Abstract: A composite electrolyte membrane usable for ionic conductor for an electrochemical device contains a support matrix adapted to function as at least one of a mechanical support, a fire retardant, and an electronic blocking layer; a material of metal-organic frameworks (MOF), the MOFs being a class of crystalline porous solids constructed from metal cluster nodes and organic linkers, where the MOFs are incorporated into the support matrix by coating, lamination, physical mixing and press, in situ growth or polymerization; and a liquid electrolyte impregnated the porous MOFs and adapted to function as an electrolyte modulator to immobilize anions and liberate cations.

Abstract: An electrolyte modulator usable for a metal battery includes a liquid electrolyte; and a material of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) incorporated in the liquid electrolyte to form a MOF slurry electrolyte. The MOFs are a class of crystalline porous solids constructed from metal cluster nodes and organic linkers and capable of bonding anions, eliminating ion pairs and boosting cation transport upon activation and impregnation of the liquid electrolyte.

Abstract: Provided are nanocomplexes having at least two different enzymes and a polymeric network anchored to at least one of the enzymes. In some embodiments, the activities of the enzymes catalyze a cascade reaction.

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 moieties, linkages which maintain the integrity of the polymer shell under certain environmental conditions, but can also be cleaved when combined with a selected protease.

Abstract: An electrolyte structure includes a metal organic framework (MOF) material defining a plurality of pores. Anions are bound to respective metal atoms of the MOF material. The bound anions are located within each of the plurality of pores of the MOF material. Solvated cations are present within each of the plurality of pores.

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: A thermoelectric material includes a composite having a first electrically conducting component and second low thermal conductivity component. The first component may include a semiconductor and the second component may include an inorganic oxide. The thermoelectric composite includes a network of the first component having nanoparticles of the second component dispersed in the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and materials for extending a circulating half-life of a protein. The method comprises conjugating a protein with a polymerizable acryloyl group and encapsulating the protein with a layer of poly(2-methacryloxyloxyethyl phosphorycholine) (pMPC). The layer of pMPC comprises a plurality of 2-methacryloxyloxyethyl phosphorycholine monomers (MPC) polymerized with a N,N?-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) crosslinker.

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 unscented Kalman filter is used to enable sensor calibration independently of the actual design of the subject sensors. By utilizing an unscented Kalman filter, an underlying calibration methodology is developed that is sensor-unspecific, such that a single calibration methodology and related systems may be used to calibrate various sensors, without the need to re-calculate a calibration factor for each specific sensor, and without the need to design a separate filtering mechanism to compensate for noise. In this way, various calibration inputs can be allowed to change over time without the need to change the codebase on which the calibration methodology otherwise operates. In multi-electrode systems, the methodology may incorporate a fusion algorithm to provide a single, fused sensor glucose value. The fusion algorithm may incorporate, and/or work in conjunction with, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedures.

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: 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: 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: Spherical particles of one or more elemental metals and elemental carbon are prepared from a precursor in the form of a metal oleate. The metal oleate precursor is dispersed in a liquid vehicle and aerosol droplets of the dispersed precursor are formed in a stream of an inert gas. The aerosol droplets are heated in the stream to decompose the oleate ligand portion of the precursor and form spherical particles that have a mesoporous nanocrystalline structure. The open mesopores of the spherical particles provide a high surface area for contact with fluids in many applications. For example, the mesopores can be infiltrated with a hydrogen absorbing material, such as magnesium hydride, in order to increase the hydrogen storage capacity of the particles.

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: The invention relates to a material of porous graphene nanowires with a pore-rich structure, production methods and applications of the material of porous graphene nanowires. The method includes: synthesis of catalyst nanowires for porous graphene nanowires, chemical vapor deposition of a carbon source on the catalysts to grow graphene, removal of residual catalyst, and formation of the porous graphene nanowires. The porous graphene nanowires can be used as an electrochemical energy storage material, carriers of catalysts, a conductive material, an adsorption material, a desorption material, or the like.

Abstract: An electrolyte structure includes a metal organic framework (MOF) material defining a plurality of pores. Anions are bound to respective metal atoms of the MOF material. The bound anions are located within each of the plurality of pores of the MOF material. Solvated cations are present within each of the plurality of pores.

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: 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: An example of a lithium ion battery electrode material includes a substrate, and a substantially graphitic carbon layer completely encapsulating the substrate. The substantially graphitic carbon layer is free of voids. Methods for making electrode materials are also disclosed herein.