Featured Patent: Layer by Layer Coated MeshBy Cristina D’Imperio

In 2022, the University of Pittsburgh ranked 22nd on the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents. Pitt innovators were issued a total of 105 patents. Of these, more than 40 were issued to McGowan faculty and affiliated faculty.

On the NAI’s website, Dr. Paul Sanberg, President of the Academy stated, “Throughout its existence, the National Academy of Inventors has sought to quantify with hard data, the vital role research and patented technology developed at academic institutions play in our society.”

At McGowan, patents address critical national healthcare needs and are helping to revitalize Pittsburgh’s regional economy. The continuum of research, clinical investigations, and technology transfer through commercial spin-outs and industry licensing has been successful in putting Pennsylvania on the map as a center of excellence in regenerative medicine.

To date, McGowan employs more than 2,000 faculty, staff, and trainees. More than 800 jobs have been created by 35 spin-out companies formed from technology developed by McGowan affiliated faculty members. This has resulted in more than $17 million in direct annual expenditure supporting local businesses. Importantly, more than 14 million patients have been treated with McGowan-Institute developed technologies.

Currently, from January to June of 2023, McGowan faculty and affiliated faculty have been issued a total of 24 patents. Patents issued in January and February 2023 can be found here. Patents issued from March to June are listed below.

March

Patent No. 11,596,718
Layer by Layer Coated Mesh for Local Release of Bioactive Proteins
Daniel Hachim; Bryan Brown

Patent No. 11,598,778
Method for Diagnosis and Prognosis and Determination of fTreatment for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Brittany Dulmage; Larisa Geskin; Louis Falo, Jr.

Patent No. 11,602,562
Conductive Polymer Graphene Oxide Composite Materials
Xiliang Luo; Xinyan Tracy Cui; Cassandra Weaver-Happe

April

Patent No. 11,623,022
Systems and Methods for Reconstruction of Nerve Defects
Kacey Marra; Jacqueline Bliley

Patent No. 11,629,370
Detection of Bacteria Using Bacteriophage
John Kellum; John Hempel; Robert Edgar; John Viator

May

Patent No. 11,638,724
Ocular Applications of Matrix Bound Vesicles (MBVS)
Yolandi van der Merwe; Anne Faust; George Hussey; Stephen Badylak; Michael Steketee

Patent No. 11,638,727
Probiotics and Probiotic Compositions for Regulating Body Weight
Abhinav Acharya; Steven Little

Patent No. 11,638,645
Biomimetic Plywood Motifs for Bone Tissue Engineering
Prashant Kumta; Gary Zhengbo Yu; Abhijit Roy

Patent No. 11,660,346
Engineered Microparticles for Macromolecular Delivery
Steven Little; Sam Rothstein

June

Patent No. 11,672,964
Bioactive Components Conjugated to Substrates of Microneedle Arrays
Louis Falo, Jr.; Geza Erdos

Patent No. 11,680,341
Mandrel-Less Electrospinning Processing Method and System, and Uses Thereof
Antonio D’Amore; William Wagner

Patent No. 11,684,763
Multi-Component Bioactive Drug Delivery and Controlled Release to the Skin by Microneedle Array Devices
Geza Erdos; Louis Falo, Jr.

Patent No. 11,684,574
Artificial Cells and Delivery Devices for Use in Tissue Engineering and Related Methods
Jeffrey Krawiec; David Vorp; Steven Little; Morgan Fedorchak; Justin Weinbaum; Katherine Lorentz