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A red blood cell-mediated light-responsive platform for thrombolytics delivery
19-0138 – The red blood cell-mediated light-responsive platform is a novel drug delivery system that uses red blood cells to deliver thrombolytics with controlled release triggered by a specific wavelength of light. Thrombolytics, such as tPA and urokinase, have been used for the pharmacological removal of a thrombus for three decades. However, significant challenges have prevented the anticipated... Read More
Local delivery of deferoxamine to promote tendon healing
20-0021 – Background Hypovascularity of dense connective tissue limits its healing potential after injury. Because of this, surgically repaired tendons and other dense connective tissues heal slowly and often don’t retain the structural and mechanical integrity of healthy tissues. For example, rotator cuff repairs have surgical repair failure rates as high at 95%. Accelerating and/or improving the... Read More
A next generation FOLFOX for colorectal cancer and liver metastasis
20-0002 – FOLFOX is a combination of chemotherapy drugs, consisting of folinic acid (FnA), f-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and oxaplatin (OxP). The new generation of FOLFOX is comprised of targeted nano-formulation of Folox (FnA and OxP) and free 5-Fu, allowing for enhanced drug pharmacokinetics and therapeutic effect for the treatment of colorectal cancer and metastasis. FOLFOX has been used to treat... Read More
Synthetic adhesins for enhanced probiotic efficacy
20-0006 – Synthetic adhesin in probiotic delivery is a modular platform for the conjugation of targeting ligands to the surface of live therapeutic bacteria, allowing for more specific and enhanced attachment to live mammalian cells. It is known that the efficacy of therapeutic bacteria is dependent on the ability of the bacteria to interact with and adhere to specific host niches. However, current... Read More
Accelerated Acquisition of Diffusion MRI
20-0058 – At present, diffusion MRI (dMRI) techniques typically requires a lengthy acquisition time in various directions and scales. This is especially problematic in certain applications or measurements where the subject must remain relatively motionless in a scanner, such as in pediatric patients or patients that cannot remain still (e.g. patient with Parkinson’s disease). Therefore, any reduction... Read More
Retrospective Artifact Correction of MRI through Unsupervised Deep Learning
20-0060 – Structural MRI is highly susceptible to motion artifacts, which can be difficult to avoid, especially when the subject must remain relatively motionless in a scanner, such as in pediatric patients or patients that cannot remain still (e.g. patient with Parkinson’s disease). Currently, deep learning based retrospective MRI artifact correction can be employed to improve image quality. Deep... Read More
Novel affinity molecule that synergizes that immune checkpoint blockade therapy
20-0063 – BisCCL2/5i is a novel single domain antibody that binds and neutralizes both murine CCL2 and CCL5. The dual blockade of CCL2 and CCL5 signaling with BisCCL2/5i leads to metabolic reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages, providing enhanced therapeutic effect to treat liver malignancies when in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. It has been known that... Read More
Nano co-delivery of quercetin and alantolactone for colorectal cancer treatment
19-0065 – Quercetin (Q) and alantolactone (A) are two traditional Chinese medicines that have shown a wide spectrum of medical benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. A micelle-based nano-formulation was used to encapsulate these two drugs in a unique ratio (Q:A = 1:4) and to achieve drug delivery to colorectal cancer site, providing optimal drug pharmacokinetics and synergistic... Read More
Multiple antigen-targeting T-cell immunotherapy for cancer treatment
19-0073 – The multiple antigen-targeting T-cell immunotherapy is a new T-cell therapy mediated by the expression of a novel antibody mimics that is able to simultaneously recognize two epitopes of the same antigens or two distinct antigens on the tumor cells, allowing for significant improvement on tumor cell capture and killing. Despite the remarkable clinical activity of adoptive therapy with... Read More
Fumarate prodrugs to treat or prevent schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
19-0155 – Background The incidence of psychotic disorders is increasing worldwide. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that can become chronic, severe, and is often socially and occupationally disabling. Antipsychotic drugs are currently used to treat schizophrenia and other brain disorders like depression, dementia, and bipolar disorder. These drugs don’t work for approximately one third of... Read More
