1. A microparticle for use in delivering an agent or agents to a cell, the microparticle comprising:
a) a polymer shell;
b) an agent or agents for delivery to a cell; and
c) a peptide component comprising a hydrophobic moiety wherein the hydrophobic moiety is capable of anchoring the peptide to the polymer shell and the peptide is intended to target the microparticle to a receptor on the surface of the cell.
2. The microparticle according to claim 1 wherein the polymer shell is biodegradable andor biocompatible.
3. The microparticle according to claim 1 wherein the polymer shell is made from polyesters such as polylactide, polyglycolide, copolymers of lactide and glycolide, polyhydroxybutyrate, polycaprolactone, copolymers of lactic acid and lactone, copolymers of lactic acid and PEG, copolymers of a-hydroxy acids and \u03b1-amino acids(polydepsipeptides), polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, polyphosphazenes, copolymers of hydroxybutyrate and hydroxyvalerate, poly(ethylene carbonate), copoly(ethylene carbonate), polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrenelatex polymers, or mixtures of these polymers.
4. The microparticle according to claim 1 wherein the microparticle has a size of 10 nm to 200 \u03bcm in diameter.
5. The microparticle according to claim 1 wherein the agent is a therapeutic, pharmaceutical, pharmacological, diagnostic, cosmetic, prophylatic, herbicidal, pesticidal andor fertilizer agent.
6. The microparticle according to claim 5 wherein the agent is an antigen.
7. The microparticle according to claim 1 for use in delivery of the agent to cells which are in vitro or in vivo.
8. The microparticle according to claim 1 which has been adapted to be administered by injection, topically or mucosally.
9. The microparticle according to claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic moiety is derived from cholesterol, retinoic acid, C10-C22 fatty acids such as stearic acid (C18) and the like.
10. The microparticle according to claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic moiety is a lipid soluble cytotoxic drugs, e.g. etoposide and methotrexate diester; pyrenes or compounds derived therefrom e.g. pyrene butyric acid, benzo(a)pyrene, 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol; retinyl derived compounds e.g. N-retinoyl-L-leucyl DOX-14-linoleate; polyunsaturated compounds, e.g. \u03b2-carotene; hormones e.g. estradiol, testosterone and aldosterone and the like; diphenylhydantoin; bishydroxycoumarin; pentobarbital; perfluorinated cholesteryl oleate; anthracycline AD-32; PCMA cholesteryl oleate.
11. The microparticle according to claim 1 wherein the peptide is intended to target the ApoB receptor.
12. The microparticle according to claim 11 wherein the peptide component designed to bind to the ApoB receptor comprises either or both of the Apo B binding site sequence(s) depicted below in the same peptide or in the form of dimers or in different peptides:
(1) Lys Ala Glu Tyr Lys Lys Asn Lys His Arg His; or
(2) Arg Leu Thr Arg Lys Arg Gly Leu Lys;
and analogues thereof which are capable of binding to the Apo B100 receptor site.
13. A formulation comprising a microparticle according to claim 1 for use in delivering an agent to a cell.
14. The formulation according to claim 13 wherein the formulation is a pharmaceutical formulation and optionally comprises a pharmaceutical carrier therefore.
15. The formulation according to claim 13 further comprising an agent designed to minimise or reduce aggregation of cells.
16-17. (canceled)
18. A method of forming a peptide modified polymer microparticle, which comprises:
a) forming a non-aqueous solution comprising a polymer, and an agent or agents;
b) forming a dispersion of an aqueous liquid in the non-aqueous solution; sonicating the dispersion so as to form microparticles; and
c) evaporating off the non-aqueous solution so as to leave an aqueous liquid comprising the microparticles, wherein the hydrophobically modified peptide may be included in the initial non-aqueous solution, or may be added to the aqueous liquid after microparticle formation.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein an emulsifier is included in the initial aqueous liquid.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A multigate Schottky diode comprising:
an electrically conducting active semiconductor region that forms part of the semiconductor substrate, such that an electrically insulating substrate region splits the active semiconductor region into sub portions;
first and second metallic contact arms on the active semiconductor region forming ohmic contacts therewith, the ohmic contacts being spaced apart on the active semiconductor region to define a gate receiving channel therebetween;
a base, which electrically connects the first metallic contact arm to the second metallic contact arm; and
a single metallic gate strip comprising:
a plurality of metallic gate fingers, such that a gate finger is on at least two of the sub portions, the metallic gate fingers being electrically connected to one another by the single metallic gate strip and being in contact with the active semiconductor region to form Schottky junctions, the Schottky junctions being spaced apart on the active semiconductor region and extending at least partially along the gate receiving channel; and
a contact portion at least partially along the gate receiving channel and between the metallic gate fingers is supported directly by the insulating substrate region, such that the contact portion is separated from the active semiconductor region.
2. A multigate Schottky diode as claimed in claim 1, the Schottky junctions being arranged in recesses in the active semiconductor region.
3. A multigate Schottky diode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active semiconductor region forms part of a face of the semiconductor substrate, the active semiconductor region being received by the electrically insulating substrate region.
4. A multigate Schottky diode as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gate fingers extend off the active semiconductor region onto the insulating substrate region, the gate fingers being connected together at a gate connector on the insulating substrate region.
5. A multigate Schottky diode as claimed in claim 3, wherein the contact arms extend off the active semiconductor region onto the insulating substrate region, the contact arms being connected together on the insulating region.
6. A multigate Schottky diode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active semiconductor region is n doped.
7. A multigate Schottky diode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active semiconductor region is received by an ion implanted electrically insulating substrate region.