The invention relates to compositions and methods for solid freeform fabrication of medical devices, components and applications in which the composition includes a thermoplastic polyurethane which is particularly suited for such processing. The useful thermoplastic polyurethanes are derived from a polyisocyanate component including a first linear aliphatic diisocyate and a second aliphatic diisocyanate, a polyol component, and (c) a chain extender component.

A solid oral controlled-release oral dosage form of hydrocodone is disclosed. The dosage form comprising an analgesically effective amount of hydrocodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a sufficient amount of a controlled release material to render the dosage form suitable for twice-a-day administration to a human patient, the dosage form providing a C.sub.12/C.sub.max ratio of 0.55 to 0.85, said dosage form providing a therapeutic effect for at least about 12 hours.

A formulation, especially one that is topically administered, comprising a combination of rapamycin and metformin in a molar ratio of about 20:1, 10:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, or 1:1. The topical formulation may be a gel, an ointment, a cream or a lotion. The topical formulation may be used to treat any disease associated with inflammation and/or any inflammatory skin disease.

The invention provides compositions and methods for delivering carbon monoxide (CO) to subjects suffering from inflammatory, cardiovascular, Sickle Cell, and other disease. The compositions are liquids, including Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids, such as pastes, gels, foams, emulsions, and other non-gaseous compositions, in which CO is dissolved at an amount that, when administered to a patient, provides a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of CO to the patient. The compositions can be provided in many forms, including in bottles or cans.

A polypeptide hydrogel of the present invention is a hydrogel of a polypeptide derived from spider silk proteins, and has a moisture content of 85.0 to 99.9 mass % based on 100 mass % of the polypeptide hydrogel. A method for producing the hydrogel includes: a solution production step in which a polypeptide derived from spider silk proteins is dissolved in at least one dissolving solvent selected from the group consisting of: (A) dimethyl sulfoxide; (B) dimethyl sulfoxide with an inorganic salt; and (C) N, N-dimethylformamide with an inorganic salt, so as to obtain a solution of the polypeptide; and a substitution step in which the solution produced in the solution production step is substituted with a water-soluble solvent. Thus, the present invention provides a polypeptide hydrogel having excellent water retentivity and a polypeptide hydrogel suitable for application to a living body.

Described herein are medical devices and medical implements with high lubricity to flesh (or biological fluid) and/or inhibited nucleation on its surface. The device has a surface comprising an impregnating liquid and a plurality of micro-scale and/or nano-scale solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating liquid therebetween. The impregnating liquid fills spaces between said solid features, the surface stably contains the impregnating liquid between the solid features, and the impregnating liquid is substantially held in place between the plurality of solid features regardless of orientation of the surface.

Provided is a method for easily and efficiently producing encapsulated substance vesicles wherein a substance is encapsulated in the cavity of vesicles obtained by polymer self-assembly. Empty vesicles that have membranes comprising a first polymer that is a block copolymer with uncharged hydrophilic segments and a first kind of charged segments and a second polymer with a second kind of charged segments that carry a charge that is the opposite of said first kind of charged segments as well as spaces that are enclosed by said membranes are mixed in an aqueous medium with the substance that is to be encapsulated in the spaces.

Injection systems comprising a powered injector and one or more hazardous agents are disclosed.

A pharmaceutical compounding system having automated micro-dosing capability and using exchangeable source containers containing respective drugs, the system comprising an automated capsule-filling machine configured for compounding: an interface configured for receiving of prescription information for particular patients; and a dispensing head containing a solid-form drug; wherein said drug can be dispensed from said dispensing head by said machine such that the drug's active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) alone can be accurately dosed; and wherein the dispensing head is part of a set of multiple dispensing heads configured for compounding with said system.

Injection systems comprising a powered injector and one or more hazardous agents are disclosed.