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33842 – New methods using puupehenone compounds may kill or prevent Clostridium difficile infections. A UCF researcher has developed new methods for using puupehenone compounds to possibly treat illnesses caused by Clostridium bacterial strains, such as C. difficile. Puupehenone is a marine natural product excreted by some species of sponges and coral as a defense mechanism. The UCF invention may... Read More
34002 – Test for identifying fake urine when screening workers for illicit drugs UCF researchers have invented a test for determining whether a human urine sample is authentic or synthetic. The invention offers a possible low-cost solution to a growing problem in which people try to cheat job-related drug tests by submitting fake (synthetic) urine samples. Currently, employers must use external... Read More
33894 – Gold-Complexed Compounds May Effectively Inhibit the Growth of Replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium abscessus Pathogens Researchers at UCF and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg have identified gold (III) compounds that demonstrate antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab). The identified compounds... Read More
32882 – New Marine-Based Compounds and Aurora Kinase Inhibitors May Effectively Combat Malaria UCF researchers have identified new compounds that may treat malaria infections more effectively than current anti-malarial drugs. The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has developed resistance to most anti-malarial treatments, including chloroquine and artemisinin. Since the UCF anti-malarial... Read More
33871 – New MEA Fabrication Technology Enables the Development of Rapid Assays with 3D Cell-Based Biosensors for Toxicity Testing, Disease Modeling and Optical/Electrical Stimulation of Cell Types Exploded view of the 3D MEA: 3D microtowers, metallization, laminate insulation and containment culture well with a close-up of 10 recording sites per patch. Fully functional for “disease in a... Read More
33853 – New system can generate detailed images of internal body structures and identify defects embedded in electronic circuits UCF researchers have designed a new imaging system that captures detailed, 3D views of an object’s internal structures and is more affordable, compact and transportable than other systems. The invention is safe to use for both medical and scientific applications, since... Read More
33859 – Novel printing technique enables the production of custom porous 3D printed biomaterial scaffolds UCF researchers have developed a new 3D printing technique to produce biomaterial scaffolds with controlled porosity. This technique enables the design and production of 3D printed structures with pores throughout the scaffold, providing additional sites for seeded cells to adhere and grow. ... Read More
33849 – New 3D biomaterial scaffold enables testing of chemotherapies before administering to patients Researchers at UCF and the Mayo Clinic are developing a diagnostic tool for predicting patient outcome in response to a particular cancer treatment. The tool consists of biomaterial scaffolds that mimic the in vivo 3D structure of the tumor microenvironment and can be used as an in vitro platform... Read More
33854 – Novel kit uses electrophysiology to help clinicians identify and effectively treat bacterial diseases in plants, animals and humans UCF researchers have developed a novel diagnostic kit for quickly identifying microorganisms and detecting live versus dead cells, based on their electrical activity. The invention can also be used to determine whether a cell is actively growing,... Read More
33832 – Improved Lidocaine Formulation Minimizes Pain at Injection Site While Maintaining Effectiveness Administered in more than 1 million cutaneous surgeries per year, local anesthesia injections are viewed as a very painful part of minor surgery. Additionally, the lidocaine for such formulations is in short supply. In response to these issues, UCF researchers have developed a new... Read More
33783 – Survey Tool Enables Researchers to Capture Critical Data about Promoting Health Services to Young Adult Males UCF researchers have developed a valuable survey tool that can help organizations improve their healthcare service and delivery systems aimed at young adult and adolescent males (YAAMs). With the Young Adult and Adolescent Male Health Behavior Indicators Scale, health... Read More
33648 – Low-cost, innovative support tool enables care managers to implement interventions that prevent readmissions and improve the health outcomes of patients with heart failure UCF researchers have invented a decision support tool for enhancing patient care and reducing hospital readmissions related to heart failure (HF). The innovative support tool identifies and analyzes patient-centric human... Read More
33690 – Innovative system enables clinicians to better assess health risks of obese patients by accurately identifying and quantifying body fats UCF researchers have developed the first automated system to provide accurate, quantitative data regarding a person’s white and brown body fat (adipose tissue) levels. The innovation enables clinicians to better assess possible health issues and risks... Read More
33444 – Crowd sourced review and certifying service enables healthcare workers to have their PPE donning/doffing techniques collectively observed and reviewed in real time UCF researchers have developed a system and methods that healthcare workers, firefighters and other first responders can use to ensure that they and colleagues worldwide properly don (put on) or doff (take off) personnel... Read More
33396 – UCF researchers have developed an automated detection system aimed at helping to prevent and reduce the number of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) contracted during medical procedures. The new System for Detecting Sterile Field Events tracks activity during training or an actual medical procedure and identifies actions (such as contact-related events) that violate the sterile field and... Read More
33502 – According to the World Health Organization, vector-borne diseases account for more than 17 percent of all infectious diseases, causing more than 1 million deaths annually. Confirmed cases of Dengue fever (DENV), Zika (ZIKV) or chikungunya (CHIKV) in the Americas over the past few years now pose a heightened risk for epidemics in the U. S., as well as in the traditional endemic areas like... Read More
