Disclosed herein are compositions comprising containers and silk elements. Disclosed herein are methods of regenerating an at least partially severed nerve cell. Disclosed herein are compositions for regenerating an at least partially severed nerve cell.

The present disclosure provides an engineered collagen composition comprising collagen, wherein the collagen composition is compressed to form a gradient of at least one physical property. Methods of using and of manufacturing the engineered collagen compositions of the present disclosure are also provided.

A polypeptide monolayer with a high surface potential and super-hydrophilicity, and a preparation method and application thereof. The polypeptide is composed of polypeptide molecules with a molecular weight of (1.48±0.2)×10.sup.5 g/mol, a height of the monolayer is 13.8-14.9 nm, the exposure of primary amino groups on the surface of the monolayer is 12-14%, a Zeta potential of the polypeptide monolayer is (−1)-5 mV; a contact angle of the monolayer is 10±1°. The monolayer serving as a surface coating material of a cardiovascular stent can be applied to treatment of cardiovascular diseases; and its super-hydrophilicity can allow a layer of hydration film to be formed on the surface of the material so as to effectively prevent protein adsorption.

A surgical buttress assembly for a surgical stapling apparatus includes a buttress and a release strap. The buttress includes a buttress body portion supporting a toe strap that extends distally from the buttress body portion. The release strap is releasably coupled to the toe strap of the buttress. The release strap is movable relative to the buttress to separate the release strap from the buttress.

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 apparatuses and methods described herein relates generally to the field of active agent (drug) release from surgical grafts useful for soft tissue reconstruction, regeneration, or repair. More particularly, described herein are surgical grafts for soft tissue repair that include an active agent that is released over time while advantageously matching the biomechanical properties of tissue during healing and recovery.

A method for producing a biological cover includes providing a first material having a main body in a cylindrical configuration with at least one fold in the first material. A second material is arranged within the at least one fold. The first material is a biological material. The first material with the arranged second material is pressed onto a counter member arranged outside the cylindrical configuration. A crosslinking agent is applied to the first material. A biological cover is formed of a biological material having a main body in a cylindrical configuration having a first cylinder diameter. There is at least one fold in the main body. The at least one fold is configured to at least partially unfold upon radial dilation of the biological material to permit enlargement of the cylindrical configuration to a second cylinder diameter.

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.

In some aspects, the present invention provides surgical procedures that comprise applying compositions into and/or onto tissue, including supporting tissues (e.g., ligaments, connective tissue, muscles, etc.) for pelvic organs, among other tissues. In other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to compositions that are useful for performing such procedures. In still other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to kits that are useful for performing such procedures.

Devices, systems, and methods to improve both the reliability of soft tissue repair procedures and the speed at which the procedures are completed are provided. The devices and systems include one or more tissue augmentation constructs, which include constructs that are configured to increase a footprint across which suture applied force to tissue when the suture is tied down onto the tissue. The tissue augmentation constructs can be quickly and easily associated with the repair suture, and can be useful in many different tissue repair procedures that are disclosed in the application. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more constructs are disposed on a suture threader, which can be used to associate the construct(s) with a repair suture(s) being used to repair the soft tissue. Tissue augmentation constructs can include various blocks and patches, among other formations. Exemplary methods for manufacturing the tissue augmentation constructs are also provided.