This disclosure provides a method for improving maturation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in a patient in need of hemodialysis, which method entails applying a solution to the internal wall of a lumen of an AVF; and restoring or initiating blood flow in the AVF, wherein the solution comprises an effective amount of a synthetic proteoglycan comprises a glycan having from about 1 to about 80 collagen-binding peptide(s) bonded to the glycan. Also provided are methods for preparing a vascular graft for a bypass surgery, comprising contacting the internal wall of a section of a blood vessel with a solution comprising an effective amount of the synthetic proteoglycan.

A composition for use in cardiovascular therapy includes transfer factor. The transfer factor may be nonmammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from eggs, or mammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from colostrum. The composition may also include one or more of the following: an LDL receptor-binding element; a blood flow-enhancing element; a cholesterol reducing element; a fat oxidation prevention element, and an antioxidant. Treatment methods include enlisting the immune system of a subject receiving therapy to attack pathogens that cause inflammation of blood vessels or to otherwise reduce inflammation of blood vessels.

A composition for use in cardiovascular therapy includes transfer factor. The transfer factor may be nonmammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from eggs, or mammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from colostrum. The composition may also include one or more of the following: an LDL receptor-binding element; a blood flow-enhancing element; a cholesterol reducing element; a fat oxidation prevention element, and an antioxidant. Treatment methods include enlisting the immune system of a subject receiving therapy to attack pathogens that cause inflammation of blood vessels or to otherwise reduce inflammation of blood vessels.

A composition for use in cardiovascular therapy includes transfer factor. The transfer factor may be nonmammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from eggs, or mammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from colostrum. The composition may also include one or more of the following: an LDL receptor-binding element; a blood flow-enhancing element; a cholesterol reducing element; a fat oxidation prevention element, and an antioxidant. Treatment methods include enlisting the immune system of a subject receiving therapy to attack pathogens that cause inflammation of blood vessels or to otherwise reduce inflammation of blood vessels.

Cells present in adipose tissue are used to treat patients, including patients with PVD and related diseases or disorders. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Accordingly, in a preferred method, cells present in adipose tissue are placed directly into a recipient along with such additives necessary to promote, engender or support a therapeutic benefit.

Cells present in adipose tissue are used to treat patients, including patients with PVD and related diseases or disorders. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Accordingly, in a preferred method, cells present in adipose tissue are placed directly into a recipient along with such additives necessary to promote, engender or support a therapeutic benefit.

The present invention involves implants suitable for surgical implantation into subjects. In some embodiments the implants comprise a biocompatible scaffold material and blood vessels containing engineered endothelial cells—such as E4ORF1+ engineered endothelial cells or engineered endothelial cells that express certain marker molecules. The present invention provides implants, methods for preparing such implants, and methods of treatment utilizing such implants.

The present application provides methods of functionalizing an organ or tissue of a mammal by administering a nutrient (e.g., peracetylated N-azido galactosamine Ac4GalNAz) to the mammal or by culturing an organ or tissue in a bioreactor containing such nutrient. The present application also provides methods of selectively functionalizing extracellular matrix (ECM) of an organ or tissue of a mammal by administering a nutrient (e.g., peracetylated N-azido galactosamine Ac4GalNAz) to the mammal. In some aspects, the present application provides a decellularized scaffold of a mammalian organ or tissue comprising an extracellular matrix, wherein the extracellular matrix of the decellularized scaffold is functionalized with a chemical group that is reactive in a bioorthogonal chemical reaction, such as an azide chemical group. The present application also provides biological prosthetic mesh and mammalian organs and tissues for transplantation prepared according to the methods of the application.

The present application provides methods of functionalizing an organ or tissue of a mammal by administering a nutrient (e.g., peracetylated N-azido galactosamine Ac4GalNAz) to the mammal or by culturing an organ or tissue in a bioreactor containing such nutrient. The present application also provides methods of selectively functionalizing extracellular matrix (ECM) of an organ or tissue of a mammal by administering a nutrient (e.g., peracetylated N-azido galactosamine Ac4GalNAz) to the mammal. In some aspects, the present application provides a decellularized scaffold of a mammalian organ or tissue comprising an extracellular matrix, wherein the extracellular matrix of the decellularized scaffold is functionalized with a chemical group that is reactive in a bioorthogonal chemical reaction, such as an azide chemical group. The present application also provides biological prosthetic mesh and mammalian organs and tissues for transplantation prepared according to the methods of the application.

Methods of tissue grafting, and more particularly methods for enhancing tissue graft revascularization, e.g., host engagement of pre-existing graft blood vessels.