31064 – Life-saving device continuously checks a patient’s blood clotting status during and after surgery UCF researchers have developed a breakthrough early-detection system that helps detect life-threatening blood clots during and after a medical procedure. Conventional laboratory blood coagulation tests are time-intensive, requiring blood to be drawn, processed and analyzed. The UCF real-time... Read More
32897 – Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vector-Mediated Knockdown of NADPH Oxidase1 (Nox1) Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the aggregation of α-synuclein proteins and the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons. Oxidative stress is a major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of PD and has been linked to both α-synuclein aggregation and... Read More
33425 – Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are highly important for ion detection. Paper-based ISEs are a simple, low cost, and disposable alternative to conventional solid-contact ISEs. However, widespread use of paper-based ISEs has been limited due to poor detection limits (in the micromolar range), reliability, and selectivity. UCF researchers have developed novel ultra-sensitive paper-based ISEs... Read More
33286 – UCF researchers have discovered a rapid, cost-effective method to test samples for mycobacterial infection. This measurement can be obtained by assaying a biological sample from the subject, providing a more cost effective, less labor intensive testing process. Once a mycobacterium is identified, this method can be further used to monitor the infection after treatment with an antibiotic. ... Read More
33410 – An easy-to-use, accessible questionnaire that both clinicians and caregivers can use with dementia and delirium patients Currently, screenings for delirium and dementia are performed separately and administered by a trained professional. However, this process is inconvenient and time consuming for both the clinician and the patient, often leading to misdiagnoses in busy clinical settings... Read More
33321 – UCF researchers have invented a cerium oxide based coating with anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant properties that may delay or prevent osteolysis by reducing inflammation and the presence of free radicals while restoring the environment’s electrochemical balance. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has projected the number of annual primary total hip joint replacement surgeries to... Read More
31590 – Methods, apparatus and systems for doping cerium oxide and other therapeutically valuable nanoparticles with rare earth ions so that infrared light is absorbed and visible light is emitted through the process of up-conversion Nanoparticles are increasingly being used in the biological sciences for various therapeutic and research purposes. Nanoceria, for example, is a potentially powerful... Read More
31194 – Methods, systems and compositions of a biocompatible nanoparticle wherein normal, non-transformed, healthy cells are protected from oxidative stress, radiation therapy and chemotherapy while cancer cells are provided no protection Current treatments for cancer such as radiation and chemotherapy utilize the effects of oxidative stress and other reactive oxygen species to kill off diseased... Read More
31005 – The composition and synthesis of a biodegradable polymer coated ceria oxide nanoparticle Cerium oxide (CeO) nanoparticles exhibit potent antioxidant properties, as well as other desirable therapeutic characteristics such as prolonging neuronal cell life and protecting cells against UV radiation. Current methods of ceria nanoparticle synthesis and coating are expensive and have little... Read More
30733 – Integrated sensor characterizes optically dense materials by distinguishing the scattering and absorption coefficients of the materials from the incident light Non-invasive monitoring of various patients’ parameters, such as glucose concentrations, offers many advantages over invasive measurements. Patients could monitor themselves intermittently or continuously, without the need to... Read More
30812 – A composition of ceria oxide nanoparticles and their biological applications for the protection of mammalian cells against reactive oxygen species, with additional specifications for the treatment of retinal neurons against light-induced degeneration. Light-induced retina degeneration and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are two common medical conditions which lead to sight... Read More
30314 – Methods, systems, and devices for enhancing both efficacy and efficiency of Deep Brain Stimulation – electrical stimulation known to inhibit symptoms of neurological diseases, disorders, and the like, such as tremors in Parkinson’s disease; and to substantially reduce power demands for Deep Brain Stimulation. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a form of brain surgery used to treat several... Read More
30450 – A probe that simultaneously performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) and spectral analysis using back reflected light The present invention provides a tunable source of low-coherence light to simultaneously conduct spatial imaging and spectral sensing for tissue diagnosis. It offers a real time three dimensional colposcopy diagnosis and the detailed guidance to physically biopsy... Read More
30402 – Non-invasive method and apparatus for image acquisition through a multimode fiber An optical fiber is a glass or plastic fiber that carries light along its length. Optical fibers have been widely used in several imaging devices, such as endoscopes and borescopes, which are utilized in medical and industrial applications in order to capture images from spaces closed to direct vision. In the... Read More
32131 – This invention is a new enzyme-assisted detection system for analyzing nucleic acids with real-time fluorescent signal generation Detection of nucleic acid sequences is critical for disease diagnosis, drug development, biomedical research, and forensic testing. A nucleic acid reporter is commonly used for the detection of specific sequences. This reporter probe is labeled with a... Read More
