The disclosure provides products and methods of treating diseases and disorders involving microbial pathogens, such as intestinal microbial pathogens, e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by administering an effective amount of a phosphorylated polyethylene glycol compound of defined structural organization. Those diseases and disorders characterized by an epithelium attacked by a microbial pathogen are contemplated, including gastrointestinal infections and inflammation, e.g., treatment of intestinal or esophageal anastomosis or treatment or suppression of anastomotic leakage.

Some variations provide a sensing system configured to measure the concentration of an antimicrobial agent in a polymer, comprising: a polymer containing (i) a discrete solid structural phase comprising a solid structural polymer and (ii) a continuous transport phase comprising a solid transport polymer and capable of containing the antimicrobial agent; and an antimicrobial-agent sensor that chemically senses the antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial-agent sensor is disposed on a surface of, and in mass transport with, the polymer. The antimicrobial-agent sensor contains a responsive material disposed on or within a carrier material. The responsive material is chemically reactive with the antimicrobial agent and exhibits an observable and quantifiable property change upon chemically reacting with the antimicrobial agent. The observable and quantifiable property change may involve chromaticity, optical transparency, ionic conductivity, or electronic conductivity, for example. Some variations provide methods of making and/or using the sensing system.

Some variations provide a sensing system configured to measure the concentration of an antimicrobial agent in a polymer, comprising: a polymer containing (i) a discrete solid structural phase comprising a solid structural polymer and (ii) a continuous transport phase comprising a solid transport polymer and capable of containing the antimicrobial agent; and an antimicrobial-agent sensor that chemically senses the antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial-agent sensor is disposed on a surface of, and in mass transport with, the polymer. The antimicrobial-agent sensor contains a responsive material disposed on or within a carrier material. The responsive material is chemically reactive with the antimicrobial agent and exhibits an observable and quantifiable property change upon chemically reacting with the antimicrobial agent. The observable and quantifiable property change may involve chromaticity, optical transparency, ionic conductivity, or electronic conductivity, for example. Some variations provide methods of making and/or using the sensing system.

Embodiments of the invention concern copolymers and nanoparticles for use as delivery agents for one or more agents for therapy for a medical condition of humans and animals. Some of embodiments of the invention provide new reagents for biomedical research in cell culture, animal models and plants, for example. The copolymers comprise PLGA and PEI and, in some embodiments, also comprise 1-(3-aminopropyl)-4-methylpiperazine (APMP), Fc binding peptide and/or antibody. In certain embodiments, APMP-PLGA-PEI, Fc binding peptide/antibody-PLGA-PEI or Fc binding peptide/antibody-APMP-PLGA-PEI nanoparticles comprising one or more therapeutic agents are delivered to an individual in need thereof or used for biomedical research in cell cultures, animal models and plants.

Embodiments of the invention concern copolymers and nanoparticles for use as delivery agents for one or more agents for therapy for a medical condition of humans and animals. Some of embodiments of the invention provide new reagents for biomedical research in cell culture, animal models and plants, for example. The copolymers comprise PLGA and PEI and, in some embodiments, also comprise 1-(3-aminopropyl)-4-methylpiperazine (APMP), Fc binding peptide and/or antibody. In certain embodiments, APMP-PLGA-PEI, Fc binding peptide/antibody-PLGA-PEI or Fc binding peptide/antibody-APMP-PLGA-PEI nanoparticles comprising one or more therapeutic agents are delivered to an individual in need thereof or used for biomedical research in cell cultures, animal models and plants.

The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for generating a biomimetic proteoglycan. The invention includes methods of treating a disease, disorder, or condition of soft tissue using a biomimetic proteoglycan.

The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for generating a biomimetic proteoglycan. The invention includes methods of treating a disease, disorder, or condition of soft tissue using a biomimetic proteoglycan.

The present invention concerns amphiphilic copolymers that may be photo- or redox-cleavable and that may assemble into polymersomes. It also concerns their process of preparation and their use as ding carriers.

The present invention concerns amphiphilic copolymers that may be photo- or redox-cleavable and that may assemble into polymersomes. It also concerns their process of preparation and their use as ding carriers.

The notched Izod impact toughness and tensile elongation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-homopolymers are increased by about 2 to about 4 times by blending therewith a PLA-copolymer having a difunctional flexible middle segment such as a polysiloxane or a polyether from about 0.6 wt. % to about 20 wt. %. The PLA-homopolymer-PLA-copolymer blend having a difunctional flexible polymer from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % is thermally annealed to provide impact toughness of at least about 5 kJ/m.sup.2 and tensile elongation of greater than 12%. This exceptional improvement observed in the PLA blend is a synergistic effect of the addition of the difunctional flexible polymer of the copolymer and thermal annealing. The improvement observed in the mechanical properties with high PLA homopolymer content above about 90 to about 98 wt. % is unusual and results in an increased scope of molding and thermoforming applications. The annealed PLA-copolymers having a difunctional flexible middle segment have also been found to have improved notched Izod impact properties.