| An Electronic Microfluidic Platform for On-Chip Apoptosis Quantification using Annexin V-Based PS Externalization Detection-GT NEXT |
- This electronic microchip integrates an electrical sensor network with a microfluidic capture chamber to detect phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, offering a compact, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution for apoptotic analysis.
- The prototype provides high sensitivity and specificity without the need for prelabeling, making it suitable for diverse applications in clinical diagnostics and biomedical research.
- It supports drug discovery, toxicity evaluation, and bioprocessing optimizations, enhancing disease mechanism studies and therapeutic target identification.
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9306 |
|
| Capillary Driven Microneedle Patch for Blood Biomarker Analysis |
- This bioresorbable thermoplastic microneedle platform accurately collects capillary blood and quantifies biomarkers on-chip, supported by a smartphone attachment for easy read-out.
- The prototype integrates hollow microneedles with microfluidic patterns and crossflow filtration, providing low-cost, reliable, and sensitive point-of-care blood testing.
- It enables point-of-care personalized diagnostics and blood biomarker analysis in clinical and remote settings without expensive peripheral equipment.
|
9292 |
|
| Antigen-specific Cell Programming Using non-viral Approaches |
- This innovative technology uses synthetic nanoparticles to deliver gene modulators and engineered MHC molecules directly to antigen-specific T cells in vivo, enhancing T cell functions and bypassing ex vivo processes.
- The prototype improves T cell specificity and reduces off-target toxicity, significantly lowering costs and manufacturing time for effective T cell therapies.
- It has applications in cancer therapy, immune therapy, autoimmune disease therapy, and infectious disease therapy.
|
8703 |
|
| Scarless isolation of antigen-specific T cells for CAR T cell manufacturing via DNA-gated sorting |
- This technology introduces DNA-gated sorting (DGS) for label-free isolation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, improving CAR T cell therapy.
- The prototype enhances CAR T cell scalability and therapeutic effectiveness against solid tumors by using a DNA gate mechanism for targeted T cell capture and release.
- DGS improves in vivo persistence and specificity of CAR T cells, offering better treatment outcomes for solid tumors and other cancers.
|
9388 |
|
| Needle-like Nanostructures to Deliver Multi-scale Biomolecules to Non-activated Immune Cells |
- This functionalized nanowire platform delivers multiple genetic materials to naïve T and B cells without pre-activation, enhancing their efficacy in adoptive cell therapy.
- The prototype improves gene delivery efficiency while preserving the naïve state of immune cells, increasing cell viability and immune response modulation.
- It offers superior protection against intracellular pathogens and serves as a research tool for immune cell manipulation across various species, ages, and subtypes.
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9341 |
|
| Multi-Niche Human Bone Marrow-On-A-Chip for Plasma Cell Survival and Differentiation |
- This novel microfluidic chip simulates the human bone marrow environment, incorporating multiple niches and supporting long-term plasma cell culture and study.
- The prototype enables comprehensive study of plasma cell maturation, aiding the development of targeted therapies for plasma cell-related disorders.
- It overcomes limitations in traditional plasma cell culture, facilitating vaccine development, antibody production research, and immune response modulation.
|
9246 |
|
| Lymphoid-Lymphatics-Integrated Organ-on-Chip Device and Method |
- This innovative organ-on-chip system combines vascularized lung and lymphoid tissues, aiding studies on airway infections.
- The prototype supports diverse cell cultures, making it useful for screening treatments and vaccines.
- It enhances current lung-on-chip models by accurately simulating lung tissue and immune responses.
|
9349 |
|
| Functionalized Nanowires for miRNA-mediated Programming of Naive T Cells |
- Technology Overview: Georgia Tech's functionalized nanowires deliver genetic materials like miRNAs and CRISPR directly to naive T cells, enhancing their therapeutic potential without pre-activation.
- Advantages: This method preserves the naive state of T cells, allowing for better viability and functionality, reduced exhaustion, and delivery of both small and large biomolecules, including lentiviral particles.
- Commercial Applications: The technology can be used in adoptive T cell therapy for cancer and infectious diseases, therapeutic delivery of biomolecules, and as a research tool for immune cell manipulation.
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9341 |
|
| Lymphoid Tissues with Switchable Protein Gradients |
- Technology Overview: Georgia Tech's hydrogel-based immune organoids mimic lymphoid tissue, enabling ex vivo differentiation of B cells and studying immune responses to infections and vaccinations.
- Advantages: This non-invasive method supports long-term B and T cell survival, mimics antibody production processes, and offers insights into diseases like lymphoma.
- Commercial Applications: Useful for drug discovery, clinical research on immune disorders, personalized medicine, and academic studies in immunology.
|
2024-116 |
|
| Engineering Antigen-Specific T Cells for CAR T Cell Therapy via Antigen-Presenting Lipid Nanoparticles |
Technology Overview: Georgia Tech's new CAR T cell therapy uses lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to program antigen-specific T cells in vivo, potentially reducing costs and production time. Advantages: This approach avoids expensive and time-consuming ex vivo manufacturing, minimizes off-target effects, can adapt to various CAR constructs and cancer types, and promises rapid scaling and reduced costs. Commercial Applications: Applicable to multiple myeloma, CD19+ cancers, and a wide range of other cancers, this technology streamlines CAR T cell therapy manufacturing for faster, more affordable treatments.
|
9386 |
|
| Driving Neural Activity to Rapidly Control Inflammation, Protein, and Gene Expression in the Brain |
- Novel non-invasive method utilizing neural activity to swiftly control inflammation, protein, and gene expression in the brain.