Composition of a Nanoparticle for Gene Delivery in Animals
09-0134 – A novel nanoparticle (NP) formulation that shows enhanced delivery of siRNA to its target cells has been developed. siRNA shows promise as a therapeutic; however, its delivery to its target tissue or cell is often a challenge. We have developed lipid calcium phosphate (LCP) NPs that efficiently deliver siRNAs to their targets. We have demonstrated the ability of these LCP NPs to deliver... Read More
Classifyiers for Tumor Phenotype based on DNA Copy Number Alterations
18-0018 – This technology is a method of using alterarions in DNA copy number to predict the phenotype of a breast cancer tumor. This is a significantly different approach to identifying tumor phenotype because it relies only on DNA-based data. This method is able to predict the estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, and HER2 status of breast cancer tumors. Additionally, this method... Read More
Method and Reagent for Decarboxylative Functionalization of Carboxylic Acids
19-0131 – A method and associated reagent for direct decarboxylative functionalization of aliphatic compounds via photo-induced hydrogen atom transfer has been developed. This method provides a new route for late-stage modification of natural products, biological compounds, and drugs through introduction of a xanthyl group that is further elaborated into a variety of derivatives. High reaction yields... Read More
Functionalized Poly-oxazoline Drug Delivery
19-0121 – A novel poly(2-oxazoline) based polymer functionalized with the condensed form of N, N-dimethylbiguanide (cBOx) has been developed. cBOx was synthesized via the condensation of N, N-dimethylbiguanide with the methyl ester side chain in poly (2-methoxycarboxyethyl-2-oxazoline) of the diblock copolymer composed of poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) and poly (2-methoxycarboxyethyl-2-oxazoline). The new... Read More
Nano-Puerarin Formulation for the regulation of the tumor microenvironment
19-0070 – Puerarin is one of several known isoflavones and it has been identified to effectively downregulate ROS production. The targeted nano-formulation delivers puerarin to tumor associated fibroblasts (TAFs) to deactivate tumor stromal microenvironment, allowing for facilitated chemotherapy and immunotherapy effect. It has been found that tumor stromal microenvironment serves as a physical... Read More
High Definition Cyclic Voltammetry Software
20-0028 – To accommodate recent and future advances in fast-scan cyclic voltammetry applications, researchers at UNC have developed High Definition Cyclic Voltammetry (HDCV). HDCV is an electrochemical software suite that includes data acquisition and analysis programs. The data collection program delivers greater experimental flexibility and better user feedback through live displays. It supports... Read More
Mouse: Ccdc8 KO
20-0031 – To determine the mechanism underlying the 3-M syndrome, we knocked out Ccdc8 in the C57BL/6J mouse strain by standard homologous recombination methods. Ccdc8 conditional and conventional mice were generated by gene targeting in ES cells from C57BL/6 background strain microinjected into albino-C57BL/6 blastocysts. Successful Ccdc8 knockout was confirmed by Southern, PCR and DNA sequence.... Read More
Luminal Bladder Cancer Cell Lines
18-0020 – We have generated a novel GEM (Genetically Engineered Murine) Model of luminal bladder cancer, called UPPL, by knocking out Pten and Trp53 in Upk3a expressing cells (Upk3a-CreERT2). Once bladder tumors formed, cell lines were generated that can be passaged in vitro as well as form tumors in immunocompetent B6 mice Related Publications:
Software for the Analysis of Electrocochleograms
20-0019 – The Electrocochleogram (ECochG) is an electrophysiologic signal acquired from the cochlea in response to sound or electrical stimulaton. This recorded signal is a mixture of potentials generated by hair cells and nerve activity. Although many companies make products which can acquire the ECochG signal, the interpretation of that signal is largely qualitative. Our investigators have developed... Read More
Synthetic Peptide Mimetic for the Treatment of Cancer and Hematalogical Disorders
19-0178 – We have recently developed a cell penetrating, synthetic peptide for the treatment of cancer, sickle cell anemia and ß-thalassemia, that disrupts the MBD2:NuRD complex in human cells. This is based on the observation that enforced expression of a small peptide from the GATAD2A protein could disrupt complex formation and block DNA methylation, making this peptide a potential alternative to... Read More
Lead Oxysalt Thin Layers to Improve Perovskite Solar Cell Efficiency and Stability
