Disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment and prevention of adhesions and ileus.

Synthesis of polyionenes with built-in degradable linkers through addition polymerization of a novel class of degradable A.sub.2-type monomers (d-A.sub.2), and their use as antimicrobial agents are disclosed. A library of biodegradable polyionenes and Gemini-surfactants made from d-A.sub.2 monomers are also disclosed. These materials have potent and broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity with high selectivity over mammalian cells.

A biomaterial includes a neutral acyl lipid and an amphipathic block copolymer which contains a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment and in which a difference in ClogP value between the hydrophilic segment and the hydrophobic segment is more than 1.00, and in the biomaterial, a content of the amphipathic block copolymer is 1.0% to 20% by mass with respect to a total mass of a solid content of the biomaterial.

A biomaterial includes a neutral acyl lipid and an amphipathic block copolymer which contains a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment and in which a difference in ClogP value between the hydrophilic segment and the hydrophobic segment is more than 1.00, and in the biomaterial, a content of the amphipathic block copolymer is 1.0% to 20% by mass with respect to a total mass of a solid content of the biomaterial.

Compositions and methods regarding antimicrobial guanidinium macromolecules with one or more targeting moieties for selectively targeting bacteria are provided. According to an embodiment, an antimicrobial macromolecule is provided that comprises a polymer backbone and one or more guanidinium moieties that extend from the polymer backbone. The antimicrobial macromolecule further comprises a targeting moiety that extends from the polymer backbone. The targeting moiety can comprise a substance favored for consumption by bacteria, such as a monosaccharide.

Compositions and methods regarding antimicrobial guanidinium macromolecules with one or more targeting moieties for selectively targeting bacteria are provided. According to an embodiment, an antimicrobial macromolecule is provided that comprises a polymer backbone and one or more guanidinium moieties that extend from the polymer backbone. The antimicrobial macromolecule further comprises a targeting moiety that extends from the polymer backbone. The targeting moiety can comprise a substance favored for consumption by bacteria, such as a monosaccharide.

Embodiments are directed towards methods of inducing caspase activity. The methods include contacting a cell with a treatment compound represented by the following Formula (I), where the treatment compound is a random copolymer, R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen and a hydroxyl group, R.sup.2 is selected from hydrogen and a hydroxyl group, R.sup.1 is different than R.sup.2, and a sum of x and y is from 4 to 20,000.

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Embodiments are directed towards methods of inducing caspase activity. The methods include contacting a cell with a treatment compound represented by the following Formula (I), where the treatment compound is a random copolymer, R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen and a hydroxyl group, R.sup.2 is selected from hydrogen and a hydroxyl group, R.sup.1 is different than R.sup.2, and a sum of x and y is from 4 to 20,000.

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A method for resuscitation of the heart in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a solution comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) having a molecular weight of 8-100 kDa is provided.

A method for resuscitation of the heart in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a solution comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) having a molecular weight of 8-100 kDa is provided.