Indiana University faculty researchers are driving the creation and advancement of novel and innovative technologies that address critical problems in society.

Here are the most recent patents awarded for IU discoveries in the past two months from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:

• A mass spectrometry method to detect cannabinoids: The developers are Nick Manicke, an associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology and of forensic and investigative sciences at the IU School of Science in Indianapolis, and Brandon Bills, who earned his Ph.D. from what was then IUPUI. As natural and synthetic cannabinoid use increases, so does the need for rapid testing. The novel paper spray mass spectrometry method can detect and quantify analytes, which are substances that are subjected to chemical analysis such as urine, saliva and plasma, to rapidly identify the presence of cannabinoids.
• A rotavirus-norovirus vaccine: The developers are John Patton, a professor of biology at the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences, and Asha Ann Philip, a former research associate at IU Bloomington. Rotaviruses and noroviruses are the leading causes of childhood gastroenteritis across the world, and no norovirus vaccines are commercially available. The first-of-its-kind rotavirus-norovirus vaccine is an inexpensive oral vaccine that protects against these sometimes deadly infections.
• A method for increasing response rate in xenotransplantations: The developers are Burcin Ekser, former director of transplant research at IU School of Medicine, and Ping Li, an associate research professor of surgery at the IU School of Medicine. Xenotransplantation is a medical procedure that involves transplanting animal organs, tissues or cells into humans to treat critical medical conditions. The researchers’ method identifies novel porcine xenoantigens — antigens of one species that induce an immune response in a different species — that overcome antibody barriers and eliminate rejection response in humans receiving xenotransplantations.
• Lithium silicate cathodes for improved lithium-ion batteries: The developers are Jian Xie, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University Indianapolis, and Yadong Liu, a former research assistant professor at IU’s Indianapolis campus. The cathode material is designed with high specific capacity and energy for use in applications such as electric vehicles, transportation, batteries and energy efficiency. The cathode material is low cost and environmentally friendly.

These innovations were disclosed to the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office, which transfers IU innovations from lab to market for public benefit and global impact. The office files patents to facilitate commercialization of the innovations.