Yale University

Transimmune Ag

Other

Michael Girardi

Richard L Edelson

Carole L Berger

Karsten Henco

Adrian Hayday

Justin Duckworth

Marilyn A Girardi

Yang Deng

William Mark Saltzman

Asiri Ediriwickrema

Robert E Tigelaar

Douglas Hanlon

Gunter Bauer

Günter Bauer

Robert Tigelaar

Julia Lewis

Richard Leslie Edelson

The present invention relates to methods for producing immuno-stimulatory autologous dendritic cells. The present invention further relates to the use of such cells for treating patients suffering from hyper-proliferative disease such as cancer.

Method for obtaining globally activated monocytes

Described herein are methods and compositions useful to reduce (partially/inhibit or completely—prevent) skin cancer development in an individual in need thereof.

Dermatologic topical applications of ROR gamma and ROR gamma-t inhibitors for the prevention of skin cancer development

Core-shell particles have a hydrophobic core and a shell formed of o containing hyperbranched polymers (HP). The HP can be covalently bound to the one or more materials that form the core or coated thereon. The HP coating can be modified to adjust the properties of the particles. For example, unmodified HP coatings resist non-specific protein absorption. Alternatively, the hydroxyl groups on the HP coating can be chemically modified to form functional groups that react with functional groups on tissue to adhere the particles to the tissue, cells, or extracellular materials, such as proteins. Such functional groups include, but not limited to, aldehydes, amines, and O-substituted oximes. Topical formulation for application to the skin contain these HP coated nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the particles include cosmetic, therapeutic, diagnostic, nutraceutical, and/or prophylactic agents, such as those used as sunblock compositions.

Topical formulation of hyperbranched polymer-coated particles

Methods are provided for suppressing the immune system response in recipients of transplanted organs, tissues or cells. An extracorporeal quantity of blood from the intended transplant recipient is treated to induce monocytes contained in the blood to differentiate and form dendritic cells. The maturation of the dendritic cells is truncated at a stage where the dendritic cells can inactivate T cell clones which would otherwise generate an undesired immune system response. The immature dendritic cells can be directly administered to the transplant recipient, or the dendritic cells can be co-incubated with the bone marrow or stem cell preparation, prior to transplantation, in order to suppress or eliminate anti-recipient donor T cells contaminating the bone marrow or stem cell preparation. The methods can be used to suppress graft versus host disease in recipients of transplanted bone marrow or stem cells, or to suppress rejection of transplanted organs or tissue.

Method for suppressing immune system response to transplanted tissue or cells

A method for inducing differentiation of monocytes contained in an extracorporeal quantity of a subject's blood into functional dendritic antigen presenting cells is provided. The monocytes are induced to differentiate into dendritic cells by activation forces resulting from flow of the monocytes through a treatment apparatus having plastic channels. The interior surface of the plastic channel may be modified to increase the available surface area for interaction with blood monocytes. Platelets and serum protein may be removed from the blood prior to treatment to reduce or eliminate contamination of the plastic channel by these blood components. Functional dendritic cells generated from induced monocytes are incubated together with apoptotic or inactivated disease effector agents to enhance the presentation of at least one disease-causing antigen expressed by the disease effector agents. Compositions including dendritic cells derived from induced monocytes and compositions including such dendritic cells incubated with disease effector agents are also provided for use in immunotherapeutic treatment.

Methods for inducing the differentiation of monocytes into functional dendritic cells and immunotherapeutic compositions including such dendritic cells

Multiple tape dispenser

An improved tape dispenser/receptacle having complimentary oblong-shaped top and bottom portions adapted to mate with each other, wherein the improvement consists of: first and second spool-dispensing axes, each axes composed of ten pegs; longitudinally-oriented inner and outer sets of ridges, extending downward from underneath the device's top portion; a plurality of tape exist and flattening apertures; resilient tabs extending outward from the device's side walls, in one-to-one correspondence with the exit/flattening apertures; and a cutting surface. The spool-dispensing axes hold rolls of tape or other material which may be marked with identifying indicia. The inner ridges touch the radial surface of the tape rolls to keep the rolls from wobbling during dispensing, while the outer ridges act as means to keep the tape straight en route through the exit/flattening apertures. As the tape is pulled through the apertures, the resilient tabs act as a second guide-dispensing means to keep the tape straight prior to cutting, and subsequently, to return the tape edge after cutting to a convenient 'ready-to-use' position.

Tape dispensing and cutting receptacle

Growing community of inventors

Madison, CT, United States of America

Michael Girardi