Methods have been discovered that make it possible to continuously extrude tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof. These methods allow tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof to be produced without radial deformation of the tubes despite the slow crystallization of the polymer and copolymers. The methods can produce tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof with tightly defined outside and inside diameters which are required for medical application. These tubes are produced by radial expansion at temperatures above the melting temperature of P4HB and copolymers thereof, and using low tube cooling temperatures and prolonged cooling times. The tubes made from P4HB and copolymers thereof are flexible, and can be prepared with high elongation to break values.

The present invention is in the fields of medicinal chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more collagen mimetic peptides, optionally attached to one or more therapeutic compounds or one or more imaging compounds, for use in methods of treating, preventing, ameliorating, curing and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, as well as methods of manufacturing such composition. The invention also provides medical devices comprising one or more such compositions of the invention. The invention also provides methods of use of such compositions and devices in treating and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, including ocular diseases or disorders, skin diseases or disorders, certain cancers, particularly intraluminal cancers, gastrointestinal diseases or disorders, genitourinary tract diseases or disorders, fibrotic diseases/disorders and rheumatic diseases/disorders.

The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant of derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.

The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant of derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.

A medical device including: a needle that has an inner hole formed so as to penetrate the needle from a distal end to a base end in the longitudinal direction; a medical-fluid supplying section that is connected to the base end of the needle and that supplies, to the inner hole, a medical fluid that hardens when warmed or cooled; a temperature changing member that is provided at the distal end of the needle or in the vicinity of the distal end thereof and that can be warmed or cooled when supplied with energy; and a temperature adjusting section that warms or cools the temperature changing member by supplying the energy to the temperature changing member.

The present invention is in the fields of medicinal chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more collagen mimetic peptides, optionally attached to one or more therapeutic compounds or one or more imaging compounds, for use in methods of treating, preventing, ameliorating, curing and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, as well as methods of manufacturing such composition. The invention also provides medical devices comprising one or more such compositions of the invention. The invention also provides methods of use of such compositions and devices in treating and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, including ocular diseases or disorders, skin diseases or disorders, certain cancers, particularly intraluminal cancers, gastrointestinal diseases or disorders, genitourinary tract diseases or disorders, fibrotic diseases/disorders and rheumatic diseases/disorders.

The present invention is in the fields of medicinal chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more collagen mimetic peptides, optionally attached to one or more therapeutic compounds or one or more imaging compounds, for use in methods of treating, preventing, ameliorating, curing and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, as well as methods of manufacturing such composition. The invention also provides medical devices comprising one or more such compositions of the invention. The invention also provides methods of use of such compositions and devices in treating and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, including ocular diseases or disorders, skin diseases or disorders, certain cancers, particularly intraluminal cancers, gastrointestinal diseases or disorders, genitourinary tract diseases or disorders, fibrotic diseases/disorders and rheumatic diseases/disorders.

The present invention is in the fields of medicinal chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more collagen mimetic peptides, optionally attached to one or more therapeutic compounds or one or more imaging compounds, for use in methods of treating, preventing, ameliorating, curing and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, as well as methods of manufacturing such composition. The invention also provides medical devices comprising one or more such compositions of the invention. The invention also provides methods of use of such compositions and devices in treating and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, including ocular diseases or disorders, skin diseases or disorders, certain cancers, particularly intraluminal cancers, gastrointestinal diseases or disorders, genitourinary tract diseases or disorders, fibrotic diseases/disorders and rheumatic diseases/disorders.

Improved nerve regeneration scaffolds are disclosed, which include a plurality of modified nanotube yarn bundles disposed of within the scaffold lumen. The modified nanotube yarn bundles have enhanced hydrophilicity and water absorption. They are separated by distances to form channels corresponding to nerve fiber diameters to be occupied by regenerative nerve tissues. The channel walls have gaps between the yarn bundles for enhanced permeability. The scaffolds have reduced inflammatory infiltration and rejection response and support individual nerve fiber regrowth with a reduced likelihood of undesirable outcomes, such as nerve pain or reduced nerve function.

The present invention is in the fields of medicinal chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The invention provides compositions comprising one or more collagen mimetic peptides, optionally attached to one or more therapeutic compounds or one or more imaging compounds, for use in methods of treating, preventing, ameliorating, curing and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, as well as methods of manufacturing such composition. The invention also provides medical devices comprising one or more such compositions of the invention. The invention also provides methods of use of such compositions and devices in treating and diagnosing certain diseases and physical disorders in humans and veterinary animals, including ocular diseases or disorders, skin diseases or disorders, certain cancers, particularly intraluminal cancers, gastrointestinal diseases or disorders, genitourinary tract diseases or disorders, fibrotic diseases/disorders and rheumatic diseases/disorders.