A surgical suture provides a visual indication when the suture is subjected to excessive tension. The suture has an inner core at least partially covered by a segmented outer layer. The inner core is not visible when the suture is subjected to acceptable amounts of tension, but will become visible if the suture is subjected to unacceptable amounts of tension. The visibility of the inner core thus indicates to the surgeon or similar medical professional whether or not the suture is under acceptable tension.

The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant of derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.

Provided is a method of making a polymeric material with a spatially controlled distribution of one or more additives including the steps of blending the one or more additives with a polymeric material, consolidating the polymeric material, heating at least a portion of at least one surface of the consolidated additive-blended polymeric material, and cooling the heated consolidated additive-blended polymeric material, thereby forming a polymeric material with a spatially controlled distribution of additive.

Provided is a method of making a polymeric material with a spatially controlled distribution of one or more additives including the steps of blending the one or more additives with a polymeric material, consolidating the polymeric material, heating at least a portion of at least one surface of the consolidated additive-blended polymeric material, and cooling the heated consolidated additive-blended polymeric material, thereby forming a polymeric material with a spatially controlled distribution of additive.

The present invention relates to the use of nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel in cell culture and medical applications. The invention relates to a composition comprising nanofibrillar cellulose, cross linkable polymer and at least one bioactive agent. The invention also provides methods for producing the composition and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to the use of said composition for manufacturing of a shaped matrix, the method of preparing said matrix, the matrix and the use of said matrix in various applications.

Enzymatically degradable compositions containing biocompatible polymers reactive with glycosaminoglycan compositions having a first glycosaminoglycan having a first degree of acetylation and a second glycosaminoglycan having a second degree acetylation different than the first degree of acetylation.

The disclosed technology includes a bioabsorbable material configured to be delivered to tissue. The material includes a porous body comprising at least one polymer comprising a first zone comprising a first crosslink density and a second zone comprising a second crosslink density different than the first zone. The first and second zones form a gradient of compression strength along a portion of the porous body.

Suture materials for producing medical devices are provided. The suture materials can include natural fibers, and can be suitable for making multifilament sutures and surgical meshes comprising multifilament sutures as examples of medical devices. The multifilament suture can include a plurality of filaments combined together according to a twined pattern, and at least one filament of the plurality of filaments can include natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or mineral-based fibers. A suture device can include the multifilament suture combined with a suture needle. The multifilament suture can be coated with a biocompatible coating, such as a bioactive agent, and/or include a first set of filaments that includes natural fibers and a second set of filaments that includes natural fibers that are different from the natural fibers of the first set of filaments, synthetic fibers or mineral-based fibers, for instance.

A suture anchor includes an anchor body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. The anchor body includes a central bore located at the proximal end and a passage extending between the central bore and the distal end. The central bore has a first dimension substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the passage has a second dimension substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis less than the first dimension. The suture anchor includes a flexible strand extending through the passage, and a first knot formed in the flexible strand at the distal end has a third dimension greater than the second dimension to prevent the first knot from passing through the passage. A closed loop is positionable at least partially within the central bore and formed entirely by the flexible strand without forming any additional knots on the flexible strand extending proximally from the first knot.

The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant of derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.