Faculty researchers at Indiana University are advancing biosensors for glyphosate detection and antiviral drug treatments through the development of unique methods.

Here are the most recent patents awarded to IU discoveries in March and April from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:

• A device for high throughput fabrication of spheroids: The developer is Feng Guo, an associate professor of intelligent systems engineering at the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering in Bloomington. The method can generate more than 6,000 tumor spheroids, which are 3D self-assembled clusters of cells that mimic natural tissues and tumors, for use in biomedical research, drug screening and disease modeling.
• A method of estimating an image’s depth information: The developer is David Crandall, the Luddy Professor of Computer Science at the Luddy School in Bloomington. The method provides more accurate depth estimations for 2D images for applications such as AR and VR imagery, 3D modeling and reconstruction, autonomous vehicle navigation, and computer vision for robotics.
• Heterodimeric Hepatitis B virus-like particles: The developer is Adam Zlotnick, Distinguished Professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington. Virus-like particles have been developed as vaccine carriers, nano-material containers and carriers for MRI imaging reagents. Orthohepadnavirus capsid protein heterodimers, which are the foundational components of the viral capsid of the Hepatitis B virus, were developed to improve manufacturing of virus-like particles. The method reduces limitations to current virus-like particles technology.
• A fluorescent biosensor for glyphosate detection: The developer is Shahir Rizk, associate professor of biochemistry at IU South Bend. The biosensor can detect low concentrations of pure glyphosate in the soil, groundwater and drinking water to monitor exposure to humans and livestock. The fluorescent biosensor can also provide continuous monitoring of glyphosate concentrations.
• Small molecule antiviral drug treatment for HPV infections: The developers are Elliot Androphy, professor of anatomy, cell biology and physiology at the IU School of Medicine, and Samy Meroueh, former professsor at the chool. The small molecules specifically bind to and inactivate the HPV E6 protein to treat infections, including premalignant HPV infections and HPV-induced cancers. This is the third patent awarded to technologies licensed to Kovina Therapeutics.
• A caravanning vehicle system that improves the transportation of goods: The developers are Clayton Nicholas, director of industry partnerships at the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office and director at the IU Indianapolis Initiative for Electrified and Autonomous Mobility; and Euzeli Dos Santos, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and M. Razi Nalim, professor of mechanical engineering, both at Purdue University in Indianapolis. The caravanning vehicle system is composed of a tractor and articulated trailers in which the lead vehicle transfers power to trailing vehicles. The system improves vehicle routing problems, increases vehicle safety and improves productivity, while reducing diesel emissions and fuel usage. This is the second patent awarded to the technology.
• Blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders: Alexander Niculescu, former professor of psychiatry at the IU School of Medicine, developed blood tests that track short-term memory state, predict low memory state, and predict future diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. The blood tests can help determine which patients should receive drugs to improve memory for early prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. This technology is licensed to MindX Sciences.

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.