Compositions for stabilizing and delivering proteins and/or other bioactive agents are disclosed. The bioactive agents are embedded or encapsulated in a crystalline matrix. Typically the bioactive agents are in the form of micro- or nanoparticles. The crystalline matrix confers enhanced stability to the agents embedded therein relative to other microparticulate or nanoparticulate bioactive agents. The carriers are especially useful for stabilizing bioactive macromolecules, such as proteins.

The present application provides a composition and methods to enhance nerve regeneration utilizing at least one component of neural stem cells or IL12p40. The composition comprises neural stem cells and a neurotrophic factor, which is constructed by IL12p40 as at least one subunit. The methods to enhance nerve regeneration comprise providing a nerve regeneration composition comprising a neurotrophic factor containing IL12p40 as at least one subunit to a subject. The composition of the methods can further comprise neural stem cells.

The present application provides a composition and methods to enhance nerve regeneration utilizing at least one component of neural stem cells or IL12p40. The composition comprises neural stem cells and a neurotrophic factor, which is constructed by IL12p40 as at least one subunit. The methods to enhance nerve regeneration comprise providing a nerve regeneration composition comprising a neurotrophic factor containing IL12p40 as at least one subunit to a subject. The composition of the methods can further comprise neural stem cells.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of tendinopathies, such as tenosynovitis, tendinosis or tendinitis, including Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis or “tennis elbow,” medial epicondylitis or “golfer's elbow,” plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff tendinopathy, and in particular to methods for the treatment of tendinopathies by administering compositions comprising platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

The invention is directed to methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions caused by increased vascular permeability. The invention is also directed to methods for returning vascular permeability that is a symptom of a disease or condition to a homeostatic state. Specifically, the invention is directed to methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions caused by increased vascular permeability or returning vascular permeability that is a symptom of a disease or condition to a homeostatic state by administering to a subject suffering from such diseases and conditions and symptoms novel cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “CFS” compositions), including novel sustained-release cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “SR-CFS” compositions).

The invention is directed to methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions caused by increased vascular permeability. The invention is also directed to methods for returning vascular permeability that is a symptom of a disease or condition to a homeostatic state. Specifically, the invention is directed to methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions caused by increased vascular permeability or returning vascular permeability that is a symptom of a disease or condition to a homeostatic state by administering to a subject suffering from such diseases and conditions and symptoms novel cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “CFS” compositions), including novel sustained-release cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “SR-CFS” compositions).

Disclosed are methods of inducing differentiation of stem into myogenic cells without gene manipulation and for inducing proliferation of satellite cells. The cells can be used as a source of cells for transplantation in a subject in need thereof. Also disclosed is a screening assay for screening test compounds using blastomere cultures.

Disclosed are methods of inducing differentiation of stem into myogenic cells without gene manipulation and for inducing proliferation of satellite cells. The cells can be used as a source of cells for transplantation in a subject in need thereof. Also disclosed is a screening assay for screening test compounds using blastomere cultures.

An aligned polymer article including substrates, wherein the substrates are not covalently bonded to the aligned collagen and a method of forming such articles wherein substrates are mixed with a polymer in solution to form a polymer-substrate mixture. The mixture is placed in an electrochemical cell and a voltage is applied to the cell generating a pH gradient, wherein the polymer aligns in the cell and migrates to the isoelectric plane of the polymer solution.

The present invention provides a therapeutic device that comprises of mixture of cells secreting combination of therapeutic proteins, where cells producing therapeutic proteins are sealed in container which enables the exchange of nutrient and therapeutic proteins. The cells inside the therapeutic device produce and secrete certain amounts of therapeutic proteins. Cells are prepared by introducing genes encoding therapeutic proteins under the control of a constitutive or inducible promoter. The combination and concentration of therapeutic proteins is defined by the ratio of cells secreting different therapeutic proteins and/or by the gene expression ratio of the therapeutic proteins in the cells incorporated into the semi-permeable container. The therapeutic device can be used for treatments of various diseases and injuries for instance enhancement of wound healing and angiogenesis.