University System of Maryland

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

William E Bentley

Reza Ghodssi

Gregory F Payne

Gary W Rubloff

Hyunmin Yi

Li-Qun Wu

Mariana Tsacoumis Meyer

Rohan Fernandes

Young Wook Kim

Srinivasa R Raghavan

Herman O Sintim

Douglas Stephen English

Wolfgang Losert

Agisilaos A Iliadis

Jessica L Terrell

Tianhong Chen

Thomas E Winkler

Eunkyoung Kim

Xiao-Wen Shi

Xi Lu

Deanna L Kelly

Hyuntaek Oh

Mijeong Kang

George Banis

Christopher Kitchen

David A Small

Gilbert G Olsen, Ii

Ryan Gill

So Hyun Ahn

Varnika Roy

Hyung Joon Cha

Jacqueline Smith

Minh Quan Pham

Rita Khanna

Hsuan-Chen Wu

Minh-Quan Pham

Methods are provided that allow global access to redox-based molecular information by coupling electrochemical measurements with signal processing approaches. More specifically, the disclosure provides methods that rely on the use of redox probes to assay samples for redox activities that act to exchange electrons with the probe thereby generating detectable optical and electrochemical signature signals that can then be assigned to a sample feature of interest. In particular embodiments, the disclosed assay methods are useful for diagnosis and prognosis of disorders, such as schizophrenia, that are found to be associated with a specific redox-based signature within a subject sample.

Redox probing for chemical information

Methods and systems for synthesizing multicompartment capsules are disclosed, as well as multicompartment polymer capsules formed in accordance with disclosed techniques. At least one plurality of polymer capsules are formed via a capsule-forming process. A feed solution and a reservoir solution are provided, each comprising a biopolymer. The feed solution biopolymer and the reservoir solution biopolymer have opposite charges. Droplets of the feed solution are introduced into the reservoir solution, thereby forming via electrostatic complexation a plurality of polymer capsules. At least a portion of the resulting polymer capsules are then encapsulated in a larger polymer capsule via a similar process, wherein the feed solution utilized for the encapsulation process also comprises the formed smaller capsules.

Multicompartment capsules and methods and systems for forming same

A surface acoustic wave (SAW) biofilm sensor includes a transmitting electric to acoustic wave transducer defining an upper surface and a lower surface, a receiving acoustic wave to electric transducer defining an upper surface and a lower surface, a piezoelectric film layer defining an upper surface and a lower surface, and a passivation film layer defining an upper surface and a lower surface. Portions of the lower surface of the piezoelectric film layer are disposed on the upper surface of the transmitting electric to acoustic wave transducer and on the upper surface of the receiving acoustic wave to electric transducer, and the lower surface of the passivation film layer is disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric film layer such that the upper surface of the passivation film layer is configured to enable contact with a biofilm.

Atomic layer deposition inverted passivated surface acoustic wave sensor for early detection of biofilm growth

Provided are compositions and methods for modulating quorum sensing in microbes. The compounds are AI-2 analogs and as such have structures similar to 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione that can act as agonists/antagonists of quorum sensing. The compounds are useful for modulating quorum sensing in bacteria and can be used in methods for prophylaxis or therapy of bacterial infections and for reduction of biofilms.

Phosphorylated and branched dihydroxy-pentane-dione (DPD) analogs as quorum sensing inhibitors in bacteria

Biofunctionalized fibers including a fiber platform and a histidine-tagged protein and, optionally, an antibody. Chitosan is a fiber useful as the fiber platform. The fiber platform may be treated with nickel or may be directly linked to the histidine-tagged protein e.g., histidine-tagged streptococcal IgG-binding protein, protein G, protein G3T, GFP or RFP. The resulting biofunctionalized fibers can be assembled into protein fiber assemblies by a variety of biofabrication methods. The fiber assemblies, e.g., in the form of woven fabrics, are useful for (i) antigen capture; (ii) immunoanalysis, and/or (iii) multiplexed analysis. In one fabrication, each fiber of a fiber assembly presents a specific antibody, and mixing and matching of fibers, for example by weaving of fabrics from various antibody-presenting fibers, allows for multiple antigens to be captured simultaneously for multiplexed analysis.

Fibrous assemblies for antibody presentation, and multiplexed antigenic analysis using same

A method is provided for electrochemically depositing a polysaccharide mass having a selected physical state. According to an embodiment, an electrically conductive support of a substrate is contacted with an aqueous solution including a selectively insolubilizable polysaccharide, and the selectively insolubilizable polysaccharide is electrochemically deposited on the electrically conductive support while controlling deposition conditions to form the polysaccharide mass having the selected physical state, such as that of a hydrogel. Deposition may be performed in a spatially and/or temporally controlled manner. 

Controlled electrochemical deposition of polysaccharide films and hydrogels, and materials formed therefrom

A method for biolithographical deposition of molecules is provided. According to an embodiment of the method, a reactive layer (e.g., a polysaccharide mass) having a surface region coated with a biologically compatible resist is provided. A portion of the biologically compatible resist is selectively removed to expose an exposed portion of the reactive layer. Molecules, such as biomolecules and/or cellular species, are then conjugated to the exposed portion of the reactive layer. Also provided are materials and devices related to the method.

Biolithographical deposition and materials and devices formed therefrom

A method is provided for electrochemically depositing a polymer with spatial selectivity. A substrate having a substrate surface is contacted with an aqueous solution containing a selectively insolubilizable polysaccharide, such as chitosan, which is subjected to electrochemically treatment to deposit, with spatial selectivity, the selectively insolubilizable polysaccharide on a patterned electrically conductive portion of the substrate surface.

Spatially selective deposition of polysaccharide layer onto patterned template

A process for producing recombinant anti-botulinum toxin antibody comprising the steps of fermenting recombinantcells in broth, concentrating the cells by removing the broth, crushing the concentrated cells, separating a permeate derived from the crushed cells from cell debris, purifying a recombinant antibotulinum antibody (Fab) from said permeate, and separating said Fab from impurities by diafiltration.

Bioprocess for the production of recombinant anti-botulinum toxin antibody

The present invention provides for a recombinant insect larvae and a process of manufacturing proteins utilizing insect larvae that allows for the selection of individual larvae for harvest at the point of their optimal expression of a protein of interest. This invention also provides for a process to manufacture proteins in larvae that does not require synchronization of the infection, growth and harvest larvae to optimally manufacture a protein of interest. The invention further provides for a process of producing interleukin-2 in larvae.

Process for continuous optimized protein production in insect larvae

The present invention provides a method of differential display of prokaryotic messages RNA by RTPCR, the method comprising the steps of: adding a first primer mixture to a first nucleic acid sample including a first mixture of mRNA to form a first primer/first nucleic acid sample mixture; adding the first primer mixture to a second nucleic acid sample including a first mixture of mRNA to form a first primer/second nucleic acid sample mixture; incubating the first primer/first nucleic acid sample mixture to produce a first population of cDNA; incubating the first primer/second nucleic acid sample mixture to produce a second population of cDNA; adding a second primer to the first population of cDNA to form a second primer/first population of cDNA mixture; adding the second primer mixture to the second population of cDNA to form a second primer/second population of cDNA mixture; amplifying the second primer/first population of cDNA mixture to produce a third population of cDNA; amplifying the second primer/second population of cDNA mixture to produce a fourth population of cDNA; identifying the presence or level of mRNA in the third population of cDNA; and identifying the presence or level of mRNA in the fourth population of cDNA.

Method of differential display of prokaryotic messenger RNA by RTPCR

Growing community of inventors

Annapolis, MD, United States of America

William E Bentley