19-0012 – A lead oxysalt coating has been developed that stabilizes perovskite surfaces against degradation and enhances the long-term performance of organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Many classes of perovskite solar cells show promise to be cheaper and more efficient than traditional silicon-based solar cells; however, perovskite solar cells suffer from various surface defects that rapidly... Read More
Biologically Targeted Photo-Crosslinkable Nano-Patch to Prevent Postsurgical Peritoneal Adhesion
18-0101 – A biologically targeted, photo-crosslinkable nanopatch (pCNP) that prevents postsurgical adhesion has been developed. Peritoneal adhesion occurs in a majority of patients following abdominal surgery and can result in significant side effects and complications. Current strategies to minimize adhesions involve the use of nontargeted anatomical barriers that are either inefficient in protecting... Read More
Small Molecules for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Disorders
10-0118 – Small molecules that can bind dopamine receptor D2 have been developed for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The compounds developed have both agonist and antagonist activity and were proven effective in in vitro and in vivo models. Significantly, in hyperlocomotion mouse models, these compounds showed efficacy and potency without inducing catalepsy. These compounds can... Read More
Advanced Colonoscopy Imaging Technology
19-0148 – Colonoscopy reduces the rate of colorectal cancers following colonoscopy (interval cancers) by 50-60%. However, colonoscopy fails to find at least 20% of polyps, especially “flat” polyps. Polyps are missed because not all of the colon surface is effectively surveyed by current visualization systems or the polyps were seen but not effectively recognized by the current imaging technology. This... Read More
Hydrogen-bond Enriched Ion Exchange Membranes
19-0027 – The UNC innovation is polymer chemistry for synthesizing ion-selective membranes (anion and cation exchange membranes) that increase the number of hydrogen bonding sites inside the polymer. The addition of hydrogen bonding sites can dramatically increase the conductivity of the membrane without substantially changing its selectivity. This behavior is in contrast to conventional membranes,... Read More
Rate Sorted Entropy Coding
19-0098 – Entropy coding techniques such as arithmetic coding are well-known and commonly used in many compression algorithms including all modern video coding standards. UNC is developing rated sorted entropy coding that improves upon existing methods. The UNC approach can be applied to existing standardized video compression schemes that rely on arithmetic encoding without having to fully decode and... Read More
Assessing Lower Extremity Movement Quality
18-0003 – Clinical assessment tools can provide a simple and efficient method for identifying problems in the musculoskeletal system that may result in athletic injury. Sports medicine clinicians can often use the results of such assessment tools to develop effective intervention programs for injury prevention and rehabilitation. This innovation provides an objective and autonomous system to classify... Read More
Dynamic Vision Correction for In-focus Viewing of Real and Virtual Objects
18-0094 – The UNC invention provides a system that corrects dynamically for the focus of the real world surrounding a near-eye display of an augmented reality user, simultaneously with the internal display of augmented synthetic imagery, with an aim of completely replacing the user’s prescription eyeglasses. The ability to adjust focus for both real and virtual stimuli will be useful for a wide variety... Read More
Novel Estimation of Pose Configuration
18-0112 – It is well understood that high tracking rates are critical for AR/VR systems for immersive experiences, yet there currently exists no practical, portable system that comes close to next-generation tracking performance. This UNC innovation utilizes rolling shutter and radial distortion – two image features typically treated as camera artifacts to be corrrected – and leverages them to... Read More
Composite Membrane-Coated Electrodes for Nitric Oxide Detection and Quantification
18-0073 – An improved sensor has been developed for various analytes, including nitric oxide. Electrochemical techniques for in situ sensing currently offer the highest spatial and temporal resolution, but unmodified electrodes suffer from a lack of selectivity and performance degradation in complex biological media due to interferents and biofouling. The present technology improves the performance of... Read More
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) That Increases T Cell Metabolism and Lifetime
