USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Barry J Spargo

Alan S Rudolph

Thomas R Groel

Bradley R Ringeisen

Peter K Wu

Justin C Biffinger

Lisa A Fitzgerald

James H Wynne

Michael Paul Malito

Irina B Bakaltcheva

Christopher T Lloyd

Samuel B Leslie

Chih-Chang Chu

David A Stenger

Jacque Georger

Erinn C Howard

Byeong S Chang

Richard G Emler

Warren W Schultz

Erinn C (Howard) Pirlo

Marc Laplante

Disclosed is an apparatus having: a pressure chamber and a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber. The pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.

Bacteria-based gas generator

A device having: a chamber having a gas inlet, a gas vent, and a liquid vent; and a float and a weight coupled to the chamber. The float has a lower density than the chamber. The weight has a higher density than the chamber. The aggregate density of the chamber, the float, and the weight is greater than the density of the chamber. The gas inlet, the gas vent, the liquid vent, the float, and the weight are positioned on the chamber such that: when the chamber is filled with and submerged in a liquid in which the chamber is neutrally-buoyant, the chamber is oriented to place the gas vent below the gas inlet; and when a gas is introduced through the gas inlet into the chamber that is filled with the liquid, the chamber pivots to raise the gas vent until a portion of the gas escapes from the chamber through only the gas vent.

Bouyancy control device

A safe, biodegradable, environmentally benign, non-toxic, water-soluble solution consisting of water, sugar, starch, sodium phosphate, and surfactant that can be applied to dust and sand particles to bind the particles and form a hardened crust. Also disclosed is the related method for abating dust and preventing erosion.

Formulation for dust abatement and prevention of erosion

A composition of matter containing a solution made from: from about 18 to about 70 wt % of a sugar; from about 2 to about 10 wt % of a water-soluble polysaccharide; from about 0.1 to about 1 wt % of a phosphate; from about 0.01 to about 1 wt % of a surfactant; and from about 18 wt % to remainder of water. A method for dust and sand abatement and erosion prevention by: providing the above solution, applying the solution to sand or dust particles wherein the solution binds to the particles; and allowing the solution to bind to the sand or dust particles and to dry thereby forming a hardened crust.

One aspect of the present invention is a method for storing tissues and cells (typically erythrocytes) having the step of (1) stabilizing the cells with a reversible stabilizing agent. This method typically will have the additional steps of (2) loading the cells with a cryoprotectant, and typically (3) storing the cells in liquid, frozen, or dry state. This method will also typically have the additional step of (4) prior to use, reversing the stabilization reaction. Preferably, the erythrocytes are pre-treated with CO to complex the hemoglobin with CO. It is anticipated that a practical method according to the invention will include reoxygenation of the eryathrocytes, and also washing out reagents prior to in vivo use. Another aspect of the present invention is an erythrocyte that has had its shape stabilized by the reversible crosslinking of proteins in the erythrocyte, such as the structural proteins of the cytoskeleton. Another aspect of the invention is a population of such reversibly cross-linked erythrocytes. Another aspect of the invention is the in vivo use of such erythrocytes, after the reversal of the crosslinking reaction. The use of more gentle, reversible cross-linking as described below is desirable to result in the recovery of erythrocyte deformability and extended post-transfusion survival.

Shape stabilized erythrocytes

One aspect of the present invention is a method for storing tissues and cells (typically erythrocytes) having the step of (1) stabilizing the cells with a reversible stabilizing agent. This method typically will have the additional steps of (2) loading the cells with a cryoprotectant, and typically (3) storing the cells in liquid, frozen, or dry state. This method will also typically have the additional step of (4) prior to use, reversing the stabilization reaction. Preferably, the erythrocytes are pre-treated with CO to complex the hemoglobin with CO. It is anticipated that a practical method according to the invention will include reoxygenation of the erythrocytes, and also washing out reagents prior to in vivo use. Another aspect of the present invention is an erythrocyte that has had its shape stabilized by the reversible crosslinking of proteins in the erythrocyte, such as the structural proteins of the cytoskeleton. Another aspect of the invention is a population of such reversibly crosslinked erythrocytes. Another aspect of the invention is the in vivo use of such erythrocytes, after the reversal of the crosslinking reaction. The use of more gentle, reversible cross-linking as described below is desirable to result in the recovery of erythrocyte deformability and extended post-transfusion survival.

Applications of reversible crosslinking and co-treatment in stabilization and viral inactivations of erythrocytes

A process and medium are disclosed for the lyophilization of platelets. During lyophilization, carbohydrate-load platelets are supercooled while suspended in a buffer solution including a biocompatible polymer that serves to preserve the structure of the platelets. The supercooled platelets are then frozen at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the suspension. A vacuum is placed on the frozen suspension to remove most of the water therefrom. Then, the temperature of the platelets is increased to the supercooled temperature while the vacuum is maintained. After being sealed under vacuum, the lyophilized platelets may be reconstituted to form viable, transfusable platelets. The reconstituted platelets have a high aggregation index, retain normal agglutination and degranulation capability, and are able to participate in clot formation.

Method of lyophilizing platelets by incubation with high carbohydrate

A process for forming spatially oriented neo-vascular capillaries comprising: (a) providing a combination ultra-thin film (UTF) pattern of at least one cell adhesion promoter and at least one cell adhesion inhibitor wherein the cell adhesion promoters have a linewidth of between about 50-490 .mu.m; (b) seeding the combination UTF pattern with endothelial cells at an initial seeding cell density; (c) adding a first medium for incubating the seeded endothelial cells until the endothelial cells are grown to confluency; (d) replacing the first medium with a second medium at confluency; and (e) allowing the endothelial cells to differentiate into spatially oriented neo-vascular capillaries.

Surface modification of polymers with self-assembled monolayers that

A process and medium are disclosed for the lyophilization of cells, specifically red blood cells and platelets, and cell-like matter, which comprises the use of solution including a carbohydrate, and biocompatible polymers to permit reconstitution of transfusably useful cells which are viable by the measure of ATP and 2,3 DPG.

Growing community of inventors

Washington, DC, United States of America

Barry J Spargo