The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant of derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.

A composite medical textile such as a suture includes a plurality of bioresorbable hyaluronan-based fibers and a plurality of non-resorbable fibers. The hyaluronan-based fibers can include at least one of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, or the esters of hyaluronic acid such as the benzyl esters. The non-resorbable fibers can be Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), and other materials. Methods of making a medical textile are also disclosed.

A suture to be used in producing a medical instrument provided with a sutured site such as a stent graft, an artificial blood vessel or an artificial heart valve, has two components, i.e., a high melting-point component and a low-melting point component, the difference between the melting points of components being 30° C. or more and the low-melting point component is exposed on the suture surface entirely along the length direction. When a medical material formed of a fabric or a film is sutured or knotted with the suture and then the suture site is heated at such a temperature not allowing the high-melting point component but the low-melting point component alone to melt, the sutured site is fused and fixed. Thus, a knot or a seam, which sustains the fiber shape and strength and never becomes loose, can be formed.

A suture to be used in producing a medical instrument provided with a sutured site such as a stent graft, an artificial blood vessel or an artificial heart valve, has two components, i.e., a high melting-point component and a low-melting point component, the difference between the melting points of components being 30° C. or more and the low-melting point component is exposed on the suture surface entirely along the length direction. When a medical material formed of a fabric or a film is sutured or knotted with the suture and then the suture site is heated at such a temperature not allowing the high-melting point component but the low-melting point component alone to melt, the sutured site is fused and fixed. Thus, a knot or a seam, which sustains the fiber shape and strength and never becomes loose, can be formed.

Compositions are provided that have at least two of three active ingredients. The active ingredients maybe a salt having a cation N.sup.α C8-C6 alkanoyl-L di-basic amino acid —C1-C4 alkyl ester, a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid and a sugar ester of a fatty acid. The compositions are useful in methods of killing or inhibiting planktonic bacteria or fungi and bacteria or fungi embedded in a biofilm and prevention of biofilm formation on surfaces. The composition may further comprise a hydrogel and a benefit agent such as an antibiotic that can be solubilized by the hydrogel and supplied to the biofilm matrix by the active ingredients of the composition. Devices such as chronic wound coverings coated with the composition are also provided. Methods of preserving products with the composition are also provided.

Compositions that are suitable for use as a disinfectant are disclosed. Methods of making and using compositions that are suitable for use as a disinfectant are also disclosed.

A composition comprising a wound-closure material physically or chemically associated with an agent that reduces scarring and improves the integrity of skin and underlying tissue in a mammalian subject. Methods for reducing or eliminating scarring or improving mammalian skin integrity comprise closing a wound with a composition, such as a suture material associated with a PHD inhibitor molecule, e.g., 1,4-DPCA.

In various embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise one or more capsules and/or pockets comprising at least one medicament therein. In at least one embodiment, staples can be fired through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules. In certain embodiments, a firing member, or knife, can be advanced through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules.

Disclosed are surgical constructs and methods of use for a one-way adjustable fixation loop that is formed by tying two knots in a surgical filament, each knot defining an individual adjustable loop and the individual adjustable loops being interconnected to form the one-way adjustable fixation loop. The knots enable a non-spliceable suture to be used in the creation of the one-way adjustable fixable loop. Embodiments can include a fixation device, such as a cortical button or plate for use in a bone tunnel, and enable the knots to work independent of and suspended below the fixation device. Embodiments can increase the compatibility of the adjustable fixation loop with existing fixation devices and can isolate and protect the knots from damage during use and after implantation.

A high-strength hyaluronate fiber, suitable for use in a surgical suture, a lifting thread, a tissue-engineering scaffold, etc., and a manufacturing method thereof are proposed. The method includes (a) controlling a water content of a hyaluronate having a weight average molecular weight of 100-3,000 kDa to 50-95 wt % to prepare a hyaluronate paste, (b) melting the hyaluronate paste having a controlled water content at a temperature ranging from room temperature to 100° C., and then extruding the hyaluronate paste through a nozzle, and (c) drying the extruded spinning fluid to form a fiber. The hyaluronate fiber has the water content of 5-25 wt %, the tensile strength of 3 to 15 kg/mm.sup.2, and a smooth surface with small cracks, so that the hyaluronate fiber can be used for a surgical suture, a lifting thread, a filler for cosmetic surgery, a tissue-engineering scaffold, etc.