A polymeric compound is disclosed herein, having the general formula I:

##STR00001##

wherein m, n, X, Y, Z and L are as defined herein. Further disclosed herein are lipid bilayers comprising at least one bilayer-forming lipid and the aforementioned polymeric compound, and liposomes comprising such a bilayer, as well as methods, uses and compositions utilizing such bilayers and/or liposomes for reducing a friction coefficient of a surface and/or for inhibiting biofilm formation.

Compositions and methods for therapeutic delivery are disclosed. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to nanoparticle compositions that sequester the activity of a target molecule while leaving other domains accessible to bind targeted tissues of interest. Methods for thrombus dissolution include administering a nanoparticle reversibly coupled to a target molecule that can dissolve a blood clot. Compositions and methods for inducing blood clotting are also disclosed. Methods for inducing blood clotting include administering a nanoparticle reversibly coupled to a target molecule that can induce the formation of a blood clot. Methods for sequestering a target molecule are also disclosed. The method includes reversibly coupling a target molecule to a nanoparticle having an affinity ligand that reversibly couples the target molecule, and thus, sequesters the target molecule activity until the target molecule interacts with its substrate resulting in the release of the target molecule.

A new nanoscale carrier made by one or more pH-sensitive peptides is provided for delivery of a biologically active substance. The peptides are composed of pH-sensitive hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids in the backbone. As the pH environment changes from physiological pH level to a weakly acidic environment such as near a tumor site (pH6.5-6.9), the peptides may dissolve, releasing the biological substance. Also provided are the delivery methods and related kits.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating a subject in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of vesicles with functional transmembrane proteins embedded in the plasma membrane. Also provided herein are methods of restoring gap junctional communication comprising the administration of an effective amount of vesicles.

This disclosure provides compositions and methods for promoting the formation, expansion and recruitment of T.sub.R1 cells and/or B cells in an antigen-specific manner and treating diseases and disorders in a subject in need thereof.

Provided herein are compounds that inhibit a binding interaction between a integrin and a G protein subunit, as well as compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the same, and related kits. In some embodiments, the compound is an antibody or antibody analog, and, in other embodiments, the compound is a peptide or peptide analog. Also provided are methods of using the compounds, including methods of treating or preventing a medical condition, such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, or inflammation.

The present invention provides a method of treating an infectious disease. The method comprises the step of administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of (i) a polymer-flavonoid conjugate, (ii) a flavonoid oligomer, or (iii) micelles having a shell formed by one or more polymer-flavonoid conjugates or one or more flavonoid oligomers, or the combination thereof, and having an agent encapsulated within the shell. The present method is effective to treat viral infection, e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), enterovirus virus, HIV, hepatitis B virus, MERS-CoV, influenza virus, Dengue virus, respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis C virus, monkeypox virus, human papillomavirus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas, tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Tetani bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, meningococcus, Escherichia coli, Legionella, Neisseria gonorrhea, Neisseria meningitidis, and Salmonella.

The present invention relates to reverse-micellar systems comprising at least an active agent, an acylglycerol, a sterol, lecithin, ethanol and water, for use in chelation and/or sequestering of a radionuclide and/or a metal in a patient. The invention also relates to the reverse-micellar systems and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said reverse-micellar systems.

The present invention provides a novel vaccine compound of micellar nanoparticles to be administered intranasally to treat and/or prevent the disease called atherosclerosis, which results from an abnormal metabolism of circulating lipids. The novelty of the vaccine compound of the present invention is the use of Archaebacterian lipids, lysophosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylcholine, which give nanoparticles stability and facilitates antigen presentation in its appropriate secondary peptidic conformation. A novel process for the preparation of vaccine compounds which allows obtaining homogeneous nanoparticles with high stability is also presented in this invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drug for preventing or treating a liver disease associated with fibrosis, the drug containing microRNAs as an active ingredient. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating a liver disease associated with fibrosis, the pharmaceutical composition containing at least one kind of microRNAs selected from miR 1237-5p, miR 204-3p, miR 7977, miR 6089, and miR 5787 as an active ingredient, is produced.