Provided herein are peptide-based hydrogels, or neutral multidomain peptide hydrogel (NMDP), as well as uses thereof. The uses include encapsulating cells to induce quiescence for long-term storage and administering to a subject to induce collagen deposition and macrophage infiltration. The disclosed hydrogel is useful for the preservation of stem cells, including maintaining their quiescence and differentiation potential.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a synthetic neuromodulatory peptide is described. The invention discloses neuromodulatory peptides as defined in the claims and methods of using such molecules for therapeutic application. The neuromodulatory peptides included in the composition have been found to be effective in treatment of depression and other mood disorders, including anxiety.

The present invention generally relates to compounds that are useful for inhibiting one or more of hepatocyte growth factor activator, matriptase, hepsin, Factor Xa, or thrombin. The present invention also relates to various methods of using the inhibitor compounds including treating a malignancy, a pre-malignant condition, or cancer by administering an effective amount of the inhibitor to a subject in need thereof.

A number of anti-angiogenic strategies connected with the VEGF signalling pathway are used in current clinical treatment or trial phase, but they either cause adverse effects or are not specific. Various strategies were aimed at identifying peptides inhibiting the VEGF-A.sub.165/NRP-1 interaction. A well-known antiangiogenic peptide is the heptapeptide termed “A7R” having the amino acid sequence ATWLPPR, for which various derivatives have been synthesized, which include peptides having the general sequence Lys(hArg)-AA.sup.2-AA.sup.3-Arg. However, the ability of the known peptides to inhibit the VEGF-A.sub.165/NRP-1 interaction was too low for their use as candidate drugs for inhibiting angiogenesis in subjects in need thereof. The present inventors have now conceived a family of novel peptide-like compounds having a nanomolar affinity for NRP-1, which are thus endowed with a powerful capacity to inhibit the VEGF-A.sub.165/NRP-1 interaction. These novel peptide-like compounds may be relevantly used as antiangiogenic compounds, especially in subjects affected with cancer.

There is provided a surface functionalized with cross linking groups adapted to receive antibodies and/or fragments thereof. The surface has an antibody binding biomolecule having a linker region which is covalently crosslinked to functional groups and an antibody binding region. The surface also has a cell interacting biomolecule having a linker region which is covalently crosslinked to functional groups of the surface and a cell interacting region that imparts functional attributes including cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, differentiation and/or a functional response. The two biomolecules are present in independently controlled concentrations and have similar small molecular weights.

The present invention relates to novel fragments of AIMP1 protein and a composition for improving alopecia and promoting hair growth comprising the same, more specifically it relates to a polypeptide consisting of 4 to 21 consecutive amino acids from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises the 28.sup.th to 31.sup.st amino acid residue (KEKA) of amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having 70% or more sequence homology with the polypeptide; a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide; a pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food composition for improving alopecia and promoting hair growth comprising the polypeptide.

The present invention generally relates to methods and composition matters for delivery of a cargo to a living cell over producing immunoproteasomes. More specifically the invention disclosed is a molecular construct that delivers a cargo, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, to a living cell. Methods of use and composition matters are within the scope of this disclosure.

The present invention relates to a sensitizer-peptide conjugate for use in the treatment of cancer. In particular, the present invention relates to a sensitizer-peptide conjugate for use in the treatment of melanoma. The use of such sensitizer-peptide conjugate in photodynamic therapy or sonodynamic therapy is also disclosed. According to the present invention, there is provided a sensitizer-peptide conjugate for use in the treatment of cancer; wherein the sensitizer-peptide conjugate comprises at least one sensitizer and at least one peptide.

The invention relates to carrier complexes and methods for delivering molecules to cells. The carrier complexes comprises a molecule and an aromatic cationic peptide in accordance with the invention. In one embodiment, the method for delivering a molecule to a cell comprises contacting the cell with a carrier complex. In another embodiment, the method for delivering a molecule to a cell comprises contacting the cell with a molecule and an aromatic cationic peptide.

A peptide, including: a first peptide fragment including (KG).sub.n or (GK).sub.n where n is an integer between 2 and 5, K represents a lysine residue, and G represents a glycine residue; a second peptide fragment including an identification sequence; and a first connection peptide including 1-2 glycine residues. The first connection peptide is disposed between the first peptide fragment and the second peptide fragment.