A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

This invention provides composition and methods of treating subjects with microbial infection, sepsis, wounds, heterotopic ossification, or combination thereof. In each case, the treatment methods of the present invention comprise administering ADPase-enhanced apyrase agents, alone or in combination with an antimicrobial.

This invention provides composition and methods of treating subjects with microbial infection, sepsis, wounds, heterotopic ossification, or combination thereof. In each case, the treatment methods of the present invention comprise administering ADPase-enhanced apyrase agents, alone or in combination with an antimicrobial.

The invention proposes a polymer solution for visco-supplementation. The polymer solution contains at least one at least partially water-soluble polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative, one water-soluble alkali salt or alkaline earth salt of polystyrene sulfonic acid, and water, whereby the polymer solution is clear to the eye. Moreover, the invention describes a method for sterilisation of the polymer solution. This method is characterised in that a mixture of at least one at least partially water-soluble polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative, one water-soluble alkali salt or alkaline earth salt of polystyrene sulfonic acid, and water is mixed with at least 0.5 wt. % propiolactone, and in that the polymer solution is stored at room temperature for at least 24 hours.

The invention proposes a polymer solution for visco-supplementation. The polymer solution contains at least one at least partially water-soluble polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative, one water-soluble alkali salt or alkaline earth salt of polystyrene sulfonic acid, and water, whereby the polymer solution is clear to the eye. Moreover, the invention describes a method for sterilisation of the polymer solution. This method is characterised in that a mixture of at least one at least partially water-soluble polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative, one water-soluble alkali salt or alkaline earth salt of polystyrene sulfonic acid, and water is mixed with at least 0.5 wt. % propiolactone, and in that the polymer solution is stored at room temperature for at least 24 hours.

The disclosure relates to dendritic polyglycerols (dPG) compounds with carboxyalkyl, sulfyl or sulfonyl functional groups that irreversibly inhibit viral infection (virucidal effect) through multivalent interaction in nanomolar concentration range. While the compounds of the disclosure show virus inhibition in the nanomolar range they show no in-vitro toxicity in the same range of concentration.

The disclosure relates to dendritic polyglycerols (dPG) compounds with carboxyalkyl, sulfyl or sulfonyl functional groups that irreversibly inhibit viral infection (virucidal effect) through multivalent interaction in nanomolar concentration range. While the compounds of the disclosure show virus inhibition in the nanomolar range they show no in-vitro toxicity in the same range of concentration.

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 R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is selected from a hydroxyl group, a tosylate group, an alkoxy group of the formula OR.sup.3 where R.sup.3 is selected from an alkyl group having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms, or an ester group of the formula OCOR.sup.4, where R.sup.4 is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms, and n is from 4 to 46,000, with the proviso that when R.sup.1 is hydrogen and R.sup.2 is a hydroxy group the treatment compound has a number average molecular weight from 10,100 to 2,000,0000 g/mol.

##STR00001##

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 R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is selected from a hydroxyl group, a tosylate group, an alkoxy group of the formula OR.sup.3 where R.sup.3 is selected from an alkyl group having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms, or an ester group of the formula OCOR.sup.4, where R.sup.4 is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms, and n is from 4 to 46,000, with the proviso that when R.sup.1 is hydrogen and R.sup.2 is a hydroxy group the treatment compound has a number average molecular weight from 10,100 to 2,000,0000 g/mol.

##STR00001##

A medical material uses a nickel-titanium alloy wherein a polyelectrolyte has a reduced thickness while a sufficient amount of an antithrombogenic compound for production of a therapeutic effect is supported. The medical material in which a porous surface is formed on a nickel-titanium alloy to allow infiltration of a polyelectrolyte into the pores, to thereby reduce the thickness of the polyelectrolyte exposed on the surface of the nickel-titanium alloy while allowing supporting of a sufficient amount of an antithrombogenic compound due to contribution of the polyelectrolyte infiltrate.