Disclosed herein is a delivery platform for the preparation of versatile sol-gel/hydrogel based nano and micro particles that can be loaded with small molecules. The delivery platform is suitable for topical, transdermal, IV, IP and aerosol drug delivery. Also disclosed herein are methods of treatment using the aforementioned particles.

A method of coating a peptide or protein useful for improving the cellular activity related to bone growth on an inorganic particle comprises the steps of freezing the residual liquid present on uncoated and or coated inorganic particles, and drying the uncoated or coated inorganic particles after freezing the residual liquid, the drying comprising causing the frozen residual liquid to sublime under vacuum. Further disclosed embodiments of the invention include further processes for forming inorganic particles coated with a peptide or protein useful for improving cellular activity related to bone growth and medical devices comprising the coated particles.

The disclosure provides a method of preparing a polymer scaffold including admixing a biotinylated reagent and a polymer to form a biotinylated polymer, subjecting the biotinylated polymer to conditions sufficient to form the polymer scaffold and optionally admixing the polymer scaffold with a streptavidin-modified biomolecule to form a biomolecule-modified polymer scaffold. The disclosure further provides a method of preparing a polymer scaffold including admixing a first click chemistry reagent and a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer to form a modified PLGA polymer, subjecting the modified PLGA polymer to conditions sufficient to form the polymer scaffold, and optionally admixing the polymer scaffold with a biomolecule modified to include a second click chemistry reagent that selectively reacts with the first click chemistry reagent, to form a biomolecule-modified polymer scaffold.

The invention relates to a method for attaching a non-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to a micro sphere produced by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) comprising: i) mixing the micro sphere with an aqueous solution to form a first composition; ii) dissolving the non-soluble API in a first solvent and subsequently adding the non soluble API dissolved in the first solvent to the first composition to form a second composition; and iii) mixing the second composition. The invention further relates to a micro sphere produced by thermally induced phase separation which has a non-soluble API bound to its surface and a composition comprising said micro sphere for use in therapy.

Described herein are suspensions of helical polycarbodiimide polymers that cloak nanotubes, thereby effecting control over nanotube emission, providing a new mechanism of environmental responsivity, and enabling precise control over sub-cellular localization. The helical polycarbodiimide polymers described herein are water soluble, easily modifiable, and have unique architectures that facilitate their application in radiopharmaceutical delivery and imaging methods, in therapeutics and therapeutic delivery methods, and their use as sensorsboth in conjunction with carbon nanotubes, and without nanotubes.

The disclosed bead vectors direct entry into a cell of monocytic origin and cause the expression of an extracellular domain of PD-1, an anti-CTLA4 antibody, or an antibody that is specific for a checkpoint protein. The bead vectors can comprise a nucleic acid component, a lysosome evading component and a bead particle that can be phagocytized. The disclosed vectors are useful in various methods of cancer therapy, treatment, and prevention. Due to the ability of monocytic cells to target tumors, the disclosed vectors are particularly well suited for use in anti-tumor applications and directing expression of target genes in tumor-associated macrophages.

Elastin-like polymers (ELP) are shown to demonstrate dynamic behavior atop silica, similar to visco-elastic polymer dewetting. A combination of multiple factors are shown to contribute to this behavior including the hydrophilicity of the silica preventing the adsorption of ELP, the formation of a salt layer between ELP and silica, and the ability of the silica and salt layer to hold on to minute amounts of water for prolonged periods. Further, the addition of a polyethyleneimine (PEI) block to the terminal end of ELP allows the particle radius as well as LCST to be controlled by changing any combination of polymer concentration, NaCl concentration, and pH. The addition of the PEI block also provides the ability to crosslink the copolymers and achieve a stable particle radius after formation in harsh environments.

The present invention provides homing peptides that localize in central nervous system tissue characterized by neuroinflammation and methods of using the same.

Disclosed are formulations for providing a steroid. Formulations include a mineral coated microparticles wherein a steroid is adsorbed to the mineral coating or incorporated within the mineral coating. Also disclosed are methods for sustained delivery of a steroid and methods for treating inflammation or pain using a formulation for providing sustained delivery of a steroid.

Bacteriophage covalently attached to a carrier particle with an average diameter of from 0.1 microns to 15 microns, are used in topical treatment of bacterial infection. Bacteriophage covalently attached to a carrier particle of average diameter 7 microns or less are used in systemic treatment of bacterial infection. A plurality of bacteriophages lytic against different bacterial strains gives wide antibacterial activity. A combination therapy comprises administration of antibiotic and bacteriophage covalently attached to a carrier particle.