The present invention is an inflatable balloon which is enclosed by an expandable cover which becomes increasingly porous/permeable during expansion. The balloon is coated or enclosed with a matrix which contains a pharmaceutically active agent. During expansion of the balloon, the pharmaceutically active agent is released or extruded through the expandable cover into a body cavity such as an artery or vein. The present invention also provides for a method of treating a disease or condition by delivering the inflatable balloon to a particular body cavity.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to polymer-encapsulated drug particles and a drug-releasing coating including the same, as well as drug-coated balloon catheters for treating, preventing, or reducing the recurrence of strictures in body lumens and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes the polymer-encapsulated drug particles; or a drug-releasing coating including the polymer-encapsulated drug particles; or a therapeutic agent and a first and/or second additive; or a combination thereof.

A therapeutic bandage includes a bandage matrix and an array of microneedles extending from the bandage matrix. Each of the microneedles includes a first layer that encapsulates a first immunomodulatory compound and a second layer that encapsulates a second immunomodulatory compound. The array of microneedles is configured to guide foreign agents affected by the first immunomodulatory compound, the second immunomodulatory compound, or the first and second immunomodulatory compounds from one or more skin layers of a user to the bandage matrix such that the bandage matrix absorbs and captures the foreign agents.

Provided herein is a cell macroencapsulation device composed of hydrogel in a 3D conformation that optimizes encapsulated cell viability and function when transplanted into a vascularized tissue space. The hydrogel macroencapsulation device is intended to reduce or eliminate immune response to the cell graft, while allowing exchange of encapsulated cell-secreted products, such as insulin. Also described herein is an injection-mold and fabrication process to generate the hydrogel macroencapsulation devices for use in the clinic.

A disposable absorbent hygiene product is provided, comprising an absorbent core disposed between a liquid pervious topsheet intended to face the wearer, and a backsheet intended to face away from the wearer, wherein said absorbent core comprises a super absorbent polymer composition that comprises a) super absorbent polymer particles including a cross-linked polymer of a water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing an acidic group, at least a part of said acidic groups being neutralized; and b) a particle size-controlled antibacterial agent that comprises a chelating agent containing EDTA or an alkali metal salt thereof; a mixture of an organic acid and a silicate-based salt; and a particle size control agent.

Embodiments herein relate to cell encapsulation membranes, devices including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a cell encapsulation membrane is included. The cell encapsulation membrane can include a mesh substrate. The mesh substrate can include a first series of fibers extending in a first direction and a second series of fibers extending in a second direction, the first series of fibers intersecting with the second series of fibers, the mesh substrate defining a plurality of apertures disposed between adjacent fibers of the first series and the second series. The cell encapsulation membrane can further include a coating disposed on the mesh substrate, the coating partially occluding the plurality of apertures defined by the mesh substrate and forming pores. Other embodiments are also included herein.

This invention is in the field of synthesis and amplified photodegradation of hydrogel network and methods of producing and using the same.

A photodynamic therapy technique for preventing damage to the fovea of the eye or another body portion of a patient is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a treatment laser is applied to a body portion of a patient using a painting technique, the treatment laser being configured to provide paint brush-type photodynamic therapy (PPDT) using the painting technique to the body portion of the patient by emitting light of a predetermined wavelength that is absorbed by tissue of the body portion of the patient to which a photosensitizer has been applied, the body portion of the patient being afflicted by a medical condition. The application of the treatment laser to the body portion of a patient using the painting technique treats the medical condition, reduces the symptoms associated with the medical condition, and/or alleviates the medical condition.

Methods of preparing nitric oxide-releasing silica particles are provided, including the steps of functionalizing a silica particle with a linker moiety; and reacting a functional group on a nitric oxide storage/release compound with the linker moiety to attach the nitric oxide storage/release compound to the silica particle via the linker moiety. The disclosure also provides certain nitric oxide-releasing silica particles and precursors thereof, as well as compositions containing such particles.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for wound healing. In particular, the present invention relates to promoting and enhancing wound healing by utilizing cross-linker covalent modification molecules to attach and deliver wound active agents to a wound. In addition, the present invention provides methods and compositions utilizing oppositely charged polymers to form a polyelectrolyte layer on a wound surface. The invention further relates to incorporating wound active agents into a polyelectrolyte layer for delivery to a wound.