Gamma ray and e-beam irradiation provided efficient sterilization of certain self-assembling peptides (including RADA16 in solution) without substantial degradation of the major peptide, while, e.g., another self-assembly peptide, QLEL12 was significantly degraded following irradiation. Irradiation sterilization enhances the rheological property of, for example, RADA16 hydrogel once applied to tissue at a physiological pH. The rheological property increase can result in higher efficacy in a variety of biomedical applications.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a nonwoven fabric containing silk fibers in which an abs intensity ratio [abs (1650)/abs (1620)], which is a ratio of an intensity of a peak positioned in a vicinity of 1650 cm.sup.−1 [abs (1650)] in an infrared absorption spectrum to an intensity of a peak positioned in a vicinity of 1620 cm.sup.−1 [abs (1620)] in an infrared absorption spectrum, is larger than 0.65 and 1.90 or less, and a method for producing the nonwoven fabric containing silk fibers.

Cyclic peptide pro-gelator compositions, and methods of therapeutic use, which assemble into macromolecular hydrogel when administered through cleavage by endogenous enzymes upregulated at a site of tissue injury, such as a myocardial infarction.

The present invention relates to a process of preparation of a biomaterial comprising the steps of: a) Preparing a solution comprising at least one protein having a solubility in water superior or equal to about 10 mg/mL and at least one salt having solubility in water superior or equal to about 500 mg/mL, b) Evaporating the solution obtained in step a) as is, as a foam obtained by foaming the solution obtained in step a), or as a mixture thereof, at a temperature comprised of from 4 to 50° C. in atmospheric pressure or at lower temperatures under vacuum or at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, until the formation of two non-miscible phases or until obtaining a substantially dry solid, thereby obtaining a biomaterial.

The present invention also relates to a biomaterial obtainable by the process, and to the use of the biomaterial as a support for in vitro tissue engineering and/or for in vitro cell culture and in vitro expansion and/or as an implantable medical device, or as a drug.

Compositions useful as dermal fillers and methods using such compositions to treat various skin and soft tissue conditions. The dermal fillers can comprise silk attached to hyaluronic acid using for example two cross linkers and can be used to treat of facial imperfections, facial defects, facial augmentations, breast imperfections, breast augmentations or breast reconstructions.

This invention relates generally to water-insoluble but water-swellable and deformable crosslinked PEGylated microgel particles of proteins and protein-based macromolecules that are pseudoplastic (shear thinning) and flow in aqueous media under shear and which can be injected or made to flow, wherein said microgel particles can reform as a cluster of microgel particles when shearing forces are removed. The microgel particles function as a matrix to support cell growth, viability, and proliferation.

Disclosed are various bioactive grafts and methods of making the same. In one embodiment, bone material is harvested from a donor. The harvested bone material is exposed to a lysing agent, the lysing agent configured to release growth factors and bioactive materials from cellular material of the harvested bone material. The harvested bone material is then rinsed with a rinsing agent. The pH of the harvested bone material is substantially neutralized.

Described herein are biomaterials, systems, and methods for guiding regeneration of an epiphyseal growth plate or similar interfacial tissue structures. In one aspect, the disclosed technology can include a biologic material that can comprise one or more of a hydrogel carrier for growth factors and MSCs, chondrogenic and immunomodulatory cytokines, microparticles for prolonged and spatially controlled growth factor delivery; and/or porous scaffold providing mechanical support. The implanted material can be applied via various different modalities depending on the nature of the physeal injury. One modality is an injectable hydrogel and another modality is an implantable hydrogel infused scaffold.

Compositions, peptide solutions and macroscopic scaffolds of self-assembling peptides consisting essentially of non-ionic, polar amino acids are provided. Particular peptides include those comprising, or consisting essentially of, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine, glutamine, asparagine, methionine, tryptophan, hydroxy-proline, and combinations thereof. Methods of sterilizing the self-assembling peptides, and scaffolds comprising the peptides are also provided.

Disclosed are various bioactive grafts and methods of making the same. In one embodiment, bone material is harvested from a donor. The harvested bone material is exposed to a lysing agent, the lysing agent configured to release growth factors and bioactive materials from cellular material of the harvested bone material. The harvested bone material is then rinsed with a rinsing agent. The pH of the harvested bone material is substantially neutralized.