Stromal Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1) is a small, naturally occurring, potent chemokine with inherent angiogenic, neurogenic, anti-apoptotic protein, which is also a potent stem cell chemoattractant, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disturbances. The present invention provides methods for treating erectile dysfunction in a male subject comprising administering to the major pelvic ganglion supplying the cavernous nerves subject compositions comprising SDF-1. SDF-1 promotes stem cell activation, to the major pelvic ganglion supplying the cavernous nerves, helps cell preservation, and prevents adverse penile remodeling. It can be administered as a protein or by gene therapy including but not limited to plasmid DNA, viral transduction, or nanoparticle delivery directly to the penis or to the neurovascular bundle or other pelvic nerve structures during the time of surgery, or before injury, or to treat existing erectile dysfunction.

Stromal Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1) is a small, naturally occurring, potent chemokine with inherent angiogenic, neurogenic, anti-apoptotic protein, which is also a potent stem cell chemoattractant, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disturbances. The present invention provides methods for treating erectile dysfunction in a male subject comprising administering to the major pelvic ganglion supplying the cavernous nerves subject compositions comprising SDF-1. SDF-1 promotes stem cell activation, to the major pelvic ganglion supplying the cavernous nerves, helps cell preservation, and prevents adverse penile remodeling. It can be administered as a protein or by gene therapy including but not limited to plasmid DNA, viral transduction, or nanoparticle delivery directly to the penis or to the neurovascular bundle or other pelvic nerve structures during the time of surgery, or before injury, or to treat existing erectile dysfunction.

Disclosed herein are peptide sequences capable of directing adeno-associated viruses (AAV) to target specific environments, for example the nervous system and the heart, in a subject. Also disclosed are AAVs having non-naturally occurring capsid proteins comprising the disclosed peptide sequences, and methods of using the AAVs to treat diseases.

This disclosure relates to a drug delivery system comprising a neurotrophic agent, an apoptosis signaling fragment inhibitor (FAS) or FAS-ligand (FASL) inhibitor, a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or TNF receptor (TNFR) inhibitor, a mitochondrial peptide, an oligonucleotide, a chemokine inhibitor, a cysteine-aspartic protease inhibitor, including any combination of these compounds and, optionally, a sustained delivery component. This type of drug delivery system can be used to treat a medical condition such as an inherited or age-related choroid, retina, optic nerve disorder, or optic nerve degeneration; an otic disorder; a neurologic or CNS disorder; or a related condition; or a condition related to occlusion or obstruction of a blood vessel or blood circulation such as a stroke, myocardial or renal infarction. Medicaments, methods of manufacturing medicaments, kits, and other related products or methods are also described.

This disclosure relates to a drug delivery system comprising a neurotrophic agent, an apoptosis signaling fragment inhibitor (FAS) or FAS-ligand (FASL) inhibitor, a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or TNF receptor (TNFR) inhibitor, a mitochondrial peptide, an oligonucleotide, a chemokine inhibitor, a cysteine-aspartic protease inhibitor, including any combination of these compounds and, optionally, a sustained delivery component. This type of drug delivery system can be used to treat a medical condition such as an inherited or age-related choroid, retina, optic nerve disorder, or optic nerve degeneration; an otic disorder; a neurologic or CNS disorder; or a related condition; or a condition related to occlusion or obstruction of a blood vessel or blood circulation such as a stroke, myocardial or renal infarction. Medicaments, methods of manufacturing medicaments, kits, and other related products or methods are also described.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the delivery of agents to a subject, particularly to the central nervous system (CNS).

Disclosed herein are methods for promoting neuronal outgrowth in a subject with a neuronal lesion in their CNS by administering effective amounts of a pro-regenerative OPN fragment, optionally with IGF1 and/or BDNF. A voltage gated potassium channel blocker can also be administered. Pharmaceutical compositions, devices for administration, and kits are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are methods for promoting neuronal outgrowth in a subject with a neuronal lesion in their CNS by administering effective amounts of a pro-regenerative OPN fragment, optionally with IGF1 and/or BDNF. A voltage gated potassium channel blocker can also be administered. Pharmaceutical compositions, devices for administration, and kits are also disclosed.

The present application provides nerve growth factor (NGF) variants with improved in vivo stability, methods for producing and purifying NGF variants, as well as potential therapeutic applications.

The present invention includes a functionalized nerve guidance conduit (NGC), methods of making neurotrophic factor-expressing neural crest stem-like cells (NCSC) and/or Schwann cell precursor-like (SCP) cells, methods of making the functionalized nerve guidance conduit, and methods of treating nerve injury using the functionalized nerve guidance conduit.