Focused Electrostatic Collection of Aerosol Particles for Chemical Analysis by Spectroscopic Techniques

This CDC-developed technology is an aerosol preconcentration unit (APU) designed for use with spectroscopic detection techniques, including emission, Raman, or infrared spectroscopies. Most existing pulsed microplasma techniques, such as laser-induced breakdown, for aerosols rely mainly on filter-based collection and suffer from poor accuracy, precision, and detection limits and require long sample collection times.

Improved Acoustic Plethysmograph System for Noninvasive Measurement of Pulmonary Function

CDC researchers have developed a novel acoustic whole body plethysmograph (AWBP) that allows measurement of tidal volume in lab animals, independent of gas compression in the lung. This system provides particular advantages over the traditional whole body plethysmograph (WBP) when measuring model animals with increased gas compression due to increased airway resistance or increased acceleration in the breathing pattern.

Mobile Instrumentation for the Detection and Sampling of Aerosol Particles

Hazardous airborne particles pose a risk for health and safety in a variety of environments and thus detection of these small particles is essential. Current particle magnification systems are bulky and require a lot of power for operation, making them unsuitable to easily detect and analyze small particles in mobile and personal settings.

Direct Reading Detection Kits for Surface Contamination by Anti-Neoplastic (Anti-Cancer) Drugs

Anti-neoplastic drugs, also known as anti-cancer drugs or chemotherapy, are used in the treatment of many types of cancer. However, these drugs are harmful to healthy cells as well as the cancerous cells. Exposure of healthcare workers to anti-neoplastic drugs from contaminated surfaces and drug vials in hospitals and pharmacies is a continuing problem as the drugs can cause both acute and long-term effects. Although there are sensitive techniques to evaluate contamination, results from these tests take time and must be performed in a laboratory.

Near Real-time, Low-cost, Hand-held Sensors for Measuring Elemental Concentration of Airborne Particles for Indoor or Outdoor Air Quality Monitoring

Airborne particles can have great impact on air quality, weather, and human health. In particular, long-term inhalation of toxic particulate matter in workplaces could pose a significant health risk. NIOSH scientists have developed a new, low-cost approach based on application of atmospheric radio frequency glow discharge (rf-GD) optical emission spectroscopy for near real-time measurement of elemental concentration in aerosols. The method involves collection of aerosol particles on an electrode tip in a coaxial microelectrode system, followed by excitation of the particles using rf-GD.

Respirator Protection Devices and Methods to Detect and Remove Toxic Gases from the Air - Cobinamide Encapsulated Silica-based Materials for Respirator Canisters

A respirator protects the wearer from inhaling dangerous substances, such as chemicals and infectious particles. CDC developed devices and methods to detect and remove chemicals such as hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen, hydrogen sulfide, nitrite, and nitric oxide from the air for those wearing respirators. Cobinamide (a Vitamin B12 analog with a high affinity to cyanide) molecules are immobilized within a silica matrix that allows for the infiltration and containment of gaseous chemicals.

Directed Acetylation of Cytidine in Cellular mRNA through Engineered snoRNA Adapters for the Treatment of Haploinsufficiencies

Summary: 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) seeks research co-development partners and/or licensees for engineered chimeric snoRNA guides that recruit NAT10 to a specific target and cause directed acetylation of the target. They could be used to treat haploinsufficiency-associated disorders or diseases.

Description of Technology: 

Novel Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptides as Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers and Inhibitors of Amyloid Formation

Over 34 million Americans are living with diabetes. An estimated 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellites (T2DM). Amyloidosis due to aggregation of amyloid-β is key pathogenic event in AD, whereas aggregation of mature islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP37) in human islet leads to β-cell dysfunction. A hallmark feature of T2DM is the accumulation of islet amyloid polypeptide fibrils in pancreatic islets. Such accumulations form amyloid plaques and cause apoptosis of -cells of islets. 

T Cell Receptor Targeting CD22 for the Treatment of Lymphomas and Leukemias

CD22 is a protein expressed by normal B cells and B-lymphoid malignancies. Its limited tissue expression pattern makes it a safe antigen for targeted therapies, such as T-cell Receptor (TCR)-T cell therapy. CD22-targeting therapies already on the market, mainly antibody-immunotoxin conjugates and chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-T cells, have limitations such as resistance to treatment and/or side effects. Resistance mechanisms to the current CD22 therapies involve loss or modulation of target antigen on the cell surface.

A Human Monoclonal Antibody Against Deacetylated PNAG for Use as an Antimicrobial Agent

Biofilms are complex microbial communities, surface attached and held together by self-produced polymer matrices.  These matrices are mainly composed of polysaccharides, secreted proteins and nucleic acids.  Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG) is a highly conserved surface polysaccharide expressed by a range of bacterial, fungal and protozoan microorganisms.