The present invention relates to the identification of a microRNA family, designated miR-29a-c, that is a key regulator of fibrosis in cardiac tissue. The inventors show that members of the miR-29 family are down-regulated in the heart tissue in response to stress, and are up-regulated in heart tissue of mice that are resistant to both stress and fibrosis. Also provided are methods of modulating expression and activity of the miR-29 family of miRNAs as a treatment for fibrotic disease, including cardiac hypertrophy, skeletal muscle fibrosis other fibrosis related diseases and collagen loss-related disease.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method for preventing or treating post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a subject in need thereof, comprising administrating a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes or mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal microRNA to the subject. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method for preventing progressive fibrocartilage degeneration in a subject in need thereof, comprising administrating a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes or mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal microRNA to the subject.

Mucoadhesive microgel compositions, which include an active agent (such as HB-EGF), are provided. Aspects of the invention include a microgel comprising a crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate polymer comprising a mucoadhesive functionality. Also provided are methods of making and using the mucoadhesive microgel compositions, e.g., in therapeutic applications. In one embodiment, HB-EGF loaded mucoadhesive microgel compositions are provided, e.g., for prevention or treatment of mucositis conditions, such as therapy induced oral mucositis conditions.

The present invention relates to a dermal layer which is for grafting and has an improved graft survival rate, and a method for producing the same, wherein the dermal layer for grafting can be produced by filling a filling solution, including a DNA fragment mixture and chitosan, into an acellular dermal matrix from which cells have been removed. It was observed that the dermal layer for grafting produced in this manner, due to the filling solution filled therein and including a DNA fragment mixture and chitosan, increases the rate at which cells flow in from the tissue surrounding the graft and are fixed, and thereby alleviates an initial inflammatory reaction and promotes blending with the surrounding tissue.

The invention provides liquid injectable copolymers of TMC and HTMC that are degradable in vivo. Degradation can be tailored by adjusting the amount of HTMC in the copolymer, the initial molecular weight of the copolymer, and the characteristics of the initiator used in its preparation. Specifically, the degradation rate increases as the amount of HTMC incorporated into the copolymer increases, as the molecular weight of the copolymer decreases, and as the hydrophobicity of the initiator decreases. Moreover, the degradation yields products such as glycerol and carbon dioxide that are non-toxic in vivo, and which will not cause a substantive change in tissue pH upon implantation in vivo. The copolymers may be used in applications such as drug delivery and as coatings.

Disclosed herein are topical compositions for treating wounds. The topically compositions include a Serp-1 polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding a Serp-1 polypeptide. Also disclosed are methods of treating a wound in subject. The methods include administering a topical formulation that includes a Serp-1 polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding a Serp-1 polypeptide to the wound.

The present application is directed to a method of treating osteoarthritis, which includes obtaining a member of a transforming growth factor superfamily of proteins; obtaining a population of cultured mammalian cells that may contain vector encoding a gene, or a population of cultured connective tissue cells that do not contain any vector encoding a gene; and then transferring the protein and the connective tissue cells into an arthritic joint space of a mammalian host, such that the activity of the combination within the joint space results in regenerating connective tissue.

The invention provides a novel, versatile degradable hydrogel composition, and methods thereof, with precisely tunable stiffness, plasticity (e.g., degree of covalent vs. physical crosslinks) and predictive disintegration rates degradation, allowing controlled disintegration and release of therapeutic cells or pharmaceuticals and/or in vitro 3D cell expansion.

A composition comprising a wound-closure material physically or chemically associated with an agent that reduces scarring and improves the integrity of skin and underlying tissue in a mammalian subject. Methods for reducing or eliminating scarring or improving mammalian skin integrity comprise closing a wound with a composition, such as a suture material associated with a PHD inhibitor molecule, e.g., 1,4-DPCA.

Provided are liposomes that encapsulate adenosine. The liposomes may be formed from sphingomyelin or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) or a combination of sphingomyelin and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol (DMPG) or a combination of sphingomyelin, DMPG, and DMPC. The liposomes encapsulating adenosine may be used to induce cartilage regeneration, treat osteoarthritis, alleviate joint pain, and/or slow, arrest, and/or reverse progressive structural tissue damage associated with osteoarthritis or treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute gouty arthritis, and/or synovitis. The liposomes may release adenosine for up to two weeks.