The present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising an N-intein polypeptide and an N-intein solubilization partner, and affinity chromatography matrices comprising such fusion proteins, as well as methods of using same.

This invention relates to monodisperse cross-linked polymer particles, comprising particles with a substantially smooth outer surface and an average diameter of less than 1 μm, wherein the particles are solid or porous, and wherein the coefficient of variation (CV) % of the particles, when measured by CPS disk centrifugation analysis, is less than 15%. These monodisperse cross-linked polymer particles may comprise magnetic material and are useful in various application. This invention also relates to monodisperse polymer particles for use as seed particles in the Ugelstad process.

A method of manufacturing and/or using a scaffold assembly for stem cell culture and tissue engineering applications is disclosed. The scaffold at least partially mimics a native biological environment by providing biochemical, topographical, mechanical and electrical cues by using an electroactive material. The assembly includes at least one layer of substantially aligned, electrospun polymer fiber having an operative connection for individual voltage application. A method of cell tissue engineering and/or stem cell differentiation that uses the assembly seeded with a sample of cells suspended in cell culture media, incubates and applies voltage to one or more layers, and thus produces cells and/or a tissue construct. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing the assembly including the steps of providing a first pre-electroded substrate surface; electrospinning a first substantially aligned polymer fiber layer onto the first surface; providing a second pre-electroded substrate surface; electrospinning a second substantially aligned polymer fiber layer onto the second surface; and, retaining together the layered surfaces with a clamp and/or an adhesive compound.

Disclosed herein is a particle delivery system comprising electrospun nanofiber comprised of coaxial fiber with a microfluidic core. Iron-doped apatite nanoparticles (IDANPs) have demonstrated a unique influence over phage killing of bacteria, whereby, IDANP-exposed bacterial cultures experience 2× the bacterial death as controls. IDANPs consist of hydroxyapatite (HA) doped with iron. HA is a mineral known to be biocompatible and analogous to the inorganic constituent of mammalian bone and teeth and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for many applications in medicine and dentistry. Previous work has shown that for IDANPs to enhance antibacterial activity of phage to the greatest extent, bacterial cultures should be exposed to IDANPs for 1 hr prior to phage introduction. Biocompatible polymer materials which encase IDANPs and/or phage can be used to disseminate IDANPs and/or phage in a controlled manner into a physiological system for treatment of bacterial infection. When components of said materials contain micro- or nano-scale components, high surface-to-volume ratio for treatment delivery is garnered.

A process for site-specific immobilization of an enzyme on a polymer involving pairing of an enzyme and polymer to optimize cross-linking between the enzyme and the polymer while avoiding conformational or biochemical inhibition of enzyme activity. The process involves site specific interaction in a multiple phase synthesis within a buffered reaction medium and in an inert atmosphere. The reaction kinetics of the conjugation are modulated by chilling the reaction medium containing the enzyme and polymer to about the maximum solvent density of the reaction medium. The cross-linking of the enzyme and a polymer pair performed produces an enzymatically active, stable conjugate.

A process for site-specific immobilization of an enzyme on a polymer involving pairing of an enzyme and polymer to optimize cross-linking between the enzyme and the polymer while avoiding conformational or biochemical inhibition of enzyme activity. The process involves site specific interaction in a multiple phase synthesis within a buffered reaction medium and in an inert atmosphere. The reaction kinetics of the conjugation are modulated by chilling the reaction medium containing the enzyme and polymer to about the maximum solvent density of the reaction medium. The cross-linking of the enzyme and a polymer pair performed produces an enzymatically active, stable conjugate.

The invention provides a transaminase mutant and application thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence of the transaminase mutant is formed after mutation of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and mutated amino acid sites comprise T7C+S47C sites. The transaminase mutant having the mutation sites can be further prepared into an immobilized enzyme through an immobilization technology, the immobilized enzyme has relatively high activity and high stability, can be recycled for multiple times, and is applicable to continuous flow reaction in a packed bed.

The invention provides a transaminase mutant and application thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence of the transaminase mutant is formed after mutation of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and mutated amino acid sites comprise T7C+S47C sites. The transaminase mutant having the mutation sites can be further prepared into an immobilized enzyme through an immobilization technology, the immobilized enzyme has relatively high activity and high stability, can be recycled for multiple times, and is applicable to continuous flow reaction in a packed bed.

The present invention includes compositions, methods, and methods of making and using a polymer-encased nanodisc comprising: one or more integral membrane proteins in a lipid layer; and a polymer comprising zwitterionic styrene-maleic acid derivative repeating units that carry zero or nearly zero negative charge, and the polymer-encased nanodiscs.

The present invention includes compositions, methods, and methods of making and using a polymer-encased nanodisc comprising: one or more integral membrane proteins in a lipid layer; and a polymer comprising zwitterionic styrene-maleic acid derivative repeating units that carry zero or nearly zero negative charge, and the polymer-encased nanodiscs.