Improved formulations of lipid nanoparticles are provided. Use of the lipid nanoparticles for delivery of a therapeutic agent and methods for their preparation are also provided.

Provided herein are isolated polynucleotide encoding modified click beetle luciferase polypeptides that have enhanced luminescence and longer wavelength near-infrared signals. The disclosure also relates to near-infrared bioluminescence systems that include said modified click beetle luciferase polypeptides and novel luciferin derivatives, as well as methods of using said modified click beetle luciferase polypeptides and bioluminescence systems.

Inhibitors of the tmRNA pathway have antibacterial activity with broad species specificity, including B. anthracis and other pathogens of military and civilian interest. Identified cyclic or linear peptides are further selected by in vivo selection methods, kill bacterial pathogens when added exogenously, and/or eliminate plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance or virulence genes. The molecular target of each cyclic peptide is in the tmRNA pathway and the tmRNA pathway is inhibited in vitro and in vive by the addition of the peptides.

A method of attaching a cell or a membrane-coated particle-of-interest to a microtube is provided. The method comprising: co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries, wherein a first polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of the shell, the first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than the second polymeric solution and a solvent of the second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving the first polymeric solution and wherein the second polymeric solution comprises the cell or the membrane-coated particle-of-interest, thereby attaching the cell or the membrane-coated particle-of-interest to the microtube. Also provided are microtubes with attached, entrapped or encapsulated cells or membrane-coated particles and methods of using same

A method of attaching a molecule-of-interest to a microtube, by co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries, wherein a first polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of the shell, the first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than the second polymeric solution and a solvent of the second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving the first polymeric solution and the second polymeric solution comprises the molecule-of-interest, thereby attaching the molecule-of-interest to the microtube. An electrospun microtube comprising an electrospun shell, an electrospun coat over an internal surface of the shell and a molecule-of-interest attached to the microtube.

Provided herein are enhanced luciferase enzymes for use with thermostable luciferin analogs for bioluminescent assays. In particular, the present disclosure provides compositions, assays, and methods for performing a bioluminescent assay using enhanced, high-activity luciferase enzymes compatible with thermostable luciferins, such as 5,5-disubstituted luciferin analogs.

Thienopyrrole compounds that may inhibit Oplophorus-derived luciferases are disclosed, as well as compositions and kits comprising the thienopyrrole compounds, and methods of using the thienopyrrole compounds.

Provided herein are systems and methods for characterizing target/ligand engagement. In particular, luciferase-labeled polypeptide targets are used to detect or quantify target/ligand engagement (e.g., within a cell or cell lysate).

Luciferases which are different from those known heretofore have been desired. A luciferase mutant comprising an amino acid sequence in which at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of valine at the position of 44, alanine at the position of 54 and tyrosine at the position of 138 is substituted with other amino acid(s) in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

The present disclosure provides a monitoring device comprising a test composition, a test element comprising a test portion to which the test composition is releasably adhered, a detection reagent, and a container comprising a first end with an opening and a second end opposite the first end. The test composition comprises a predetermined quantity of tracer analyte. The container is configured to receive the test portion and configured to be operationally coupled to an analytical instrument. The tracer analyte and the detection reagent each are capable of participating in one or more chemical reaction that results in the formation of a detectable product. A method of using the monitoring device to assess the efficacy of a washing process is also provided.