Ophthalmic devices coated with an active agent eluting coating are provided herein. Placement of the coated ophthalmic devices on the surface of eye results in modulation of cells responding to an immune modifying agent and reducing inflammation-related complications in the eye. Methods for treating ocular disorders are also provided herein. The disclosed subject matter is based, in part, on the discovery that ophthalmic devices coated with a cytokine eluting coating can shift early-stage macrophage polarization associated with alleviation of symptoms and causes of inflammatory ocular disorders.

Ophthalmic devices coated with an active agent eluting coating are provided herein. Placement of the coated ophthalmic devices on the surface of eye results in modulation of cells responding to an immune modifying agent and reducing inflammation-related complications in the eye. Methods for treating ocular disorders are also provided herein. The disclosed subject matter is based, in part, on the discovery that ophthalmic devices coated with a cytokine eluting coating can shift early-stage macrophage polarization associated with alleviation of symptoms and causes of inflammatory ocular disorders.

In certain aspects, disclosed herein are novel compositions and methods related to either the enhancement or inhibition of erythropoiesis that are useful, for example, in the treatment of anemia or erythrocytosis.

In certain aspects, disclosed herein are novel compositions and methods related to either the enhancement or inhibition of erythropoiesis that are useful, for example, in the treatment of anemia or erythrocytosis.

Cells derived from postpartum tissue and methods for their isolation and induction to differentiate to cells of a chondrogenic or osteogenic phenotype are provided by the invention. The invention further provides cultures and compositions of the postpartum-derived cells and products related thereto. The postpartum-derived cells of the invention and products related thereto have a plethora of uses, including but not limited to research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications, for example, in the treatment of bone and cartilage conditions.

The present invention provides HGF polypeptide variants, including dimers, for use in treatment, in particular to treat ocular diseases and disorders.

A method for treating or preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other motor neuron disease in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a PKC activating compound (e.g., a bryostatin, such as bryostatin-1, or a bryolog) in a therapeutically effective amount to treat or prevent the motor neuron disease by activating PKC in the subject. The ALS may be, for example, classical ALS, primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), and progressive bulbar palsy (PBP). The PKC activating compound may be administered at an initial loading dose of about 15, 24, or 48 micrograms weekly in the first one week or consecutive two or three weeks, followed by doses of about 12, 20, or 40 micrograms alternately every two or three weeks for at least 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, or 30 total weeks.

Various embodiments are described herein for the fabrication enzyme degradable hydrogels useful as payload delivery systems. More particularly, embodiments disclosed herein relate to enzyme-degradable hydrogel systems comprising a crosslinkable polymer, such as a chemically-modified biopolymer, for example, chemically-modified gelatin, the hydrogel formed by a method comprising sequential physical and chemical crosslinking steps, for delivery of various payloads. Enzymes may be selected and administered to tune the release profile of the hydrogel. The payload can be, but not limited to, drugs, markers, cells, or these members encapsulated within another drug delivery such as a nanoparticle, or liposome. The hydrogel system can also be combined with another device such as a contact lens or bandage for wound healing.

A polyethylene glycol-modified form of a hepatocyte growth factor or an active fragment thereof achieves both an in vivo half-life extending effect of polyethylene glycol modification and the retainment of bioactivity. The polyethylene glycol-modified form of a hepatocyte growth factor or an active fragment thereof has one molecule of forked-type polyethylene glycol covalently bound to two molecules of the hepatocyte growth factor or the active fragment thereof at each of their respective carboxyl-terminal regions to form a homodimer.

This application discloses ophthalmic formulations and methods for treating and preventing corneal haze and scarring with an hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) agent.