In some aspects, the disclosure pertains to injectable particles that contain at least one pH-altering agent that is configured to be released from the injectable particles in vivo, upon embolization of an intratumoral artery of a tumor with the injectable particles. In certain instances, the pH-altering agent may be a basic agent having a pH value of 7.5, a buffering agent having a pKa value of 7.6 or more, or both. Other aspects of the disclosure pertain to preloaded containers containing such injectable particles and methods of using such injectable particles.

The present disclosure relates to multilayer coatings that include a hydrophobic encasing layer and allow controlled release of a water soluble drug. The encasing layer encases water soluble, or hydrophilic, drugs with a flexible layer and comes in good intimate contact with the water soluble drug layer. Thus, the encasing layer conforms to the water soluble drug and can control the release of the drug. Advantageously, major cuts or fissures in the coating do not cause the water soluble drug to leak or burst out; rather, the encasing layer continues to provide modulated release of the drug. The present disclosure also includes methods of making the multilayer coatings, methods of using the multilayer coatings, and articles that include the multilayer coatings.

The invention relates to a method for coating a vascular endoprosthesis, wherein the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis is wetted at least partially with a first solution of an active substance, the vascular endoprosthesis is moved in a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the vascular endoprosthesis, and a radially acting mechanical force is applied to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis. The rotational movement has the effect that the solution is carried outward by the centrifugal force, such that no active substance deposits in the interior of the vascular endoprosthesis. The application of a mechanical force to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis then has the effect of creating crystallization nuclei, such that the active substance can crystallize out.

Medical devices are provided for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. The additive has a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part and the therapeutic agent is not enclosed in micelles or encapsulated in particles or controlled release carriers.

The present invention provides: a method for producing mixed cells comprising cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells and mural cells from induced pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising (a) a step of producing cardiomyocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells and (b) a step of culturing the cardiomyocytes in the presence of VEGF; and a therapeutic agent for heart diseases, comprising the mixed cells produced by the method.

The present invention concerns a process for the production of implants with an ultrahydrophilic surface as well as the implants produced in that way and also processes for the production of loaded, so-called bioactive implant surfaces of metallic or ceramic materials, which are used for implants such as artificial bones, joints, dental implants or also very small implants, for example what are referred to as stents, as well as implants which are further produced in accordance with the processes and which as so-called “delivery devices” allow controlled liberation, for example by way of dissociation, of the bioactive molecules from the implant materials.

The invention relates to polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings and, methods for their preparation and application to substrates to enhance the bioactivity and corrosion protection of the substrates' surface. The invention is particularly suitable for coating substrates employed for medical applications, such as but not limited to medical implant devices for drug and/or biologics delivery in a patient. The substrate has a positive or negative charge. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings include at least a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer. The first polymer and second polymer have opposite charges. Each of the polymer layers is individually applied using a layer-by-layer such that an alternating charge multilayer coating is formed.

The present invention provides formulations comprising polymers and therapeutics and methods for their manufacture. The present invention also provides medical devices coated with such formulations and methods for their manufacture. The drug-loaded polymer formulations, solutions, and films tailor the drug release characteristics for medical devices.

Provided is a biodegradable polymer coating stent effective in delaying the damage of physical properties (particularly radial force) of a core structure. The stent includes a core structure of a bioabsorbable material (e.g., Mg), a first coating layer of a first polymer with biodegradability, and a second coating layer of a second polymer with biodegradability, wherein the first coating layer covers the whole surface of the core structure; the second coating layer covers a part or the whole surface of the first coating layer; the first polymer has a glass transition point of lower than 37° C.; and the second polymer has a glass transition point of 47° C. or higher.

A bioartificial device, such as a bioartificial pancreas, for implantation in a patient's vascular system. The bioartificial pancreas includes a scaffold adapted to engage an interior wall of a blood vessel, a cellular complex support by the scaffold and extending longitudinally within the interior cavity of the scaffold so as to be exposed to the blood flow when the scaffold is engaged with the blood vessel, the cellular complex support comprising one or more pockets bordered by thin film; and cellular complex comprising pancreatic islets disposed in the one or more pockets, the thin film being adapted to permit oxygen and glucose to diffuse from flowing blood into the one or more pockets at a rate sufficient to support the viability of the islets. The invention also includes methods of making and using a bioartificial pancreas.