Various aspects of the present invention relate to a peptide based biomaterial for visualization by SHG microscopy. In particular the invention relates to the use of short peptides as a non-linear optical (NLO) material for second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. A preferred short peptide comprises LIVAGK (LK6) and contains a non-polar aliphatic tail (with decreasing hydrophobicity) and a polar head; and can self-assemble into hydrogels; wherein which the peptide forms a tunable fibrous structure for in vitro and in vivo imaging applications and is suitable in disease diagnostics such as amyloidosis, including 1) neuro-degenerative amyloidosis, e.g. Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's, Huntington's (PD), 2) non-neuropathic localized amyloidosis such as in Type II Diabetes, and 3) systemic amyloidosis that occurs in multiple tissues, e.g. cataracts and lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD), as well as drug delivery and/or wound dressings.

The present invention is directed to a method of preparing dehydrated blood products, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrated blood product; (b) spray-drying the hydrated blood product to produce a dehydrated blood product, as well as dehydrated blood products made by the method. The present invention is directed to a method of treating a patient suffering from a blood-related disorder, comprising the steps of: (a) rehydrating a therapeutic amount of the dehydrated blood products to produce a rehydrated therapeutic composition; and (b) administering the rehydrated therapeutic composition to the patient. The present invention is directed to a bandage or surgical aid comprising the dehydrated blood products described above.

The present invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for providing mechanical support and/or agents to biological targets. Specifically, the compositions comprise platelet lysate, fibrinogen and thrombin. The compositions can be used for the treatment of wounds/injuries (e.g. corneal), and for other applications including tissue culture.

Preparations including a purified amphiphilic peptide including a folding group having a plurality of charged amino acid residues and hydrophobic amino acid residues arranged in a substantially alternating pattern and a turn sequence, configured to self-assemble into a hydrogel and being thermally stable are disclosed. The peptide may have a net charge of from 7 to +11. The peptide may include an effective amount of counterions. The preparation may include between 0.5% w/v and 6.0% w/v of the peptide. The preparation may include a biocompatible solution. The preparation may include a buffer. The buffer may include an effective amount of an ionic salt and a biological buffering agent to form the hydrogel. Kits including the preparation are also disclosed. The kits may include a mixing device and/or a delivery device. Medical or surgical tools having at least a portion of an exterior surface coated with the hydrogel are also disclosed.

This disclosure relates to a hydrogel comprising a crosslinked biomolecule, wherein the hydrogel comprises microscale structures. Also described is a hydrogel comprising an ordered array of semi-spherical microbumps, wherein the hydrogel is bacteria-repellent. Also described is a hierarchically-structured protein hydrogel that inhibits long term attachment of multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus up to 100 over a flat hydrogel. Methods of making and uses thereof are also disclosed herein.

One aspect of the invention provides a method of treating a chronic wound including administering to the wound at least one agent from a delivery system wherein the agent induces sequential conversion of a first population of wound macrophages in the wound to M2A macrophages and a second population of wound macrophages to M2C macrophages. The sequential conversion of the wound macrophages promotes tissue remodeling.

Provided herein is a antimicrobial sorption composition containing pyrogenic silica and serrathiopeptidase useful for the treatment of wounds such as festering wounds, necrotic wounds, exudative wounds, or wounds with inflammatory infiltration.

The present invention discloses a -polylysine hydrogel and the preparation method and application of the as-described -polylysine hydrogel. The polylysine hydrogel is non-toxic to a recipient, and has biodegradability and biocompatibility. The wound tissue healing material prepared by the present invention can be used in wound tissue adhesion in an efficient, stable, safe manner.

The preset invention relates to a new method for wound healing, particularly in burns, comprising Epinecidin-1 (Epi-1) or Pardaxin (GE33), optionally in the incorporation into collagen.

Various aspects of the present invention relate to a peptide based biomaterial for visualization by SHG microscopy. In particular the invention relates to the use of short peptides as a non-linear optical (NLO) material for second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. A preferred short peptide comprises LIVAGK (LK6) and contains a non-polar aliphatic tail (with decreasing hydrophobicity) and a polar head; and can self-assemble into hydrogels; wherein which the peptide forms a tunable fibrous structure for in vitro and in vivo imaging applications and is suitable in disease diagnostics such as amyloidosis, including 1) neuro-degenerative amyloidosis, e.g. Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's, Huntington's (PD), 2) non-neuropathic localized amyloidosis such as in Type II Diabetes, and 3) systemic amyloidosis that occurs in multiple tissues, e.g. cataracts and lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD), as well as drug delivery and/or wound dressings.