18-0109 – A novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that increases CAR-T cell function has been engineered. Typically, a CAR is comprised of a targeting ligand capable of binding to a specific antigen, and at least one co-stimulatory signal domain (CSSD), such as 4-1BB or CD28, that enhances T cell effector functions. We have developed a new CSSD derived from the herpes virus mediator (HVEM) protein,... Read More
Small Molecule Mutant IDH1 Inhibitors Useful for Treating Cancer
16-0001 – Small molecule inhibitors of mutant Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) have been developed for the treatment of cancer. Normal IDH1 converts isocitrate into ketoglutarate. A mutated form of IDH1 is found in several cancers including glioma, cholangiocarcinoma, and acute myeloid leukemia. Expression of mutated IDH1 leadd to elevated levels of R-2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). 2HG has been linked to... Read More
Cell Line: AALEB
19-0116 – AALEB is an engineered cancer cell line, which was prepared from primary human bronchial epithelial cells that were serially transformed by retorvial driven expression of SV40 early region genes, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, and selection markers. Related Publications:
Cell Line: UNCCF7T
19-0150 – This is a growth enhanced cell line derived from primary epithelial cells originally obtained from the explanted lungs of a donor with cystic fibrosis, in accordance with an IRB-approved protocol, that underwent lung transplantation. The CFTR genotype is G542X homozygous, enabling this cell line to be used to study the biology and potential therapies for diseases created by premature... Read More
Stereocontrolled Vinyl Ether Polymerization for Accessing Functional Thermoplastic Materials
19-0009 – A universal method for generating isotactic polyvinyl ethers (iso-PVEs) has been developed. While polyolefins offer excellent thermomechanical properties at low cost, their lack of polar functionality renders them unable to interface with other materials for high performance applications. Iso-PVEs are an intrinsically polar class of polymers that demonstrate plasticity and high tensile... Read More
Production of Stable Perovskite Films for Photovoltaic Solar Cells using Bilateral Alkylamine Additives
19-0079 – A simple method for formulating perovskite inks that leads to scalable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with unprecedented stability and efficiency has been developed by UNC-CH researchers. The use of bilateral alkylamine additives (BAAs) retained 90% of the initial PSC power conversion efficiency for > 20 days under operational light conditions and > 40 days shelf lifetime. The BAA... Read More
Regioselective C–H Xanthylation as a Platform Technology for Polyolefin Functionalization
18-0040 – The incorporation of commodity polyolefins into high performance materials is currently limited by their chemical and physical properties. The present invention is a synthetic platform for introducing a diverse range of chemical functionalities into commercial polyolefins. This post-polymerization functionalization features site-selective C–H xanthylation of the polyolefin which allows for... Read More
Use of Aminobisphosphonates as Latency Reversing Agents
18-0151 – Novel methods for the reversal of latency in HIV infected cells, and for the clearance of latently infected cells have been discovered. Aminobisphosphonates (N-BPs) are a class of drug currently FDA approved for the treatment of several diseases involving the loss of bone density. Our investigators have demonstrated that N-BPs can reverse latent HIV viruses in infected immune cells without... Read More
Epitope and Antibody for Prevention of Zika and Dengue Viruses
17-0061 – An epitope that can elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENZ) has been developed. ZIKV and DENV are endemic in South America and elsewhere, and can lead to fetal malformations, neurological disease and death. Rather than providing protection, generation of cross-reactive antibodies against only one serotype of DENV can increase the severity... Read More
Repurposing Dabuzalgron to Prevent and Treat Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure
15-0105 – Dr. Paul Simpson Jr. at University of California, San Francisco and Dr. Brain C Jensen at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill have identified and developed a new indication for dabuzalgron: prevention and treatment of cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Dabuzalgron is an alpha-1A- adrenergic receptor agonist that can stimulate smooth muscle contraction in higher doses; however, in this... Read More
Reconstructing Detailed Textured Surface Models from Endoscopic Videos
