Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology

Bemis Company, Inc.

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Performance Indicator, LLC

David M Lynn

Robert Samuel Langer

Daniel Griffith Anderson

Nicholas Lawrence Abbott

David Putnam

Mansoor M Amiji

Jingtao Zhang

Uttam Manna

Robert H Grubbs

Ronald Thaddeus Raines

Kevin Philip Nelson

Rishabh Jain

David A Busche

Adam D Miller

Christopher M Jewell

Matthew Carter

Xianghui Liu

Akin Akinc

Samuel Helmer Gellman

Helen Blackwell

Bernard Weisblum

Michael A Gelman

Matthew B Soellner

Bernard Mohr

Robert S Langer

Paula T Hammond

Edward D Kingsley

Steven R Little

Robert Todd Winskowicz

Robert S Langer, Jr

Eric L Dias

Maren E Buck

Harshit Agarwal

Bryan D Smith

Michael Kinsinger

Ivan Martin

Adam H Broderick

Stephen M Fuchs

Paula T Hammond Cunningham

Heather D Maynard

Robert Langer

Venkatram Prasad Shastri

Kris C Wood

Helen F Chuang

Reto Frei

Robert D Batten

Alexander Zelikin

Anthony Breitbach

Eduardo Vazquez

Yukishige Kondo

Melissa E Hays

Thomas John Polaske

Kayleigh E Nyffeler Bucci

Curran Gahan

Ryan M Flessner

Nathaniel J Fredin

The present invention provides liquid crystal (LC)-infused materials and methods for detecting compounds or impurities in liquid samples using such materials. These slippery materials comprise a lubricating liquid, preferably a thermotropic liquid crystal, and a solid substrate able to immobilize or host the lubricating liquid. The portion of the substrate coated by the lubricating fluid forms a slippery surface able to allow droplets of various materials to slide off the slippery surface in a manner dependent on the chemical composition of the droplet, which can be used to detect the presence of analytes, impurities and other molecules within the droplet.

Liquid crystal-infused slippery anti-fouling surfaces

The present technology provides a system for monitoring quorum-sensing in bacteria comprising bacteria that release at least one membrane-lytic toxin when the bacteria are at a quorum-sensing density; synthetic lipid vesicles comprising an environmentally sensitive indicator, wherein the synthetic lipid vesicles release the environmentally sensitive dye in the presence of an effective amount of the membrane-lytic toxins; and a growth medium; wherein the bacteria and synthetic lipid vesicles are in contact with the growth medium. Methods using the system and compounds discovered with the system (e.g., compounds of Formulas I and II) are also disclosed.

System and assay for monitoring production/release of membrane-lytic toxins in bacteria and compounds for modulating same

The present invention provides materials and methods of making materials, where at least one surface of the material utilizes an emulsion to controllably release active agents, which can include hydrophilic agents, into the surrounding environment. Preferably, the materials are 'slippery' in that liquid droplets and other compounds, such as aqueous fluids, organic compounds and microorganisms, are able to easily slide off the surface without adhering to the surface. The active agents released by the emulsion may include antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, antibacterial agents and other molecules that can kill or otherwise reduce the number of the pathogens. The resulting materials have improved anti-fouling behaviors compared to many other existing types of anti-fouling surfaces.

Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces that release hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents

The present invention provides methods of making polymer-based multilayer thin films, and polymer-based multilayer thin films made thereof, using controlled hydrolysis of functional side groups, such as azlactone groups, to obtain desired levels of roughness, porosity, and chemical reactivity.

Influence of partial side chain hydrolysis on the growth and morphology of reactive polymer multilayers fabricated using azlactone-functionalized polymers

Compositions and methods for generating ClOgas are disclosed. A composition that includes a chlorite salt is activated by exposure to ultraviolet light. After an optional storage period, the composition is then exposed to moisture, resulting in the generation of ClOgas. Exemplary compositions include polymers in which the chlorite salt is dispersed. The polymers may be used to form films that can be used to package, e.g., food products, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and/or laboratory devices. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light and moisture, the packaging releases controlled quantities of ClOgas, which may disinfect and/or deodorize the packaged device or product.

Methods and compositions for on-demand release of ClOgas from UV-activated chlorite ion

A multilayer produce packaging film includes a first layer and a chlorine dioxide-producing layer. The chlorine dioxide-producing layer includes a polymer composition and a plurality of chlorite ions. The chlorine dioxide-producing layer is substantially free of an energy-activated catalyst and is substantially free of an acid-releasing compound. However, the film is capable of generating chlorine dioxide when exposed to UV light and moisture.

