University of Michigan

Peter X Ma

Guobao Wei

Xiaohua Liu

Ruiyun Zhang

Laurie McCauley

William Giannobile

Zhanpeng Zhang

Jianxiang Zhang

Anne E Huber

Haiyun Ma

Ruiyan Zhang

Ming Dang

Xiaojin Zhang

Sen Hou

Qiming Jin

Laurie K McCauley

A hyperbranched polymer includes a hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core, respective low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains attached to at least three branches of the hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core, and respective polyethylene glycol chains attached to at least two other branches of the hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core. Examples of the hyperbranched polymer may be used to form hyperbranched polyplexes, and may be included in DNA or RNA delivery systems.

Hyperbranched polymers and polyplexes and DNA or RNA delivery systems including the same

In an example of a method for making a pulsatile delivery device, one type of charges are generated on a polymeric layer, and charges opposite the one type of charges are generated on a delivery layer including a film forming material and a predetermined substance dispersed throughout the film forming material. The charged polymeric and delivery layers are placed into contact to form a bi-layer structure. A stack with at least two bi-layer structures is formed so that the polymeric layers and the delivery layers are alternating throughout the stack. The stack is sealed so that one of the polymeric layers remains exposed.

Delivery devices and methods for making the same

A self-integrating hydrogel includes a water-soluble polymer. The water-soluble polymer includes a repeating unit having at least one functional group that includes an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom, and a pendant chain covalently attached to the oxygen atom, the sulfur atom, or the nitrogen atom of the at least one functional group of the repeating unit. The pendant chain includes ureido-pyrimidinone.

Self-integrating hydrogels and methods for making the same

A nanofibrous spongy microsphere includes porous walls that define an exterior of the microsphere and that extend through an interior of the microsphere. The porous walls consist of interconnected nanofibers and spaces formed between the interconnected nanofibers. A plurality of micro-scale pores are formed throughout the interior of the microsphere. Each of the micro-scale pores i) is partially defined by the porous walls, ii) has an interpore opening that opens to an adjacent micro-scale pores, and iii) has a diameter ranging from about 1 &#x3bc;m to about 100 &#x3bc;m. A total diameter of the microsphere ranges from about 5 &#x3bc;m to about 1000 &#x3bc;m.

Nanofibrous spongy microspheres

Nano-fibrous microspheres and methods for forming them are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the microsphere includes a plurality of nano-fibers aggregated together in a spherical shape; and a plurality of pores formed between at least some of the plurality of nano-fibers. The nano-fibers are formed of star-shaped polymers.

Nano-fibrous microspheres and methods for making the same

Various embodiments of scaffolds are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the scaffold includes a tubular polymeric structure, and a controlled gradient of solid-walled microtubules oriented radially or axially in the tubular polymeric structure. In another embodiment, the scaffold includes a nano-fibrous tubular polymeric structure, and an oriented and interconnected microtubular porous network formed in the nano-fibrous tubular polymeric structure. In still another embodiment, a composite scaffold is formed including a polymeric structure having an inner wall and an outer wall, and at least one electrospun layer positioned along at least one of the inner wall, or the outer wall, or in a middle of the porous polymeric structure.

Scaffolds and methods of forming the same

A method for immobilizing micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof onto a surface is disclosed. The method includes distributing the micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof onto the surface. The surface and the particles are exposed to thermal treatment, vapor treatment or combinations thereof, thereby adhering at least some of the micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof to the surface. Materials including such immobilized micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof are also disclosed herein.

Immobilizing particles onto surfaces

A porous object includes a porous material having internal pore surfaces and external pore surfaces. Releasing material encapsulated biomolecules are immobilized on at least one of the internal pore surfaces, at least one of the external pore surfaces, or combinations thereof.

Porous objects having immobilized encapsulated biomolecules

A delivery device includes a hollow container, and a plurality of biodegradable and/or erodible polymeric layers established in the container. A layer including a predetermined substance is established between each of the plurality of polymeric layers, whereby degradation of the polymeric layer and release of the predetermined substance occur intermittently. Methods for forming the device are also disclosed herein.

Delivery device and method for forming the same

Porous materials and methods for forming them are disclosed. One method for immobilizing micro-particles and/or nano-particles onto internal pore surfaces and/or external pore surfaces of porous materials includes suspending the micro-particles and/or nano-particles in a liquid adapted to swell, soften, and/or deform either the porous materials and/or the particles, thereby forming a liquid-particle suspension. The method further includes adding the suspension to the porous materials; and removing the liquid, thereby forming the porous materials having the micro-particles and/or nano-particles immobilized on the internal pore surfaces and/or the external pore surfaces.

Particle-containing complex porous materials

A water soluble copolymer includes first and second hydrophilic block segments or graft chains. The first hydrophilic block segment or graft chain contains cyclodextrin groups in at least a majority of its repeating units, and the second hydrophilic block segment or graft chain contains repeating units other than cyclodextrin groups. The first and second block segments or graft chains are covalently linked.

Hydrophilic copolymers and assemblies containing the same

Modified porous materials are disclosed having interconnected, complexly shaped three-dimensional surfaces. The modification is accomplished by crosslinking the three-dimensional surfaces or by incorporating, in situ, an inorganic material onto or into three-dimensional surfaces. The porous materials are macro structures including at least one of nano-features, micro-features, and combinations thereof. The modifying accomplishes changing surface properties of the porous materials, changing the three-dimensional surfaces, and/or rendering the porous materials substantially stable in a predetermined environment.

Modified porous materials and method of forming the same

Modified porous materials are disclosed having interconnected, complexly shaped three-dimensional surfaces. The modification is accomplished by crosslinking the three-dimensional surfaces and/or by coating the three-dimensional surfaces with a layer of a predetermined material. The porous materials are macro structures including at least one of nano-features, micro-features, and combinations thereof. The modifying accomplishes changing surface properties of the porous materials, changing the three-dimensional surfaces, and/or rendering the porous materials substantially stable in a predetermined environment.

A method for preparing a highly porous, high surface area degradable or partially degradable material. The method comprises the steps of mixing a degradable or partially degradable polymer with a mixed solvent comprising a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the mixed solvent comprises a ratio higher than 1:1, first solvent to second solvent; gelling the mixture; and treating the gel under conditions whereby a substantially solvent free porous structure is created having a porosity greater than about 80%; wherein the material is mechanically strong and has a complex porous structure with nano fibrous architecture.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Peter X Ma