A barrier layer and corresponding method of making provide anti-inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and anti-adhesion functionality for a medical device implantable in a patient. The barrier layer can be combined with a medical device structure to provide anti-adhesion characteristics, in addition to improved healing, non-inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory response. The barrier layer is generally formed of a naturally occurring oil, or an oil composition formed in part of a naturally occurring oil, that is at least partially cured forming a cross-linked gel. In addition, the oil composition can include a therapeutic agent component, such as a drug or other bioactive agent.

In one embodiment, a drug delivery system and method provide a member including a combination of a drug substance and a polymer or other material, and an encapsulating layer formed in an outer surface of the member by gas cluster ion beam irradiation of the outer surface of the member, which encapsulating layer is adapted to determine one or more characteristics of the drug delivery system.

Provided is a use for a peptide in surface-treating a medical device or medical material to be used in contact with blood, with which it is possible to obtain a medical device or medical material that can achieve highly efficient vascular endothelialization through the use of a peptide uniquely binding to vascular endothelial cells. Also provided are: a peptide suitable for use in said surface treatment; a method for producing a medical device or medical material surfaced-treated with said peptide and to be used in contact with blood; and a surface treatment agent including said peptide, said agent to be used in surface-treating a medical device or medical material to be used in contact with blood. In the present invention, a medical device or medical material is surface-treated using a peptide that includes any one of ten specific amino acid sequences and uniquely binds to the surface of endothelial progenitor cells.

Implants and methods for treating ocular disorders are provided. One method involves introducing an implant into an anterior chamber of an eye. The implant is implanted into eye tissue adjacent the anterior chamber such that a proximal end of the implant resides in the anterior chamber following implantation. A therapeutic agent is eluted from the implant into the eye. Desirably, the release of the therapeutic agent from the implant is controlled. The controlled release of the therapeutic agent can be at a chosen rate and/or for a selected duration which can be episodic or periodic. The therapeutic agent can be an antiproliferative agent, an anti-inflammatory drug, or a compound for treating glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

A Sodium Bicarbonate Catheter Lock Solution that prevents clot formation inside the catheter lumen and ensures patency of the catheter and also eliminates bleeding and other complications caused through the use of anticoagulants and other solutions as a catheter locking solution. Said lock solution may be used with or without other components such as antimicrobials/antibiotics and/or anti-coagulants/anti-clotting agents.

Methods for treating or preventing neointima stenosis are disclosed. The methods generally involve the use of a TGFβ inhibitor, a SMAD2 inhibitor, an FGF Receptor agonist, a Let-7 agonist, or a combination thereof, to inhibit endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (Endo-MT) of vascular endothelial cells into smooth muscle cells (SMC) at sites of endothelial damage. The disclosed methods can therefore be used to prevent or inhibit neointimal stenosis or restenosis, e.g., after angioplasty, vascular graft, or stent. Also disclosed are methods for increasing the patency of biodegradable, synthetic vascular grafts using a composition that inhibits Endo-MT. A cell-free tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG) produced by this method is also disclosed.

The invention is an improved biocompatible surface for a variety of medical purposes. The biocompatible surface employs a unique tight microstructure that demonstrates enhanced cellular response in the body, particularly when placed in contact with blood. As a blood contact surface, the present invention can be beneficially employed in a wide variety of implantable devices and in many other devices and equipment that come in contact with blood.

This invention relates to collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycans and engineered collagen matrices comprising a collagen matrix and a collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycan where the collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycan can be aberrant or can have amino acid homology with a portion of the amino acid sequence of a protein or a proteoglycan that regulates collagen fibrillogenesis. The invention also relates to kits, compounds, compositions, and engineered graft constructs comprising such collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycans or engineered collagen matrices and methods for their preparation and use.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided including a structure having one or more surfaces configured for internal use within a patient's body and one or more therapeutic compositions comprising one or more active substances including a direct factor Xa inhibitor, and a direct factor IIa inhibitor disposed in or on the structure. The structure is configured to be positioned adjacent an injury site in the patient's body. The one or more active substances optionally include an anti-proliferative agent. The therapeutic composition is formulated to release the one or more active substances to the injury site to provide one or more of inhibit clot formation, promote clot dissolution, inhibit or dissolute inflammation, inhibit vessel injury, increase time before clotting, and/or inhibit cell proliferation.

An implantable bioreactor containing a barrier which is designed to allow the release of cell-derived biomolecules, but restricts the entry of immunologic and other cells, or the egress of the cells contained within the bioreactor. Two broad classes of implantable bioreactors are envisioned, encompassing devices for both systemic delivery of the bio-products and local delivery at the target tissue. Bioreactors of both classes can be implanted via surgery, through percutaneous techniques, or other techniques which effect implantation.