- The technology enables rapid and precise modulation of brain functions, potentially revolutionizing treatment for various neurological conditions.
- Commercial applications include treating Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and more, offering faster, non-invasive, and targeted therapeutic options.
|
7773 |
|
| Novel Hydrogels for Encapsulation, Vascularization, and Transplantation of Cells |
- This hydrolytically degradable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel leverages ester linkages combined at various ratios with non-degradable macromers to enable tunable degradation kinetics.
- Potential applications include controlled release and delivery of drugs or proteins as well as cell encapsulation. It can also be used as a delivery vehicle and adhesive for cells in transplantation settings.
- These innovative hydrogels allow for rapid hydrolytic cleavage in vivo but remain stable in vitro for weeks at neural pH 7 to support regenerative medicine techniques.
|
9019 |
|
| Improving Quantitative Phase Imaging to Enhance Reliability and Broaden Applications |
- Universal application of an OBM/qOBM optical phase imaging device is made possible by the optimized SNR that identifies configurations with fewer limitations (e.g., conditions, tissue).
- The simulated SNR can identify non-intuitive geometries for optical phase imaging devices that previously may not have been identified by the arduous experimental optimization process.
- Optimized SNR when OBM/qOBM devices take in-vivo and in-situ measurements have been proven reliable across multiple types of tissue.
|
8936 |
|
| Enhanced Diversifying Base Editors for Directed Evolution in S. cerevisiae |
- This invention presents an optimized and integrated CRISPR diversifying base editor for use in yeast and demonstrate its ability to rapidly improve the affinity of an antibody through yeast display.
- The innovation has enhanced the base editor mutation rate up has been increased to 27-fold by characterizing an improved key variant and by optimizing the structure of the CRISPR guide RNAs.
- The technology has attained a rate roughly 10-fold higher than state-of-art systems and facilitates ultra-rapid antibody diversification.
|
9111 |
|
| Novel Repressor Proteins for Gene Regulation and CRISPRi |
- The new CRISPRi platform uses novel fusion proteins to specifically inhibit target genes of interest and overcome the off-target issues with existing CRISPR platforms already on the market.
- The technology can be used as a life science tool and/or for diagnostics and therapeutics.
- The platform aims to limit off-target editing, circumvent incomplete gene knockdown sgRNA sequence-dependent repression activity, and variable performance across human cancer cell lines.
|
9106 |
|
| Enabling Rapid Detection of Label-Free RNA for Use in COVID-19 Testing |
- Earlier detection: Identifying the viral components themselves—rather than the body’s reaction to the viral presence (i.e., antibodies)—potentially improves early detection in asymptomatic subjects.
- Simpler process: Use of minimal reagents and fewer preparatory steps is designed to enable more efficient and facile sample preparation. Avoidance of “wash steps” aims to minimize target loss.
- Fewer disruptions: Avoiding the use of high-demand supplies (e.g., swabs) and reagents potentially reduces supply-chain and contamination issues.
|
8669 |
|
| Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA)–Based Opsin Expression Enables New and Safer Optogenetic Studies |
- Opsin expression using messenger RNA (mRNA) provides an alternative to viral vectors for use in optogenetic studies involving neurons as well as drug testing with cardiomyocytes.
- Expression with mRNAs has lower toxicity and is usually detectable within 2–24 hours rather than 2–3 weeks.
- The controllable and temporary nature of mRNA offers improved expression regulation based on the transfection amount.
|
7534 |
|
| Microfluidic Device Enables Prediction of T-Cell Ability to Home and Engraft to Disease Tissues |
- Improve the homing capabilities of T cells to increase adoptive cell therapy treatment response and safety while decreasing off-target effects.
- Enhance tumor-infiltrating capabilities with engineered microfluidic devices that identify optimal subsets of cells.
- Optimize development pipelines by reducing the number of laborious in vivo studies, while also helping cell therapy companies ensure their products reach the desired tissue.
|
9052 |
|
| Lymphatic System-Specific Lipid Nanoparticles |
- This platform technology improves current targeting to lymphatic tissues and specifically lymphatic endothelial cells.
- Provides superior tissue targeting and functional delivery of mRNA to lymphatics via loco-regional dermal or subcutaneous avenues.
- mRNA-based platforms offer a transient and less immunogenic method of delivery compared to protein therapeutics or adeno-associated virus-based platforms.
|
9056 |
|
| Soft Wireless Sternal Patch for Detecting Systemic Vasoconstriction Using Photoplethysmography |
- A wireless, soft sternal patch includes integrated skin-like, photolithographically patterned electronics specifically tuned to continuously measure vasoconstriction from the sternum.
- In overnight trials, the device detected sleep apnea and hypopnea with 95% precision and 100% sensitivity compared to data professionally scored by licensed clinicians.
- Use of this patch on the chest could improve detection of key markers of numerous harmful health conditions.
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9170 |
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