Compositions and methods are described for a polymer hydrogel created by a cycloaddition reaction between an azide and an alkyne that proceeds rapidly without catalyst to produce the polymer hydrogel in less than ninety seconds. The polymer hydrogel can be used in in vivo applications for the localized delivery of therapeutic agent in aqueous solutions. An example of therapeutic delivery of a protein in a mouse model is demonstrated.

Provided are antibodies that bind to: a sulfonated epitope of the protein Sclerostin, to Sclerostin portions comprising a sulfonated amino acid and to dimerized forms of Sclerostin. Further provided are compositions and peptides comprising a sulfonated epitope of sclerostin. Also provided by this invention are methods for production of such antibodies, both active and passive, and methods for identifying antibodies specific for sulfonation sites in Sclerostin and other antibodies which discriminate between sulfonated and unsulfonated forms of sclerostin. Physical and virtual screening processes are provided in this invention for identifying compounds which disrupt or inhibit sulfonation and the interaction between Sclerostin and binding partners. The antibodies and compositions of the present invention are useful in diagnostic and therapeutic applications directed to Sclerostin-related disorders.

Provided are antibodies that bind to: a sulfonated epitope of the protein Sclerostin, to Sclerostin portions comprising a sulfonated amino acid and to dimerized forms of Sclerostin. Further provided are compositions and peptides comprising a sulfonated epitope of sclerostin. Also provided by this invention are methods for production of such antibodies, both active and passive, and methods for identifying antibodies specific for sulfonation sites in Sclerostin and other antibodies which discriminate between sulfonated and unsulfonated forms of sclerostin. Physical and virtual screening processes are provided in this invention for identifying compounds which disrupt or inhibit sulfonation and the interaction between Sclerostin and binding partners. The antibodies and compositions of the present invention are useful in diagnostic and therapeutic applications directed to Sclerostin-related disorders.

A novel class or family of TGF-β binding proteins is disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.

A novel class or family of TGF-β binding proteins is disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.

The present invention discloses adeno-associated viral vectors useful in gene therapy methods for the treatment of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, liver cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The invention also relates to polynucleotides, plasmids, vectors and methods for the production of such adeno-associated viral vectors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said vectors.

The present invention discloses adeno-associated viral vectors useful in gene therapy methods for the treatment of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, liver cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The invention also relates to polynucleotides, plasmids, vectors and methods for the production of such adeno-associated viral vectors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said vectors.

A composition for enhancing bone tissue repair or regeneration is described. The composition includes osteoactivin or an active peptide fragment thereof and a biocompatible material. Osteogenic orthopedic devices including the osteoactivin-containing composition are also described. The devices and compositions can be used in methods for enhancing bone tissue repair or regeneration by contacting a site in need of bone repair or regeneration in a subject with the osteoactivin-containing composition.

A composition for enhancing bone tissue repair or regeneration is described. The composition includes osteoactivin or an active peptide fragment thereof and a biocompatible material. Osteogenic orthopedic devices including the osteoactivin-containing composition are also described. The devices and compositions can be used in methods for enhancing bone tissue repair or regeneration by contacting a site in need of bone repair or regeneration in a subject with the osteoactivin-containing composition.

The present disclosure describes methods to promote thymic regeneration following injury or damage to the thymus by administering to the thymus an effective amount of (1) bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), (2) thymus-derived endothelial cells that express BMP4 or (3) a combination of BMP4 and BMP4-secreting thymus-derived endothelial cells.