of membrane resistance (Rmem) for each WE. A noise value and a calibration factor (CF) value may be calculated for each WE, and respective fusion weights may be calculated for Rmem, noise, and CF for each WE. An overall fusion weight may then be calculated based on the WE's Rmem fusion weight, noise fusion weight, and CF fusion weight, such that a single, optimal, fused sensor glucose value may be calculated based on the respective overall fusion weight and sensor glucose value of each of the plurality of redundant working electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods, materials and systems that can be used to generate viral vectors having altered tissue and cell targeting abilities. In illustrative embodiments of the invention, the specificity of lentiviral vectors was modulated by a thin polymer shell that synthesized and coupled to the viral envelope in situ. The polymer shell can confers such vectors with new targeting ability via agents such as cyclic RGD (cRGD) peptides that are coupled to the polymer shell. These polymer encapsulated viral vectors exhibit a number of highly desirable characteristics including a higher thermal stability, resistance to serum inactivation in vivo, and an ability to infect dividing and non-dividing cells with high efficiencies.

Abstract: A negative lithium-containing electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making such a negative lithium-containing electrode. The method includes depositing a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor deposition process onto one or more surface regions of a negative electrode material comprising lithium. The first precursor and the second precursor react to form an inorganic-organic composite surface coating on the one or more surface regions. The first precursor comprises an organic mercapto-containing silane and the second precursor comprises an inorganic silane.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods, materials and systems that can be used to generate viral vectors having altered tissue and cell targeting abilities. In illustrative embodiments of the invention, the specificity of lentiviral vectors was modulated by a thin polymer shell that synthesized and coupled to the viral envelope in situ. The polymer shell can confers such vectors with new targeting ability via agents such as cyclic RGD (cRGD) peptides that are coupled to the polymer shell. These polymer encapsulated viral vectors exhibit a number of highly desirable characteristics including a higher thermal stability, resistance to serum inactivation in vivo, and an ability to infect dividing and non-dividing cells with high efficiencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to protein nanocapsules that exhibit material properties that change in different in vivo environments. A zwitterion moiety on the surface of the nanocapsule can protect the protein from opsonization in a first environment, yet uncouples from the protein nanocapsule in a second environment (e.g. at a pH of less than 6.5). In embodiments of the invention, the uncoupled protein nanocarrier is then internalized by mammalian cells (e.g. tumor cells).

Abstract: The invention provides methods of making and using compositions comprising a polymer shell designed to deliver polypeptides to selected environments. In embodiments of the invention, different environmental conditions are harnessed to allow the selective degradation of the polymer shell and the consequential release of one or polypeptides encapsulated therein. In illustrative embodiments, polymer components of the shell are interconnected by peptide-containing crosslinker to moieties, linkages which maintain the integrity of the polymer shell under certain enviromental conditions, but can also be cleaved when combined with a selected protease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabricating a regenerative polysulfide-scavenging layer (RSL). The method includes embedding nanowires or nanocrystals of metal oxides with a membrane of carbon nanotubes (CNTs); and forming the RSL with the embedded nanowires or nanocrystals of the metal oxides and the membrane, so as to enable lithium-sulfur batteries with high energy density and prolonged cycling life. The invention also relates to a lithium-sulfur battery that contains the RSL.