Release of ClOgas from produce packaging film

A multilayer medical packaging film includes a first layer and a chlorine dioxide-producing layer. The chlorine dioxide-producing layer includes a polymer composition and a plurality of chlorite ions. The chlorine dioxide-producing layer is substantially free of an energy-activated catalyst and is substantially free of an acid-releasing compound. However, the film is capable of generating chlorine dioxide when exposed to UV light and moisture.

Release of ClOgas from medical device packaging film

The present invention provides polymer-based slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) that can prevent adhesion and colonization by fungal and bacterial pathogens and also kill and/or attenuate the colonization and virulence of non-adherent pathogens in surrounding media. The present approach exploits the polymer and liquid oil phases in these slippery materials to sustain the release of small molecules such as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent, an antibacterial agent, an agent that modulates bacterial or fungal quorum sensing, an agent that attenuates virulence, or a combination thereof. This controlled release approach improves the inherent anti-fouling properties of SLIPS, has the potential to be general in scope, and expands the potential utility of slippery, non-fouling surfaces in both fundamental and applied contexts.

Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces that prevent microbial surface fouling

This invention provides slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) using nanoporous or microporous and chemically reactive polymer multilayers. This approach permits fabrication of slippery anti-fouling coatings on complex surfaces and provides new means to manipulate the mobilities of contacting aqueous fluids. The results expand the range of tools that can be used to manipulate the behaviors of SLIPS and open the door to new applications of this emerging class of soft materials.

Slippery anti-fouling surfaces fabricated from reactive polymer multilayers

The present invention provides multilayer polymer films, materials and coatings which exhibit robust underwater superoleophobicity and have remarkable structural functional tolerance to a broad range of physical, chemical, and environmental challenges encountered by surfaces deployed in aqueous or aquatic environments. These materials can be fabricated on surfaces of arbitrary shape, size, and composition and provide straightforward means to manipulate surface chemistry and fine-tune other useful features of the interfacial behavior (e.g., underwater oil-adhesiveness). These materials address key obstacles to the application of non-wetting surfaces and anti-fouling 'super-phobic' materials in practical, real-world scenarios.

Synthetic surfaces with robust and tunable underwater superoleophobicity

Compounds described herein inhibit biofilm formation or disperse pre-formed biofilms of Gram-negative bacteria. Biofilm-inhibitory compounds can be encapsulated or contained in a polymer matrix for controlled release. Coatings, films, multilayer films, hydrogels, microspheres and nanospheres as well as pharmaceutical compositions and disinfecting compositions containing biofilm-inhibitory compounds are also provided. Methods for inhibiting formation of biofilms or dispersing already formed biofilms are provided. Methods for treating infections of gram-negative bacteria which form biofilms, particularly those ofand more particularly

Inhibition and dispersion of bacterial biofilms with 2-aminobenzimidazole derivatives

Poly(&#x3b2;-amino esters) prepared from the conjugate addition of bis(secondary amines) or primary amines to a bis(acrylate ester) are described. Methods of preparing these polymers from commercially available starting materials are also provided. These tertiary amine-containing polymers are preferably biodegradable and biocompatible and may be used in a variety of drug delivery systems. Given the poly(amine) nature of these polymers, they are particularly suited for the delivery of polynucleotides. Nanoparticles containing polymer/polynucleotide complexes have been prepared. The inventive polymers may also be used to encapsulate other agents to be delivered. They are particularly useful in delivering labile agents given their ability to buffer the pH of their surroundings.

Biodegradable poly (beta-amino esters) and uses thereof

The present invention provides methods utilizing redox-active surfactants to provide electrochemical control over polymer interactions. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a transfection method using a redox-active transfection agent that preferentially promotes transfection dependent on the oxidation state of the transfection agent. Accordingly, certain methods according to the invention provide spatial and/or temporal control of cell transfection.

Methods of using redox-active surfactants to control polymer interactions

Devices and methods for immobilizing micrometer sized liquid domains onto a chemically functionalized substrate surface are disclosed. A multifunctional polymer is adsorbed at the surface interface of the liquid microdomains, and the liquid microdomains are immobilized by covalent bonding or non-covalent forces such as electrostatic attraction between the adsorbed multifunctional polymer and the functionalized substrate surface.

Immobilization of droplets of liquid crystals on surfaces

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

David M Lynn