University of Texas System

William Marsh Rice University

Rebekah A Drezek

Rebecca Rae Richards-Kortum

Colin L Smithpeter

Richard G Baraniuk

Nancy J Halas

Jennifer L West

Urs Utzinger

Scott R Sershen

Konstantin Sokolov

Allen L Chen

Mona Sheikh

Pallavi Bugga

Tom Collier

Andr&eacute;s F Zuluaga

Amirali Aghazadeh

Adam Y Lin

Andres F Zuluaga

The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods present a universal microbial diagnostic (UMD) platform to screen for microbial organisms in a sample using a small number of random DNA probes that are agnostic to the target DNA sequences. The UMD platform can be used to direct and monitor appropriate treatments, thus minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance, and enhancing patient care.

Universal microbial diagnostics using random DNA probes

This invention is generally in the field of improved methods for the localized delivery of heat and the use thereof for the repair of tissue. The method involves localized induction of hyperthermia in tissue or materials by delivering nanoparticles to the tissue or materials and exposing the nanoparticles to an excitation source under conditions wherein they emit heat. The generation of heat effects the joining of the tissue or materials.

Optically-absorbing nanoparticles for enhanced tissue repair

Methods and apparatus for assessing the size of a scattering element of a sample. Primary radiation is generated from a source. The primary radiation is polarized to produce polarized primary radiation. The polarized primary radiation is directed to the sample to generate reflected radiation. The reflected radiation is directed through a polarizer to produce filtered reflected radiation, the polarizer being configured to select reflected radiation parallel and perpendicular to the polarization of the polarized primary radiation. The filtered radiation is detected, and a depolarization ratio is calculated using the detected filtered radiation. The size of the scattering element is calculated using the depolarization ratio.

Methods and apparatus for polarized reflectance spectroscopy

Methods for enhancing contrast during imaging to assess cell and nuclear morphology of a sample. A contrast agent such as acetic acid, toluidine blue, hypertonic saline, hypotonic saline, Lugol's iodine, an absorbing dye, a liposome, or a contrast agent linked to a marker are applied to a sample. The sample is analyzed with an imaging device to create image data, and the sample is diagnosed using the image data.

Enhancing contrast in biological imaging

A method for using acetic acid as a contrast agent during reflectance confocal imaging of normal and neoplastic tissue, particularly epithelium. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of using acetic acid as a contrast agent for confocal imaging of cells, including applying acetic acid to the diagnostic tissue sample in sufficient concentration to induce a small scale alteration of the index of refraction of nuclei in the cells; and imaging such cells using a reflectance confocal imaging system.

Acetic acid as a contrast in reflectance confocal imaging of tissue

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Rebekah A Drezek