APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MAKING RECOMBINANT PROTEIN-STABILIZED MONODISPERSE MICROBUBBLES

A microfluidic device for generating mi-crobubbles includes a substrate and a microfluidic channel embedded in the substrate. The microfluidic channel includes a plurality of fluid inlets, at least one bubble formation outlet having a nozzle with an adjustable diameter, and a flow focusing junction in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid inlets and the bubble formation outlet. A method for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles with a microfluidic device includes supplying a flow of dispersed phase fluid into a first fluid inlet of a microfluidic channel, supplying a flow of continuous phase fluid into a second fluid inlet of the microfluidic channel, and adjusting a diameter of a nozzle to obtain a plurality of monodisperse microbubbles having a specified diameter. 1. A microfluidic device for generating microbubbles comprising:a substrate; anda microfluidic channel embedded in the substrate, the microfluidic channel comprising:a plurality of fluid inlets;at least one bubble formation outlet, the at least one bubble formation outlet comprising a nozzle having an adjustable diameter; anda flow focusing junction in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid inlets and the bubble formation outlet.2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein a first fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets comprises an inlet for a gas claim 1 , and a second fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets comprises an inlet for a liquid.3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid inlet and the second fluid discharge into the flow focusing junction claim 1 , and wherein the bubble formation outlet is disposed at the flow focusing junction.4. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising a valve adapted to constrict the nozzle to change the diameter of the nozzle.5. The microfluidic device of claim 4 , wherein the valve is an fluid-actuated valve.6. The microfluidic device of comprising more than one bubble formation outlet claim 1 , ...

Novel Vesicles and Nanostructures from Recombinant Proteins

The present invention includes a composition comprising at least one oleosin-like protein. The present invention also includes a composition comprising a vesicle comprising at least one oleosin-like protein. 1. A composition comprising a protein comprising a sequence that has at least 80% homology to an oleosin-like protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-3 , SEQ ID NOs:13-28 , and combinations thereof.2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said sequence has at least 90% homology to an oleosin-like protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-3 claim 1 , SEQ ID NOs:13-28 claim 1 , and combinations thereof.3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein said sequence has at least 95% homology to an oleosin-like protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-3 claim 2 , SEQ ID NOs:13-28 claim 2 , and combinations thereof.4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein a receptor binding motif is attached to the N-terminus or the C-terminus of said sequence via an amide bond.5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein said motif is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:4-6.6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic segment of said oleosin-like protein is replaced with a hydrophobic elastin-like protein or a leucine zipper.7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the proline knot of said oleosin-like protein is replaced with at least one repeat of SEQ ID NO:7.8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least two residues of said oleosin-like protein are replaced with cysteine residues.9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one tyrosine residue in said oleosin-like protein is converted to a L-DOPA residue via a chemical reaction.10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein at least two of said L-DOPA residues are further crosslinked via a chemical reaction.11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one residue in the proline knot of said oleosin-like protein is replaced with a tyrosine residue.12. The ...

Ultrasound Responsive Microbubbles And Related Methods

A microbubble composition, comprising: a plurality of microbubbles, a microbubble comprising a noble gas and/or perfluorocarbon encapsulated within a shell that comprises one or more of a lipid, a protein, or a polymer, and a microbubble optionally defining a cross-sectional dimension in the range of from about 0.5 to about 20 micrometers. A method, comprising forming a composition according to the present disclosure. A method, comprising administering a microbubble composition according to the present disclosure to a subject, the composition optionally comprising echogenic phospholipid microbubbles. A method, comprising: (a) identifying, with the application of energy, the location of a microbubble composition according to the present disclosure, the energy optionally being ultrasound, (b) controllably effecting rupture of microbubbles of a microbubble composition of the present disclosure, the rupture optionally being effected by application of ultrasound, or both (a) and (b).

Polymersomes incorporating highly emissive probes

The instant invention concerns compositions comprising polymersomes, visible or near infrared emissive agents, and optionally a targeting moiety associated with a surface of the polymersome. The invention also relates to use of these compositions in the treatment of disease and in imaging methodology.

Apparatus and methods for making recombinant protein-stabilized monodisperse microbubbles

A microfluidic device for generating microbubbles includes a substrate and a microfluidic channel embedded in the substrate. The microfluidic channel includes a plurality of fluid inlets, at least one bubble formation outlet having a nozzle with an adjustable diameter, and a flow focusing junction in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid inlets and the bubble formation outlet. A method for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles with a microfluidic device includes supplying a flow of dispersed phase fluid into a first fluid inlet of a microfluidic channel, supplying a flow of continuous phase fluid into a second fluid inlet of the microfluidic channel, and adjusting a diameter of a nozzle to obtain a plurality of monodisperse microbubbles having a specified diameter.

Self-assembled biodegradable polymersomes

The invention concerns a block copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polycaprolactone, the polyethylene oxide having a number average molecular weight from about 2.0 to about 3.8 kD, the block copolymer having a fraction of polyethylene oxide of from about 11.8 to 18.8 percent by weight. The invention also concerns polymersomes made from such copolymers and to methods of making the polymersomes.

Polymersomes incorporating highly emissive probes

Ultrasonically induced release from polymer vesicles

Disclosed are methods of controllably permeabilizing polymersomes. Such methods are useful in permeabilizing polymersomes so as to effect controlled release of therapeutic or imaging agents to a particular location. Also disclosed are systems for controllably delivering various agents to particular locations via polymersomes and related polymersome-based methods for treating diseases and for imaging.

Polymersomes incorporating highly emissive probes

The instant invention concerns compositions comprising polymersomes, visible or near infrared emissive agents, and optionally a targeting moiety associated with a surface of the polymersome. The invention also relates to use of these compositions in the treatment of disease and in imaging methodology.

Novel vesicles and nanostructures from recombinant proteins

The present invention includes a composition comprising at least one oleosin- like protein. The present invention also includes a composition comprising a vesicle comprising at least one oleosin-like protein.