http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php STC.UNM provides a vast collection of various life science technologies available for licensing. en-us http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=861 This technology builds on STC-PS-0751 and provides a novel approach and device to immobilize cells, liposomes, enzymes and proteins and planar lipid bilayers in gels. This approach utilizes a gelling process based on vapor phase synthesis. Specimens are exposed for a specific amount of time to differing vapors which form a porous gel that allows substrates and products to enter and leave the system while immobilizing and retaining the subject material (cells, enzymes, liposomes, proteins, or planar lipid bilayers). Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:32:41 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1190 This invention is a method to use ion exchange as an intermediate step in a desalination process train. The initial unit process can be any desalination process (membrane or thermal). Ion exchange columns can remove ions from the concentrate of the first stage desalination process. A second stage desalination process can be membrane based or thermally driven, or a combination technology. The product water from second stage process can be combined with the product water from the first to increase the overall product water recovery. The concentrate from the second desalination process can be used to regenerate the ion exchange columns. Further, exemplary and detailed system configurations and efficient designs are depicted for this novel technology. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:51:30 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1076 The invention is a unique method and device for the epitaxial growth of cubic phase, nitrogen-based compound semiconductor thin films on a Si substrate which is periodically patterned with nanoscale grooves terminated in <111> sidewalls. The structure symmetry forces the growth of epitaxial, cubic-phase material within each groove. These initial growth nuclei can be extended to macro-scale islands sufficient for device fabrication or coalesced with the films grown from adjacent grooves to form a continuous film. This results in a wide-area, cubic phase nitrogen-based nitrogen-based compound semiconduc-tor film on a Si substrate. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:39:49 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1161 This technology addresses a technique and a device to perform three dimensional radioactive source imaging within materials using two dimensional external measurements. This can be applied for discrete or diffuse sources, and can be used for depth imaging of radiation emitters within materials. This can include source spectroscopy, allowing isotope information along with imaging. The only limitation is gamma-ray penetration of the material. This can make processes faster, cheaper, and better. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:18:22 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1027 This technology provides a method and different composition forms making silica-based and chitosan-based nanoparticles with enclosed high doses of insecticides and pesticides. The formulation is developed as a baited trap with insect attractants such as floral extracts and pheromones for targeted release. The nanoparticles are also developed in a pH-gated way so that only insect probing will release the high dose to the insects without any spill to the environment. There is potential for delivery of highly toxic insecticides and pesticides without environmental damage, which in-turn, would obviate any emergence of resistance in insect vectors. Additionally, this technology provides a method and different compositions for ingestible food supplements that, upon administration to the organism, induces an immune response. Hence, this synthetic method can also be used to produce biomimetic artificial diatoms that are useful supplements to feeds used in the commercial farming of shrimp and other filter feeding organisms. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:07:11 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=844 This technology is a novel sensor using ABG material to observe micron and submicron damage in aerospace composite substrates adhered to the sensor. The sensor is scalable and can detect damage scales never reported before and thus represents an excellent candidate for hot spot monitoring to realize damage evolution. Researchers at UNM have conducted simulations demonstrating the ability of an ABG sensor to detect submicron damage in a composite laminate adhered to the ABG sensor. Further work is underway for presenting the experimental observation of the ABG sensor abilities as well as simulations to quantify damage on the basis of ABG response. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:43:55 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1164 This invention is a method for the synthesis and the design of mesoporous microparticles with biporous internal structure. The two types of pores are due to the coexistence of oil microemulsion droplets with smaller ionic micelles in aqueous drops of a few micrometers in diameter. This has been accomplished by tuning the phase state of the oil/water/surfactant mixture to ensure the presence of the different species. This invention also describes the procedures and ancillary steps that are necessary for obtaining bimodal porous structures through microemulsion templating. Briefly, the two surfactants should significantly decrease the interfacial tension when adsorbed, leading to a spontaneous formation of microemulsion droplets. These droplets are templated to give the larger pores with dimensions of tens of nanometers. The ionic surfactant should be soluble only in the aqueous phase while the nonionic surfactant should be soluble only in the oil phase. The excess ionic surfactant that remains in the bulk forms micelles that are trapped in the solidifying silica, creating the subset of smaller pores with dimensions of a few nanometers. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:27:50 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=890 Using our patented high throughput bead-based detection method we have identified unique compounds that inhibit the Bcl-2 anti-death process that keeps cancer cell alive. Our multiplex system allowed for the detection of six anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member proteins at once. The inhibitors, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these inhibitors, may be used in the treatment of diseases either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic or other drugs. Our patent covers a method for promotion of apoptosis in cells overexpressing anti-death Bcl-2 family proteins. This involves administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor chosen from the group of inhibitors we have found, additionally our patent covers a method to find such inhibitors. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:50:08 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=893 This technology suggests an inexpensive, green alternative to chemical anti-scalants that will increase the life expectancy of the membrane and therefore decrease water treatment costs. This water additive, unlike current anti-scalants, can be used not only to clean previously fouled membranes, but also as a means to prevent silica scaling from occurring. The use of this additive will increase the life expectancy of the membrane and therefore decrease water treatment costs. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:01:46 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1051 This innovative technology relates to bioactive agents such as drugs which can be targeted to specific cells or cell types and can be effectively transported across cell membranes. This is achieved by modifying the structure of the pharmaceutical so it can first escape the acidic environment of endocytosis and second only be cleaved by proteases present on cancer cells to enter the cell. This technology discloses the specific chemical structure and the detailed means by which our “smart drugs” can target and enter specific cells. It is believed that this novel technology resolves the medical issue associated with delivering larger drugs to explicit cells rather than all cells for highly advanced and cell-specific therapy. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:20:38 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1173 This novel invention provides methods for the treatment or prevention of the onset of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in a subject, or a method to reduce the severity of TLE in a subject. This is accomplished by administering a specific inhibitor to the subject after the subject has suffered from an insult known to cause TLE, or after an initial seizure where a clear cause can not be identified. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:17:07 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=945 A simple, fast, selective and highly sensitive electrochemical immunoassay for detection of autoantibodies in human and/or animal blood. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:24:26 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=806 The present invention is a simple, fast, selective and highly sensitive electrochemical assay and disposable device for detection of viruses, bacteria, proteins, DNA, and/or organic/inorganic compounds. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:24:01 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1092 The present technology describes novel non-invasive diagnostic tools/compounds which can be used to image and treat melanoma. The radio-labeled peptide probes can specifically bind to the melanocyte simulating hormone (MSH) receptors that are over-expressed on melanoma cells. Upon binding to the receptor they can be rapidly internalized and selectively deliver diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides to melanoma tumor cells for imaging or therapy. This means that these probes can not only be used as an effective diagnostic agent of melanoma when coupled with an imaging marker, but also as an effective carrier of a pharmaceutical to treat the cancer. Ultimately this technology represents a quantum step forward in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, including metastatic melanoma, using non-invasive molecular imaging techniques. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:46 -0700 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=875 This invention proposes an infrared retina that exploits the continuous spectral tunability of mid-infrared nanoscale quantum-dot based sensors. The detectors sense information over different spectrally overlapping bands, similar to the cones in the human eye. The resulting spectral diversity can be exploited in an array format with either fixed spatial functionality, as is done in the retina, or dynamic spatiotemporal functionality. This proposed scheme offers a new paradigm for infrared sensors that could provide infrared-color imaging capabilities akin to visible spectrum three-color imaging and photography. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:59:53 -0600 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=1098 This technology overcomes current limitations with a novel way for a mobile intelligent network to exploit the sparse representation of the parameter of interest in the transform domain and build a map of the parameter of interest with minimal sensing. The inventors propose a framework that is based upon leveraging the recent results in the area of non-uniform sampling theory. The proposed work allows the nodes to efficiently map areas that are not sensed directly, requiring considerably fewer samples to be taken to effectively map a spatial parameter of interest. The inventors also show how their framework allows a group of mobile nodes (robots) to map the obstacles non-invasively (for instance, before entering a room or a building), with very few measurements and using only wireless transceivers. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:04:33 -0600 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=779 This technology provides synthesis and fabrication of composite materials for dental fillings and other composites for crowns. This novel composite is made using made using magnetically aligned single-wall and multi-wall carbon nanotubes, graphite nanoparticles, nano-sized silicon carbide particles (or other carbides) and/or nano-sized aluminum oxide particles (or other oxides) together with polymer systems that cure under UV lights. Additionally crowns can be made by using Hot Isostatic Pressing of a ceramic powder and carbon nanotubes, i.e. by sintering, at a temperature lower than the melting point of both ingredients. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:12:29 -0600 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=770 The invention discloses paratransgenic methods for prevention, amelioration or treatment of infectious diseases in aquatic animals of commercial importance. In this method, common feed organisms such as microalgae, cyanobacteria and bacterial probiotics are modified to produce molecules that are toxic to infectious agents. The feed organisms can then be fed directly to animals or via an intermediate such as Artemia to confer passive immunity in shrimp, fish or shellfish against common infectious agents such as Vibrios and viruses. For over 10 years, our laboratory has been developing a novel approach to control of infectious disease transmission, termed paratransgenesis. In this strategy, commensal or symbiotic bacteria found at mucosal sites of pathogen transmission are isolated and genetically altered to elaborate immune peptides or engineered single chain antibody fragments (scFv) that neutralize infectious agents. The transgenic bacteria are then delivered back to mucosal sites where disease transmission occurs. We initially developed this “Trojan Horse” approach to combat transmission of the Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, by reduviid bug vectors (4-8). We have since applied it to commensal bacteria of the human respiratory tree (9), sharpshooter vectors of the grape bacterial disease, Pierce’s Disease (10), and sandfly vectors of visceral leishmaniasis (11). We recently demonstrated that a marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus bacillarus, could be genetically transformed to express a functional recombinant antibody (12). This study demonstrated that a transgenic cyanobacterium could produce an active recombinant antibody, and serves as a model for future applications of this technology. We have also demonstrated that Artemia can be used as a delivery vehicle for modified feed organisms to the commercially important shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (13,14). Ongoing studies involve development of several molecules with killing activity against Vibrio harveyi which will be expressed via modified probiotic bacteria and cyanobacteria to confer protection in farmed shrimp populations. *** Please see the links below for patents, publications, technical data and additional information Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:55:00 -0600 http://www.stc.unm.edu/portfolio/portfolio.php?t=705 This invention provides an innovative method of making supported organic/inorganic hybrid thin film membranes by successive surface activation and reaction. These membranes remain the advantage of ALD thin films, but increase the range of materials used and therefore the applications. In addition they can be pinhole-free or manufactured to have sub-nanometer porosities. This invention also provides a novel method for producing ultra-thin cap layers using plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (PA-ALD). The resulted cap is on the top surface only and no internal deposition takes place. The deposition is inherently conformal with a precisely controllable thickness. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:05:36 -0600