30949 – A nanoceria based regenerative radical sensor for plasma testing, food quality control, or drug development UCF researchers have developed an electrochemical sensor for the measurement of free radicals, or materials that generate free radicals, in solution. Ideal for biomedical, pharmaceutical, or sensor companies, this sensor has a long lifetime with the option of multiple uses. With an... Read More
32194 – This discovery provides methods and compounds for decreasing the expression of LIMK1 and AurKA in cancer cells. Metastasis of tumor cells contributes to about 90% of cancer-related deaths. Proteins that regulate cell motility are attractive targets for cancer therapy because they can also play key roles in cell survival, proliferation, and migration. Lim kinase 1 (LIMK1) is a protein that... Read More
31869 – This invention provides a method for co-culturing isolated motoneurons with Schwann cells in a chemically defined serum-free medium that supports the growth and myelination of the motoneurons. Demyelinating neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis result from damage to the insulating myelin sheath surrounding motoneurons. Loss of this myelin sheath significantly impairs signal... Read More
31689 – Novel approach to HIV therapy enables the body’s own innate defense mechanisms to prevent HIV infection UCF researchers have developed a technique that induces human cells to produce functional theta-defensins, which are known to inhibit infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Theta-defensins, such as retrocyclins, are endogenous antimicrobial... Read More
31028 – Methods and apparatus for creating a portable noninvasive glucose monitoring system, which includes a sensing solution containing specially designed nanoparticles sensitive to very minute changes in glucose level. Diabetes mellitus is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. It is a medical disorder characterized by persistent variable hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), resulting... Read More
32653 – The current technology for circular electrode contacts on implanted leads for deep brain stimulation (DBS) has a major limitation: the electronic current flow is also a annular outflow from the cathode ring to an adjacent anode ring on the same lead. Although this arrangement works when the electrode contact is centered in the target site, e.g., the subthalamic nucleus (STN), it doesn’t work... Read More
33036 – By forming a polymer casing that can encapsulate nanoparticles to deliver them to specific locations in the human body based on the polymer spheres’ shape, researchers have developed a technology to advance biomedical treatment and diagnosis. This ability to produce polymeric particles with a size, shape, and composition that determines finely-tuned physiochemical properties is made more... Read More
31366 – Bacterial toxins have been known to be primary mediators of a number of diseases both of the intestinal tract and of other organ systems. Some bacterial toxins are known as AB-type toxins, since they are composed of a catalytic A subunit and a cell binding B subunit. Examples of such AB-type toxins include cholera toxin (CT), the E.coli heat-labile toxin (LT) responsible for traveler’s... Read More
33361 – UCF researchers have created a new weapon in the fight against cancer by coating nanoparticles of cerium oxide, nanoceria, with polymers to affect the localization of nanoceria within cells and modulate its toxicity based on pH, to fight cancer cells while protecting normal cells. Even in the presence of oxygen, many cancers preferentially obtain their energy by converting glucose into... Read More
31152 – Nervous system diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries are debilitating conditions which currently have no effective treatments. Model systems which can effectively represent both neurons and muscles as well as the interaction between them are needed so that diseases can be studied and drug candidates can be accurately evaluated. ... Read More
32747 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) have developed a scalable, environmentally friendly method to produce oxidized graphite. UCF’s oxidized graphite is water dispersible, which aids in the preparation of thin films, carbon fibers, and carbon nanotubes; has resistivities ranging from 50-8,000 Ω/cm2; and, most importantly, allows for easy conversion to graphene. Oxidized... Read More
30810 – Polyamines are required in many cellular processes of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Polyamines contribute to regulation of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and homeostasis, and have been shown to play specific roles in replication, transcription, and translation. Studies have shown that cancer cells up-regulate polyamine transporters thereby taking in drastically more... Read More
32918 – The Capillary Ionic Transistor (CIT) nanodevice provides control of ionic transport through the nanochannel by gate voltage for use by pharmaceutical companies, medical instruments companies, hospitals, research organizations, microelectromechanical systems companies, and the chemical industry. Nanofluidic devices such as ionic diodes and ionic transistors form key elements in ionic... Read More
32372 – Of the ~4,400 Escherichia coli (E. coli) open reading frames, roughly a third have not had their encoded protein functions experimentally verified. This collection of genes creates a significant black box in our understanding of fundamental cellular physiology, especially when considering those genes of unknown function that are essential for viability. Much of what is known about gene... Read More
32772 – For drug analysts, it is difficult to identify certain types of drugs. Additionally, the frequency of new drugs introduced is at an alarming rate and this enhances the problem faced by the drug analysts. To help the drug analysts in the field, there are many reagent kits available to identify certain drugs based on the color they generate when reacted with the reagents. However, the... Read More
32954 – The nutraceuticals, fodder, and laboratory industries require different standards and specifications for the amino acids and small peptide chains used. However, current methodology cannot produce these materials at the same time to meet these different standards and specifications because they are produced by aqueous acid hydrolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis. Additionally, these processes are... Read More