A flexible anchor for coupling a suture to a bone is provided. The anchor is composed of non-woven electrospun fibers and has an elongate tubular body that extends from a first end to a second end. The anchor is configured to receive a suture that enters the anchor through a first aperture and exits the anchor through a second aperture. When free ends of the suture are pulled, the anchor transitions from a first configuration to a second anchoring configuration.

A multi-layer device is provided that is useful in tissue regeneration, for example, for vascular regeneration, e.g., for use in treatment of a coronary vascular disease, such as for treatment of myocardial infarction. A method of making the device also is provided.

Devices and methods for treating ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) are configured for sustained-release of anti-proliferative drug into the wall of a blood vessel (to prevent in-stent stenosis), and for sustained-release of leptin antagonist into the lumen to be carried by the blood and be uptaken by tissue cells that were subjected to IRI.

The invention generally relates to microneedle devices, methods of making same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and methods of treating a disease comprising administering same. Specifically, the disclosed microneedle devices comprise a plurality of biocompatible microneedles having one or more of: (i) a curved, discontinuous, undercut, and/or perforated sidewall; (ii) a sidewall comprising a breakable support; and (iii) a cross-section that is non-circular and non-polygonal. The microneedles may also be tiered. Alternatively, the microneedles may be tiered. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Provided herein are composite structures that include a core fiber and a plurality of peptide-based self-assembled nanostructures attached thereto, wherein the nanostructures may be loaded with a bioactive agent, such that the composite structures may act as slow-release drug-delivery medical device. Also provided is process for producing the composite structures, and uses thereof.

The present invention relates to a vascular stent, deployed or non-deployed, the surface of which is coated by a film comprising at least one protein, to a process for coating of the surface of a vascular stent with a film comprising at least one protein and to a device for carrying out the process according to the invention.

The present invention provides synthetic fibres with advantageous properties such as high tensile strength and which can be produced by recombinant biotechnological means. The invention also provides the constituent components from which the fibres are assembled, along with fabrics formed from the synthetic fibres. Items comprising the fibres and fabrics of the invention are also included.

The present invention relates to plasma-based films and in particular to flexible plasma-based films. The invention further relates to and to methods of making and using the flexible plasma-based films. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for making flexible plasma-based films useful as a hemostat in the treatment and/or prevention of mild to severe as well as arterial bleedings, as an anti-adhesive sheet to reduce or prevent development of surgery-induced adhesions, as a wound healing patch, as a wound dressing, or as a film useful in hernia repair. Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Meshes for use to control the movement of bodily fluids, such as blood, are described herein. The mesh can be partially or completely biodegradable or non-biodegradable. In one embodiment, the mesh is formed from one or more self-assembling peptides. The peptides can be in the form of fibers, such as nanofibers. The peptides can be assembled prior to formation of the mesh or after the mesh has been formed but before it is applied. Alternatively, the mesh can be prepared from unassembled peptides, which assemble at the time of application. The peptides can assemble upon contact with bodily fluids (e.g., blood) or can be contacted with an ionic solution to initiate assembly.

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.