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According to the Allied Market Research report, the global market for quantum dots will grow from about $300 million to over $5 billion dollars in the period from 2013-2020 period. So, what exactly is a quantum dot and how are they useful?

In 1988, the term “quantum dot” (or “QD” for short) was introduced by Dr. Mark Reed at Yale University to describe nanocrystalline semiconducting fluorophores. Fluorophores are chemical materials that re-emit light when excited by a light pulse. QDs are usually core-shell systems with a semiconductor core enclosed within a shell of another semiconductor material. They usually have confined diameters in the range of 2-20 nanometers (a nanometer is 1 x 10-9 meters) in all three spatial dimensions, resulting in size quantization effects. This size quantization means the band gap (the electron and hole excitation energy levels) of the QD can be “tuned” to provide different light emission frequencies by changing the composition of the QDs and varying their diameters. For example, the larger the QD, the redder, i.e.the lower the energy, emission. Researchers have utilized QDs as efficient materials for advanced photoelectric devices and solar cells. Dr. Arthur Nozik is one of the great leaders in this field (US 4,634,641). During his tenure at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), he led a research group to discover variant semiconductor QDs for novel optical and energy systems (US 8,685,781 and US 9,324,562 ). Additionally the surfaces of QDs can be conjugated to various molecules to vary their physical properties, for example, to increase water solubility, reduce cytotoxicity, and resist reactive oxygen formation. The QDs can also be conjugated with specific molecules to target tumor biomarkers. These unique physical properties and the surface chemical modification of QDs have attracted increasing attention to applications in bio-imaging (reviewed in Part VI), bio-analytical assays and diagnostics, as well as the development of new therapeutic agents.

A contentious patent battle has continued to rage between the Broad Institute at Harvard/MIT and the University of California (UC). UC is challenging 13 patents related to CRISPR gene editing technology that are currently held by the Broad Institute. The basis of the challenge lies in explaining the potential influence that the work of Jennifer Doudna (UC Berkeley) and Emanuelle Charpentier (then at Umeå University) had on Feng Zhang’s (Broad Institute) later work, and whether his work was an obvious development beyond that of Doudna/ Charpentier, or whether it has the earliest priority claim. Although the patent battle remains active with an uncertain outcome, Doudna, Charpentier, and Zhang remain key players with regards to both the patents and research advances/ startup companies related to the technology.

Given that the majority of the human microbiome is found in the gut, it is not surprising that most microbiome-based therapeutic approaches have been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Clostridium difficile infections. However, growing evidence suggests that targeting the microbiome can have broader therapeutic implications, demonstrating the ever-evolving nature of the microbiome field. Specifically, microbiome modulators could be used to either enhance or suppress the immune response and would thus be considered immunotherapy. Part VIII of this Series reviewed how altering the microbiome could be used in combination with checkpoint blockade. As a continuation to Part VIII, this article will explore how microbiome modulators could be used as single agent immunotherapy to treat autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, and cancer. Bolded patent documents are further summarized in the table at the end of this ins

On November 2, 2016, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued an important and forward-looking memo on Recent Subject Matter Eligibility Decisions for patent applications that offered guidance for drafting claims that may have previously been rendered ineligible under the two-step Alice test for determining patent eligibility. The USPTO signaled that this is a further step in a longer and more detailed conversation on patent subject matter eligibility (SME) that will continue in the near future. We expect this conversation to inform areas ranging from software and computer-implemented inventions to biotechnology.

Dr. Anthony Sabatelli of Dilworth IP will be presenting a talk at the University of Hartford entitled “Intellectual Property Basics for Entrepreneurs.” The event will be hosted by the University’s Computer Science Department on Thursday, November 17th from 12:15 to 1:15 pm in Dana Hall Room 318. In this informal, yet informative presentation, Dr. Sabatelli will cover basic topics of patent law of interest to both students and entrepreneurs. These topics will include: patentability, freedom-to-practice, subject matter eligibility (particularly for software and biotech developments), and a timeline of key patenting events.

Dr. Anthony Sabatelli of Dilworth IP will be presenting a talk on intellectual property basics at The Quinnipiac University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (QUCIE) in its new location at the School of Business. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Dr. Sabatelli will cover topics of patent law of interest to both students and entrepreneurs. These topics will include: patentability, freedom-to-practice, subject matter eligibility (particularly for software and biotech developments), and a timeline of key patenting events.

William Reid of Dilworth IP will be offering a FREE webinar on Wednesday, December 7th at 1:00 PM (EST). This installment in the Dilworth IP Webinar Series is entitled The IP Manager’s Playbook – Leveraging the Tools of the USPTO to Get Your Patents Granted Faster and Cheaper, and will provide in-house patent attorneys with strategies to get their patents granted faster and cheaper.

Dr. Jing Zhou, Technology Specialist at Dilworth IP will be joining a panel to discuss career paths in law for current Yale PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. The event will be hosted by the Yale Biomedical Careers Committee on Thursday, November 3rd from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at the Anlyan Center for Medical Research (TAC) in the Yale Medical School. Dr. Zhou will be joined by Dr. Dmitry Zuev of Cantor Colburn and Dr. Christina Rodrigo of Finnegan.

Dr. Anthony Sabatelli of Dilworth IP has been appointed to serve as Vice President and Director of the Nicholas & Viola Spinelli Foundation, a Connecticut-based philanthropic organization. A guiding principle of the Foundation is that “educating society is basic to its betterment.” As part of its charter, the Foundation provides college scholarships to area high school students wanting to pursue a career in the healthcare field. The foundation was established by the late Dr. Nicholas N.P. Spinelli and his sister, the late Viola J. Spinelli, both prominent players in shaping healthcare and medicine in the State. Dr. Spinelli was a practicing physician and later served as director of medical education at Bridgeport Hospital and also as alumni director at Yale’s School of Medicine. Ms. Spinelli was a former Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bridgeport Hospital. Regarding his appointment, Dr. Sabatelli said that “I am both honored and humbled to serve the Foundation to carry on the legacy and wishes of the Spinelli’s to support the higher education goals of deserving students.

Cancer immunotherapy or immuno-oncology (I-O) has gone mainstream. You may have heard about these topics in the media. Along with having surgery and radiation therapy, Former President Jimmy Carter was treated with the monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) that stimulated his immune system to fend or fight off melanoma that had metastasized to his brain. His remarkable response has highlighted the power of immunotherapy. After his son Beau succumbed to brain cancer, Vice President Joe Biden helped spearhead the Cancer Moonshot, a national initiative to cure cancer, one of the main goals of which is furthering immunotherapy research. The White House has dedicated $1 Billion to this initiative. This article will introduce you to immunotherapy and how it is now beginning to intersect with the microbiome. Recent patent filings suggest that intellectual property protection will be an important part of the research efforts in this field. Bolded patent documents are further summarized in the table at the end of this installment.