Ex vivo chemically reprogrammed neutrophils for inflammation
This technology involves taking a patient's neutrophils — a type of white blood cell that drives inflammation — and chemically reprogramming them so they behave in a pro-resolving way rather than continuing to fuel chronic inflammation. The process uses a small molecule (4-phenylbutyrate) to alter the surface proteins and gene expression of these cells, effectively switching them from an inflammatory state to one that helps the body heal. These modified cells are then formulated as a pharmaceutical product and reintroduced to treat conditions where inflammation fails to resolve on its own. Target diseases include atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and certain neurological conditions — all of which are driven in part by runaway neutrophil activity.
What you could build
An autologous or allogeneic cell therapy in which neutrophils are chemically conditioned ex vivo and administered to patients with atherosclerosis or post-stroke neuroinflammation; likely buyers are specialty pharma companies or biotech firms building next-generation cell therapy pipelines for inflammatory cardiovascular disease.
Who in Virginia should care
Biotech and life sciences companies in the Northern Virginia/DC corridor, or academic medical centers like UVA or VCU with cardiovascular and neurology research programs, would be natural partners or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Liwu LI, Shuo GENG, Yao ZHANG
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed June 28, 2021
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20220119794A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.