Disclosed herein are biocompatible peptidic oligomers and methods of using the same where the biocompatible peptidic oligomer encapsulates an agent and the biocompatible peptidic oligomer comprises a linear chain formed from a multiplicity of independently selected nonproteogenic amino acids joined by amide bonds and the nonproteogenic amino acids comprise two or more optionally substituted methylene groups interposed between a terminal amino and a terminal carboxylic acid or ester group.

A pharmaceutical composition in an oral dosage form for use in a method of treating diabetes in a subject is described. The oral dosage form comprises gastric-resistant ileal-sensitive microcapsules comprising a matrix insulin contained within the matrix, in which the matrix comprises denatured whey protein, and in which the oral dosage form is administered orally to the subject. The microcapsules may be cold-gelated and vacuum dried microcapsules, and thus are subject to less heat treatment than convention drug-containing microparticles. The microcapsules may be provided as agglomerates of microcapsules, generally having an average particle size of 1-2 microns. Agglomerates of microcapsules are suitable for slow release of active agent in the ileum.

The disclosure provides methods of preventing, ameliorating or treating disruption of mitochondrial function and symptoms thereof. The methods provide administering aromatic-cationic peptides in effective amounts to prevent, treat or ameliorate the disruption of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in a cell such as that found in a subject suffering from, or predisposed to a mitochondrial disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering to a subject suffering from, or at risk for a mitochondrial disease or disorder, an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to subjects in need thereof.

The present invention relates to an isolated peptide modified based on the histidine-rich beak peptide (HBpep), which is derived from the Humbolt squid beak protein. In a preferred embodiment, the isolated peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of GHGVYGHGVYGHGPYKGHGPYGHGLYW (SEQ ID NO: 10), which contains a single lysine residue inserted at position 16 from the N-terminal of HBpep. In a further preferred embodiment, the lysine residue is conjugated with a self-immolative moiety, preferably comprising a disulfide moiety. The present invention also relates to a composition for the delivery of an active agent, wherein the composition comprises a peptide coace rvate comprising the isolated peptide and the active agent recruited in the peptide coace rvate. The present invention further relates to a method of recruiting the active agent in the peptide coace rvate, a method of delivering the active agent, and a method of treating or diagnosing a condition or disease in a subject.

Disclosed are nanoparticle-based ultrasound contrast agents that comprise a sub-100 nanometer nanoparticle core, a hydrophobic layer, and a stabilization layer, and methods of producing such ultrasound contrast agents. The stabilization layer comprises molecules that are spaced apart on the stabilization layer to provide bubble nucleation sites that initiate cavitation of the bubbles in response to acoustic intensity delivered by ultrasound equipment.

The present invention relates to plant-based microcapsules for the efficient encapsulation and retention of water-soluble ingredients, as well as the efficient co-encapsulation of water-soluble and water-insoluble ingredients. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising the microcapsules, a method of making the microcapsules and compositions, and to uses of the microcapsules and compositions.

A cold-gelated mono-nuclear microencapsulate comprises a unitary liquid core encapsulated within a gastro-resistant, ileal-sensitive, polymerized denatured protein membrane shell, wherein the liquid core comprises a GLP-1 release stimulating agent in a substantially solubilised form. The GLP-1 release stimulating agent is a native protein selected from native dairy protein, native vegetable protein or native egg protein.

There has been an idea to load a pharmaceutical agent in a barrel structure of a lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase, and to seal the pharmaceutical agent in the barrel structure by introducing a disulfide bond between H2-helix and E-F loop.

However, in some cases the pharmaceutical agent is released through a gap in the vicinity of the open mouth of the barrel structure.

The present capsule protein has substitution of alanine residue for a cysteine residue of the active center of the human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthetase. The protein further has substitution of barrier amino acid residue(s) for at least one amino acids of D strand. The barrier amino acids in the D-strand, located in the vicinity of the open mouth of its barrel structure suppresses the leak of the pharmaceutical agent.

The application relates to a sericin protein particle with an oxidative stress property, a method for preparing the same and use thereof. The particle is formed by sericin protein and a tellurium compound. In the method for preparing the sericin protein particle, bis(1-hydroxydodecyl) telluride is first prepared and then mixed with a solution of sericin protein, and a resulting solution is agitated continuously for some time to obtain telluride-modified sericin protein. Then, the solution of the sericin protein is added dropwise into absolute ethanol to obtain a precipitated product. An aqueous solution of the precipitated product and a solution of magnesium ions are mixed and agitated for a certain time to obtain the sericin protein particle with an oxidative stress property. The sericin protein particle disclosed is a hollow particle having a diameter in a range of 600-1250 nm, and is capable of loading biomacromolecule drugs or other components.

The present disclosure provides delivery systems for delivering FK506 locally to damaged nerve sites. Particulate FK506 incorporated into a fibrin gel, with the amount of FK506 sufficient to give an FK506 release rate over at least 14 days of at least 5 micrograms per milliliter of the treated tissue per day has been shown to remarkably improve axon regeneration. The delivery systems include particulate FK506 having sizes between about 500 microns to about 1 millimeter encapsulated in a fibrin matrix, powdered FK506 encapsulated within electrospun films, powdered FK506 encapsulated within a cellulose matrix, and a flexible film of small intestinal submucosa having a plurality of solid islands located on one side thereof, with each island containing a preselected amount of FK506 and a polyester. The local application of FK506 via the local delivery system disclosed herein results in excellent nerve regeneration while preventing the toxicity of systemic FK506 that has prevented clinicians from using FK506 routinely for treating severe cases of peripheral nerve injuries. In addition to being used for treatment of damaged nerve sites, the present systems may be applied to other types of injuries, including but not limited to spinal cord Injuries, stroke, vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) and local applications during solid organ transplants.