In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions that comprise: (1) a biodegradable polymer matrix; and (2) at least one biodegradable reinforcing particle that is dispersed in the matrix. In some embodiments, the biodegradable reinforcing particle is selected from the group consisting of porous oxide particles and porous semiconductor particles. In additional embodiments, the compositions of the present invention further comprise a (3) porogen particle that is also dispersed in the matrix. In further embodiments, the compositions of the present invention are also associated with one or more active agents. In various embodiments, the active agents are associated with the biodegradable polymer matrix, the biodegradable reinforcing particle, and/or the porogen particle. In various embodiments, the compositions of the present invention may be utilized as scaffolds, such as scaffolds for treating bone defects. Further embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of making the compositions of the present invention.

Method for producing a gel having a desired strength, by performing a step of removing a part or all of a solvent. Method for producing a gel containing a water-soluble organic polymer (A), a silicate salt (B), and a dispersant (C) for the silicate salt, including a desolvation step of removing a part or all of one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of water and a water-soluble organic solvent in the gel, or gelling a gel-forming composition containing the water-soluble organic polymer (A), the silicate salt (B), the dispersant (C) for the silicate salt, and one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of water and a water-soluble organic solvent and removing a part or all of the solvent in the composition.

Method for producing a gel having a desired strength, by performing a step of removing a part or all of a solvent. Method for producing a gel containing a water-soluble organic polymer (A), a silicate salt (B), and a dispersant (C) for the silicate salt, including a desolvation step of removing a part or all of one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of water and a water-soluble organic solvent in the gel, or gelling a gel-forming composition containing the water-soluble organic polymer (A), the silicate salt (B), the dispersant (C) for the silicate salt, and one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of water and a water-soluble organic solvent and removing a part or all of the solvent in the composition.

The invention relates to an implantable medical device having a body comprising a composite material. The body has a variable cross section along a length, a first portion which forms a part of a surface of said body, and a packing portion. An insert is provided in the packing portion for providing an increased thickness to at least a part of the body.

Provided herein are scaffolds and methods useful to promote the formation of functional clusters on a tissue, for example, motor endplates (MEPs) or a component thereof on skeletal muscle cells or tissue, as well as the use of scaffolds so produced for repairing a tissue injury or defect.

A method to regrow a protective layer over exposed/demineralized dentin that includes a step of identifying a subject having exposed/demineralized dentin. The demineralized dentin is contacted with a remineralization composition that includes an amelogenin and derived peptides, a chitosan, water, and a sufficient amount of a pH adjusting component such that the composition has a pH greater than about 6.0 such that dentinal tubules are occluded with apatite crystals and enamel is regrown on the dentinal tubules.

A method to regrow a protective layer over exposed/demineralized dentin that includes a step of identifying a subject having exposed/demineralized dentin. The demineralized dentin is contacted with a remineralization composition that includes an amelogenin and derived peptides, a chitosan, water, and a sufficient amount of a pH adjusting component such that the composition has a pH greater than about 6.0 such that dentinal tubules are occluded with apatite crystals and enamel is regrown on the dentinal tubules.

This invention relates to a biodegradable implant including magnesium, wherein the magnesium contains, as impurities, (i) manganese (Mn); and (ii) one selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and mixtures of iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni), wherein the impurities satisfy the following condition: 0<(ii)/(i)5, and an amount of the impurities is 1 part by weight or less but exceeding 0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the magnesium, and to a method of manufacturing the same.

A method for cartilage tissue engineering including fabricating a nanocomposite, injecting the nanocomposite into a defect site of cartilage, and forming a hydrogel in the defect site of the cartilage using a sol-gel transition responsive to increasing temperature of the nanocomposite from room temperature to 37 C. Fabricating a nanocomposite includes forming an activated copolymer by functionalizing a copolymer, forming a conjugated copolymer by grafting the activated copolymer to a polysaccharide, forming a protein-conjugated copolymer by crosslinking a protein with the conjugated copolymer, forming the nanocomposite by adding a plurality of nanoparticles to the protein-conjugated copolymer.

A method for cartilage tissue engineering including fabricating a nanocomposite, injecting the nanocomposite into a defect site of cartilage, and forming a hydrogel in the defect site of the cartilage using a sol-gel transition responsive to increasing temperature of the nanocomposite from room temperature to 37 C. Fabricating a nanocomposite includes forming an activated copolymer by functionalizing a copolymer, forming a conjugated copolymer by grafting the activated copolymer to a polysaccharide, forming a protein-conjugated copolymer by crosslinking a protein with the conjugated copolymer, forming the nanocomposite by adding a plurality of nanoparticles to the protein-conjugated copolymer.