A cell or tissue embedding device having an aqueous gel serving as an immunoisolation layer, the aqueous gel containing, as components thereof, a denatured polyvinyl alcohol resin having an activated carbonyl group and a crosslinking agent is highly capable of supplying a physiologically active substance.

A method for reducing post-operative scar formation on a skin of a patient comprises applying a composition or material comprising copper, zinc and/or silver compounds to a postoperative wound under continuous peripheral pressure to the surgical incision and surrounding inflamed tissue, in order to reduce the inflammatory response, improve wound healing, reduce wounds complications and improve scar formation.

Disclosed are hydrogels polymerized with a biofunctional moiety, biodegradable and permanent, designed to be implantable in a mammalian body and intended to block or mitigate the formation of tissue adhesions. The hydrogels of the present invention are characterized by comprising four structural elements: a) a polymeric backbone which defines the overall polymeric morphology, b) linkage groups, c) side chains, and d) biofunctional end groups. The hydrophobicity of the various structural elements are chosen to reduce tissue adhesion and enhance the biofunctional aspect of the end groups. The morphology of these polymers are typically of high molecular weight and have shape to encourage entanglement. Useful structures include branching chains, comb or brush, and dendritic morphologies.

Methods of increasing perfusion and vascularity in irradiated tissue and of increasing retention of fat cells in a fat graft in irradiated tissue by applying an effective amount of DFO to the irradiated tissue at a treatment site. The DFO may be administered transdermally by applying a transdermal delivery device to a tissue surface at the treatment site in multiple discrete doses. The transdermal delivery system comprises DFO encapsulated in reverse micelles.

The methods and compositions described herein address the need in the art by providing peptides and polypeptides comprising a growth factor binding domain. In some embodiments, the peptides have an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to one of SEQ ID NOS:1-7, 13-15, 49-50, or 66-70, or a fragment thereof; wherein the peptide is less than 300 amino acids in length.

The present invention provides a means for reconstituting tissues and organs having mature functions. A method of preparing a tissue or an organ, comprising coculturing an organ cell with a vascular endothelial cell and a mesenchymal cell, generating an organ bud, transplanting the organ bud into a non-human animal, and then isolating from the non-human animal the transplanted organ bud-derived tissue or organ.

A particulate lyophilized platelet lysate composition suitable for use as a cell culture medium can include growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines released from lysis of source platelets, wherein cellular debris from the source platelets is removed (partially or fully) by filtration. The growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines are lyophilized to form a particulate lyophilized platelet lysate composition.

The present disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an Agrin fragment or derivative thereof, and uses of the pharmaceutical composition. The present disclosure also provides method of producing the pharmaceutical composition.

Compositions and methods are provided for treating a gut permeability-related disease or disorder comprising administering to the gastrointestinal tract of a subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a hydrogel having an elastic modulus (G′) of at least about 500 Pa.

The invention relates to a biodegradable, magnesium-containing bone screw for implanting into a patient body for use in medical applications, such as, orthopedic and craniofacial surgery. The bone screw has a tapered head, a threaded shaft and pointed tip. The composition of the bone screws provide for improved biodegradability and biocompatibility, and the features of the structure of the bone screws facilitates guidance and placement during implantation as well as reduces the potential for mechanical failures. Moreover, the bone screws are effective to provide targeted release of magnesium ions resulting in enhanced new bone formation.