Higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) predict cardiovascular events and also portend a poorer prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Much in-vitro and in-vivo data support a role for CRP in atherogenesis. Using the one-bead-one-compound (OBOC) combinatorial library method we have successfully identified peptides against human CRP ...
PEG-dendritic block copolymer (telodendrimer) is a unique class of polymers with well-defined structures and tunable aggregation properties, which have been recently developed as novel micelle-based nanocarriers. This new class of nanocarrier is highly versatile, robust, multifunctional and has many unique properties for drug delivery that are supe...
A unique core-inversible micelle (CIM) was formed via PEG(5k)CA8 for hydrophilic drug delivery. An amyloid-fibril-inhibiting water-soluble molecule, congo red (CR), has been loaded into the hydrophilic core of CIMs. The targeting folate-CIMs significantly enhanced the intracellular delivery of hydrophilic CR in a folate receptor-expressing cell lin...
Biopatterning has been increasingly used for well-defined cellular microenvironment, patterned surface topology, and guided biological cues; however, it meets challenges on biocompatibility, thermal and chemical sensitivity, as well as limited availability of reagents. In this paper, we aim at combining the desired features from non-contact inkjet ...
Increased concentrations of secreted phospholipase A2 type IIA (sPLA2-IIA), have been found in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It has been shown that sPLA2-IIA specifically binds to integrin αvβ3, and initiates a signaling pathway that leads to cell proliferation and inflammation. Therefore, the interaction between integri...
Fully understanding the influence of blood proteins on the assembly structure and dynamics within nanoparticles is difficult because of the complexity of the system and the difficulty in probing the diverse elements and milieus involved. Here we show the use of site-specific labeling with spin probes and fluorophores combined with electron paramagn...
The serologic hallmark of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is the presence of antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMAs) directed against the E2 subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2). The PBC-related autoepitope of PDC-E2 contains lipoic acid, and previous work has demonstrated that mimics of lipoic acid following immunization of mice ...
Despite advances in cancer treatment over the past few decades, metastatic disease remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality. Recent reports suggest the formation of a "premetastatic niche" before the metastatic cascade, where niche is defined as the microenvironment for tumor cells to be able to engraft and proliferate at secondary site...
Micellar nanoparticles based on linear polyethylene glycol (PEG) block dendritic cholic acids (CA) copolymers (telodendrimers), for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancers, are reported. The micellar nanoparticles have been decorated with a high-affinity "OA02" peptide against α-3 integrin receptor to improve the...