18-0149 – A method has been developed for constructing an accurate three-dimensional textured surface from an endoscopic video, and for transferring information from the reconstruction onto images gathered through other modalities such as computed tomography (CT). This technology facilitates more efficient and thorough review by clinicians and researchers and has demonstrated usefulness in planning... Read More
Crosslinked Hyperbranched Poly(aryletherketone) Membranes for Gas Separation at Elevated Temperature
19-0022 – Gas separation techniques currently use energy-intensive condensation methods. While the high chemical and thermal stability of commercially available PAEKs make them promising membrane candidates, poor solubility hinders their processability and low glass transition temperatures (~150°C) limits their applicability for high temperature separations. Soluble, reactive hyperbranched... Read More
Gamma Secretase Inhibitors Attenuate Vascular Malformations
16-0192 – Gamma secretase inhibitors (GSI) have been determined to attenuate vascular malformations by inhibiting NOTCH expression in endothelial cells. Vascular malformations are developmental abnormalities of venous, arterial, capillary or lymphatic vessels which have significant morbidities such as pain, infection, pulmonary emboli, bleeding and even death. There is growing interest in medical... Read More
Recombinant Antigens for Differential Serological Detection of Remote Zika Infection
18-0017 – Two novel antigens have been developed for the serological diagnosis of Zika virus. Accurate diagnosis of Zika is critically important to its treatment, prevention, and further clinical research. Antibodies raised in response to other flaviviruses are often cross reactive to Zika virus, complicating serological diagnosis. These novel recombinant antigens demonstrate lower cross reactivity as... Read More
Highly Specific and Neutralizing Therapeutic Antibodies for Zika Virus
18-0023 – Our investigators have identified two highly specific and neutralizing antibodies isolated from a traveler naïve to all serotypes of Dengue. The antibodies (A9E and G9E) can be used against 7 different Zika virus types and react only to Zika virus and no other flaviviruses. Applications: •Diagnosis and treatment of Zika virus infection. •Antibody sequences for vaccine development. ... Read More
AAV-Based Gene Therapy for Equine Osteoarthritis
17-0041 – An AAV-based gene therapy has been developed to treat equine osteoarthritis (OA). Interleukin receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra) blocks joint inflammation caused by IL-1b stimulated cells, and for this reason, it has shown promise in the treatment of OA. Our OA gene therapy cassette utilizes an optimized self-complimentary AAV to produce significant levels of IL-1ra in vivo. In equine... Read More
Light Triggered CRISPR/Cas9 for Spatial and Temporal Control of Genome Editing
16-0095 – A novel, light-activated Cas9 protein has been developed for better special and temporal control of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system. The addition of a caged lysine residue keeps Cas9 dormant by default, but in the presence of light the lysine caging group falls off and Cas9 springs into action. Unlike standard CRISPR/Cas9, which has full reign over the body, our light-activated system... Read More
BALB/c Latency Mouse Line
19-0023 – BALB/c mice are commonly used for B cell hybridoma development because of their predictable B cell responses to various antigens. Our investigators have developed the tg801 transgenic mouse line, (BALB/c latency mice), as an alternative to the commonly used BALB/c or BALB/c/FcgR2b KO mouse that are often used for hybridoma development. Our mouse line was created via random insertion of a... Read More
Wnt1 as a Therapeutic to Enhance Cardiac Repair and Increase Blood Flow in Patients with PVD
11-0002 – Wnt-1 has been identified as a potential new therapeutic agent to enhance cardiac repair in patients with heart ailments, and to increase blood flow in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Following acute cardiac injury, Wnt1 orchestrates a critical early repair response and disruption of downstream Wnt1 signaling leads to heart failure and death. Furthermore, studies in mice show that... Read More
Interactive Sound Propagation in Virtual Environments
13-0038 – This technology provides an efficient technique for modeling sound propagation effects in indoor and outdoor scenes for interactive applications. The technique generates immersive directional reverberation and reflection effects, and can easily scale to multi-channel speaker configurations. It is easy to implement and can be easily integrated into any modern game engine without significantly... Read More