Expanded, nanofiber structures are provided as well as methods of use thereof and methods of making.

Methods and systems and related devices particles and compositions are described for controlled ballistic delivery of particles to a target region of a multilayered tissue, the method comprising determining a velocity v.sub.o,j of the set of substantially spherical particles by iterating v.sub.o,i=√{square root over (Y.sub.a/ρ.sub.p)}((1/k)(d*/D.sup.m)(μ.sub.a.sup.m-1)(√{square root over (Y.sub.aρ.sub.p)}).sup.1-m(ρ.sub.a/ρ.sub.p)).sup.1/n.sup.i from i=0 to j, where n.sub.0=0.826 and n.sub.i=n.sub.0−q(v.sub.0,i-1√{square root over (ρ.sub.a/Y.sub.a)}), until |(v.sub.0,i−v.sub.0,i-1)/v.sub.o,i-1|<0.1; selecting the D.sub.p, ρ.sub.p and v.sub.o,j when v.sub.o,j is less than 1,500 m/sec; and ballistically delivering a set of substantially spherical therapeutic particles having the selected D.sub.p and ρ.sub.p at velocity v.sub.o,j to the accessible surface of the apical layer of the bilayer tissue to deliver into the target region at least 30% of the set of substantially spherical particles.

A novel composition for regenerating a cartilage has been demanded, which can achieve a good effect of regenerating a hyaline cartilage that is a nearly normal cartilage without requiring the use of any transplanted cell. The present invention provides a composition for regenerating a cartilage, wherein (a) a monovalent metal salt of low endotoxin alginic acid and (b) SDF-1 are used in combination.

A photodynamic therapy technique for preventing damage to the fovea of the eye or another body portion of a patient is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a treatment laser is applied to a body portion of a patient using a painting technique, the treatment laser being configured to provide paint brush-type photodynamic therapy (PPDT) using the painting technique to the body portion of the patient by emitting light of a predetermined wavelength that is absorbed by tissue of the body portion of the patient to which a photosensitizer has been applied, the body portion of the patient being afflicted by a medical condition. The application of the treatment laser to the body portion of a patient using the painting technique treats the medical condition, reduces the symptoms associated with the medical condition, and/or alleviates the medical condition.

Biomaterials and methods and uses for repair or augmentation of tissues are provided. In particular, the invention provides a multi-layered, naturally occurring multi-axial oriented biomaterial comprising predominately type I collagen fibers. The invention further provides methods and uses for repair or augmentation of tissues using biomaterials of the invention.

Provided are methods and compositions for inducing periapical tissue regeneration and repair.

Isolated heparin or heparan sulphate oligosaccharide fragments having a chain length of at least 10 saccharides and no more than 50 saccharides, which are capable of binding BMP2, are disclosed. Also disclosed is the use of the same heparin or heparan sulphate oligosaccharide fragments in kits and pharmaceutical compositions, and the use of the same heparan sulphate oligosaccharide fragments in the repair and/or regeneration of connective tissue and bones, and the treatment of wounds.

Compositions of the invention for regenerating defective or absent myocardium comprise an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition. The composition may also include an extracellular matrix scaffold component of any formulation, and further include added cells, proteins, or other components to optimize the regenerative process and restore cardiac function.

A method is described for the production of hybrid structures formed by the coupling of nanofibrous parts and microfibrous parts made with silk fibroin, possibly hierarchically organized into complex structures comprising more than two of said parts; these hybrid structures are used as implantable biomedical devices with tailored biological, geometrical and structural features, such that they can be adapted to different application requirements in the field of regenerative medicine.

An implant can include a plurality of polymeric fibers associated together into a fibrous body. The fibrous body is capable of being shaped to fit a tracheal defect and capable of being secured in place by suture or by bioadhesive. The fibrous body can have aligned fibers (e.g., circumferentially aligned) or unaligned fibers. The fibrous body can be electrospun. The fibrous body can have a first characteristic in a first gradient distribution across at least a portion of the fibrous body. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members, such as ribbon structural reinforcing members, which can be embedded in the plurality of fibers. The fibrous body can include one or more structural reinforcing members bonded to the fibers with liquid polymer as an adhesive, the liquid polymer having a substantially similar composition of the fibers.