Professor Iman Noshadi from the University of California, Riverside have developed a choline BIL-functionalized GelMA hydrogel (BioGel) with multifunctional properties for chronic wound treatment. The invention works by enhancing gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) with a special choline-based bio-ionic liquid, which significantly increases the number of intact vascular tubes compared to standard GelMA. Research results suggest that BioGel can accelerate wound closure, with chronic wounds fully healing in about 21 days. This technology is advantageous over existing treatments because the application of BioGel may accelerate chronic wound closure, reduce biofilm, and promote hair regrowth. 

Professor Iman Noshadi and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside have developed an innovative, transparent, and highly effective material called BioPEG hydrogel for corneal repair. This technology is a next-generation anti-microbial bioadhesive that leverages a flexible polymer (PEGDA) to provide a scaffold that is supple enough to conform to the delicate surface of the eye and facilitate corneal repair and regeneration. This technology is advantageous because the antimicrobial hydrogel is applied as a liquid and rapidly cures using visible light to form a strong, watertight, and highly adhesive transparent patch.    Fig 1: A schematic of the UCR BioPEG synthesis: visible light crosslinks the hydrogel structure from polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and bio-ionic liquid. 

Professor Jin Nam and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside have developed novel synthesize piezoelectric scaffolds that can be remotely activated without a physically connected electrical wire to produce optimal electric fields in vivo for enhanced nerve regeneration. The technology works by using a biocompatible nanofibrous scaffold with a mesh-like structure that mimics the body’s natural tissue architecture and is made from piezoelectric materials. This technology allows for the mechano-electrical stimulation (MES) on endogenous or transplanted stem cells to enhance their neural differentiation/maturation. This technology is advantageous because this scaffold can be applied as a conduit or patch and activated remotely and non-invasively.  Fig 1: In vivo characterization of piezoelectric conduits and their impact on sciatic nerve regeneration. (a) A photo showing the transplantation of the P(VDF-TrFE) conduit into the rat to bridge the sciatic nerve gap. (b) Shockwave magnitude-dependent voltage outputs from P(VDF-TrFE) conduits. (c) A zoomed-in voltage output graph showing the  generation of 200 mVp-p under the 4-bar pressure of the shockwave actuation. (d, e) Large-field-of-view immunofluorescence images showing the entire structure of P(VDF-TrFE) conduit and ingrowth tissue, bridging transected sciatic nerve in (d) static and (e) MES conditions (NF200: axonal marker NF200; S1-S4 denote each of the 4 rats in the static group while MES1-MES4 denote each of the 4 rats from the MES group).

Professor Linlin Zhao and their team from the University of California, Riverside have developed mTAP, a new chemical probe engineered to selectively bind to abasic sites within mitochondrial DNA without affecting nuclear DNA. Unlike non-specific agents, mTAP is equipped with a mitochondria-targeting group, ensuring its precise localization. This invention is advantageous over current technology because its mechanism of action involves forming a stable chemical bond with damaged DNA sites, thereby protecting mtDNA from enzymatic cleavage and maintaining its replication and transcriptional activities.    Fig 1: The UCR mitochondria-targeting water-soluble probe mTAP exclusively reacts with mitochondrial abasic sites, and retains mitochondrial DNA levels under genotoxic stress which are responsible for certain mitochondrial diseases. 

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Professor Anubhuti Goel and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside have developed a novel diagnostic tool and software program that provides a quick, objective measure of sensory issues for individuals with Autism spectrum disorders and Fragile X syndrome. This tool works by using a software application to administer a game. Based on the individual’s score at the end of the game, a diagnosis about sensory issues may be made. This technology is advantageous because it may provide an easily accessible, low cost, and safe diagnostic tool for Fragile X Syndrome and Autism that can be developed as a telehealth diagnostic tool.     

Professor Erica Heinrich and their team from the University of California, Riverside have developed a novel clinical tool that can be used for the continuous, objective prediction and monitoring of dyspnea in hospitalized and ICU patients. This tool works by using machine learning models to continuous monitor and predict bouts of dyspnea, even when patient monitoring is difficult due to sedation or other medical conditions. This technology has been tested in healthy individuals and is advantageous because it leverages non-invasive biomarkers and it is designed to overcome the subjectivity and low resolution of current methods.

Professor Kevin Kou and his team at the University of California, Riverside, in collaboration with Professor Wendong Huang's lab at City of Hope, have developed a new method for synthesizing modified versions of bersavine. Using this method, several novel bersavine compounds were synthesized. When these new compounds were tested against lymphoma cells, powerful anti-cancer effects were demonstrated. Notably, these newly synthesized analogs are more effective at inhibiting cell growth than the naturally occurring bersavine. 

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Professor Kevin Kou and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside and the City of Hope National Medical Center have developed a chemical synthetic strategy that allows for the efficient generation of a diverse library of oxyberberine derivatives. This technology is advantageous because the family of protoberberine molecules, the best known being berberine, is generally considered non-toxic. As such, protoberberine derivatives are likely to elicit a better safety profile compared to existing AMPK inhibitors that are highly toxic and be developed to treat a range of diseases.  Fig 1: Four of the UCR novel AMPK inhibitors resulting from the UCR synthesis strategy.

Professor Bahman Anvari and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside and the University of Maryland have developed nanoparticle systems with greater fluorescence emission when compared to known dyes. These nanoparticles incorporate dual near infrared fluorescence (NIR) and magnetic resonance (MR) dyes for improved fluorescence.  The nanoparticles encapsulate brominated carbocyanine dyes with MR qualities and ICG with NIR properties. This technology is advantageous because these nanoparticles containing these dyes exhibit greater fluorescence emission when compared to the individual dyes.  This presents a promising dual-mode platform with high optical sensitivity and clinical diagnostic and research applications.  

This technology provides methods for synthesizing a group of naturally occurring compounds, syrbactins, and their derivatives, being of significant commercial value due to the ability of some of the members to inhibit proteasomal activity. TIR-199, for example, is one of the most potent proteasome inhibitors synthesized so far. The efficacy and efficiency of this novel drug candidate in inducing tumor cell death in multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, and other types of cancer (e.g. kidney, colon, melanoma, ovarian) has been demonstrated using in vitro systems, cell lines, and animal models (reported for the first time for a syrbactin compound). TIR-199 drug candidate is ready for further pre-clinical and eventually clinical studies.  

Professor Giulia Palermo and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside and the University of Rochester have developed high-fidelity Cas13a variants with increased sensitivity for base pair mismatches.The activation of these Cas13a variants can be inhibited with a single mismatch between guide-RNA and target-RNA, a property that can be used for the detection of SNPs associated with diseases or specific genotypic sequences.  

Professor Hideaki Tsutsui and colleagues from the University of California, Riverside have developed a portable handheld device for nucleic acid extraction. With its high-speed motor, knurled lysis chamber for rapid sample lysis, and quick nucleic acid extraction using paper disks, this device can yield ready-to-use extracts in just 12 minutes, significantly reducing the time required for sample preparation. This technology is advantageous over current methods as it can be expedited without the need for cumbersome specimen collection, packaging, and submission, shortening the turnaround time.  

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Prof. John Franchak and his team have developed a prototype system that accurately classifies an infant's body position.

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