# Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Patents explained on PatentBrief

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has 7 landmark patents explained in plain English on PatentBrief.

- [Highly Efficient Bacterial Gene Editing Using Guide RNA and Reverse Transcriptase](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20180127759/dynamic-genome-engineering)
  This patent describes a system for precisely editing the DNA of bacterial cells with very high success rates, using a combination of guide RNA, reverse transcriptase, and specific DNA sequences.
- [How Special Molecules Boost Cancer-Fighting CAR-T Cells](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20240082373/compositions-for-chimeric-antigen-receptor-t-cell-therapy-and-uses-thereof)
  This patent describes special molecules made of a CAR-T cell activator attached to a fat-like part, designed to make cancer-fighting CAR-T cells grow and work better inside a patient.
- [Delivering Large Gene Editing Tools into Cells with Hybrid Virus-Lipid Packages](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12350368/delivery-of-large-payloads) — granted 2025
  This patent describes a sophisticated delivery system that combines parts of a virus with a fat bubble (liposome) to efficiently transport large molecules, like CRISPR gene-editing components, into specific cells.
- [How to Make Animals That Can Turn On CRISPR Gene Editing](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12252707/delivery-engineering-and-optimization-of-systems-methods-and-compositions-for-se) — granted 2025
  This patent describes creating genetically modified non-human animals, like mice, where a key CRISPR gene-editing protein (Cas9) can be turned on only in specific cells or at specific times using a special genetic switch.
- [How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8697359/crispr-gene-editing) — granted 2014
  This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
- [Tiny Capsules for Electronic Paper Displays](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5961804/e-ink-electronic-paper-display) — granted 1999
  MIT's 1999 patent on a special ink made of tiny capsules that can change color when an electric field is applied, forming the basis for early e-readers.
- [How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4405829/rsa-encryption) — granted 1983
  This patent describes the foundational RSA algorithm, a method for securely sending messages where anyone can encrypt a message using a public key, but only the intended recipient can decrypt it using a secret private key.

**Full profile:** https://patentbrief.org/company/massachusetts-institute-of-technology

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Plain-English explanations of US patents._