Nancy Jean Halas, 671937 Swift Blvd, Houston, TX 77030

6428811, Aug 6, 2002

Jul 14, 2000

09/616127

Jennifer L. West - Pearland TX
Scott R. Sershen - Houston TX
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX
Steven J. Oldenburg - San Diego CA
Richard D. Averitt - Los Alamos NM

WM. Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

A61K 950

424497, 428403

A thermally sensitive polymer-particle composite that absorbs electromagnetic radiation, and uses the absorbed energy to trigger the delivery of a chemical is disclosed. Metal nanoshells are nanoparticulate materials that are suitable for use in the present composites and can be made according to a process that includes optically tuning or tailoring their maximum optical absorption to any desired wavelength primarily by altering the ratio of the core diameter to the shell thickness. Preferred nanoshells are selected that strongly absorb light in the near-infrared and thus produce heat. These nanoshells are combined with a temperature-sensitive material to provide an implantable or injectable material for modulated drug delivery via external exposure to near-IR light. This invention provides a means to improve the quality of life for persons requiring multiple injections of a drug, such as diabetes mellitus patients.

6530944, Mar 11, 2003

Feb 8, 2001

09/779677

Jennifer L. West - Pearland TX
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX
Leon R. Hirsch - Houston TX

Rice University - Houston TX

A61N 506

607 88, 607100, 424497

This invention is generally in the field of improved methods for the localized delivery of heat and the localized imaging of biological materials. The delivery may be in vitro or in vivo and is useful for the localized treatment of cancer, inflammation or other disorders involving overproliferation of tissue. The method is also useful for diagnostic imaging. The method involves localized induction of hyperthermia in a cell or tissue by delivering nanoparticles to said cell or tissue and exposing the nanoparticles to an excitation source under conditions wherein they emit heat.

6645517, Nov 11, 2003

Jun 5, 2002

10/164269

Jennifer L. West - Pearland TX
Scott R. Sershen - Houston TX
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX
Steven J. Oldenburg - San Diego CA
Richard D. Averitt - Los Alamos NM

William Rice Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

A61F 1300

424422

A thermally sensitive polymer-particle composite that absorbs electromagnetic radiation, and uses the absorbed energy to trigger the delivery of a chemical is disclosed. Metal nanoshells are nanoparticulate materials that are suitable for use in the present composites and can be made according to a process that includes optically tuning or tailoring their maximum optical absorption to any desired wavelength primarily by altering the ratio of the core diameter to the shell thickness. Preferred nanoshells are selected that strongly absorb light in the near-infrared and thus produce heat. These nanoshells are combined with a temperature-sensitive material to provide an implantable or injectable material for modulated drug delivery via external exposure to near-IR light. This invention provides a means to improve the quality of life for persons requiring multiple injections of a drug, such as diabetes mellitus patients.

6660381, Dec 9, 2003

Nov 5, 2001

10/012791

Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX
Robert K. Bradley - Houston TX

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

B32B 516

428403, 428404, 428405, 428406, 428407, 427123, 4271261, 427222, 427217, 252478, 252518, 252520, 252587

Metal Nanoshells having partial coverage of a substrate or core particle and methods of making them are provided. A method of making a partial metal nanoshell preferably includes asymmetrically confining a substrate particle and selectively layering a metallic material over the substrate particle according to the asymmetry. Confining the substrate particle may include attaching it to a support defining an exposed portion and a contact portion. The method may include either chemically modifying the substrate particle. The solid angle of coverage of the partial metal nanoshell may be influenced by the nature of the chemical modification, such as alternatives of activating and passivating the exposed portion.

6685730, Feb 3, 2004

Sep 25, 2002

10/254233

Jennifer L. West - Pearland TX
Rebekah Drezek - Houston TX
Scott Sershen - San Francisco CA
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX

Rice University - Houston TX

A61N 5067

607 89, 607 88, 607100

This invention is generally in the field of improved methods for the localized delivery of heat and the use thereof for the repair of tissue. The method involves localized induction of hyperthermia in tissue or materials by delivering nanoparticles to the tissue or materials and exposing the nanoparticles to an excitation source under conditions wherein they emit heat. The generation of heat effects the joining of the tissue or materials.

6685986, Feb 3, 2004

Jan 5, 2001

09/755229

Steven J. Oldenburg - Houston TX
Richard D. Averitt - Houston TX
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

B05D 506

427214, 427212, 427215, 427216, 427217, 427220, 427222, 427162

The present invention is for particulate compositions and methods for producing them that can absorb or scatter electromagnetic radiation. The particles are homogeneous in size and are comprised of a nonconducting inner layer that is surrounded by an electrically conducting material. The ratio of the thickness of the nonconducting layer to the thickness of the outer conducting shell is determinative of the wavelength of maximum absorbance or scattering of the particle. Unique solution phase methods for synthesizing the particles involve linking clusters of the conducting atoms, ions, or molecules to the nonconducting inner layer by linear molecules. This step can be followed by growth of the metal onto the clusters to form a coherent conducting shell that encapsulates the core.

6699724, Mar 2, 2004

Jul 14, 2000

09/616154

Jennifer L. West - Pearland TX
Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX
Steven J. Oldenburg - Houston TX
Richard D. Averitt - Los Alamos NM

Wm. Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

G01N 33543

436525, 436518, 436524, 435 71, 428403

The present invention provides nanoshell particles (ânanoshellsâ) for use in biosensing applications, along with their manner of making and methods of using the nanoshells for in vitro and in vivo detection of chemical and biological analytes, preferably by surface enhanced Raman light scattering. The preferred particles have a non-conducting core and a metal shell surrounding the core. For given core and shell materials, the ratio of the thickness (i. e. , radius) of the core to the thickness of the metal shell is determinative of the wavelength of maximum absorbance of the particle. By controlling the relative core and shell thicknesses, biosensing metal nanoshells are fabricated which absorb light at any desired wavelength across the ultraviolet to infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The surface of the particles are capable of inducing an enhanced SERS signal that is characteristic of an analyte of interest. In certain embodiments a biomolecule is conjugated to the metal shell and the SERS signal of a conformational change or a reaction product is detected.

6778316, Aug 17, 2004

Oct 24, 2002

10/280481

Nancy J. Halas - Houston TX
Surbhi Lal - Houston TX
Peter Nordlander - Houston TX
Joseph B. Jackson - Houston TX
Cristin Erin Moran - Houston TX

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

G02B 2600

359296, 252572

The present invention provides a sensor that includes an optical device as a support for a thin film formed by a matrix containing resonant nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be optically coupled to the optical device by virtue of the geometry of placement of the thin film. Further, the nanoparticles are adapted to resonantly enhance the spectral signature of analytes located near the surfaces of the nanoparticles. Thus, via the nanoparticles, the optical device is addressable so as to detect a measurable property of a sample in contact with the sensor. The sensors include chemical sensors and thermal sensors. The optical devices include reflective devices and waveguide devices. Still further, the nanoparticles include solid metal particles and metal nanoshells. Yet further, the nanoparticles may be part of a nano-structure that further includes nanotubes.