There is provided a method for preparing a dense hydrogel comprising an at least partially gelled hydrogel, placing the at least partially gelled hydrogel in fluid communication with an end of a capillary, and driving the at least partially gelled hydrogel into the capillary to form a dense hydrogel. There is also provided a system for preparing the dense hydrogel comprising a capillary having a bore; and a driver in communication with an end of the capillary for driving an at least partially gelled hydrogel into the bore of the capillary to form a dense hydrogel.

Provided herein are stable liquid sealant formulations comprising fibrin monomers and a reversible fibrin polymerization blocking agent, methods of preparing and using the formulations.

This disclosure provides novel hydrogels that can undergo multiple gel-sol transitions and methods of making and using such hydrogels, particularly in anastomosis procedures. The peptide hydrogels comprising a fibrillar network of peptides that are in an amphiphilic β-hairpin conformation. The peptides comprise photo-caged glutamate residues with a neutral photocage that can be photolytically selectively uncaged to disrupt the fibrillar network and trigger an irreversible gel-sol phase transition of the hydrogel. Isolated peptides for making the disclosed hydrogels are provided, as are methods of using the peptide hydrogels in anastomosis procedures.

Methods, compositions, and treatment protocols for treating ischemic wounds and inflammatory conditions in a patient. The treatment protocols comprise or consist of using a modified collagen gel (MCG) to promote healing of ischemic wounds and reduce inflammation at the wound site and in other inflammatory conditions. The modified collagen gel comprises generally a dispersion of collagens in an aqueous matrix comprising water and glycerine, where the amount of Type I collagen is greater than the amount of Type II and Type III collagens in the gel.

Aggregates formed from one or both of chitosan and hyaluronan, suspended or otherwise dispersed in a liquid carrier are useful for treating joint or muscle distress in a subject, where the composition may include one or more pharmaceutically active agents and the composition in locally delivered to the joint or muscle by, for example, injection.

A method of forming an implant in the tissue can include: providing an injectable composition having a neat liquid carrier, wherein the neat liquid carrier is substantially liquid at room temperature and/or about body temperature; and injecting the neat liquid solution into the tissue at the rate of 10-12000 injections per minute and/or at an amount of 1.0E-02 ml to 1.0E-16 ml per needle per injection. The neat liquid carrier can be polymeric or non-polymeric. The neat liquid carrier can be biodegradable. The neat liquid carrier can include a viscosity-modifying agent. The injecting can form an implant with area greater than or equal to 5 mm.sup.2. The neat liquid carrier can be injected at a depth of 10 microns to 5 mm. The neat liquid solution can include a drug or other agent.

Disclosed is directed to a method for restoring bone in an animal comprising: accessing a site to be restored; loading a syringe body with a flowable bone graft material; mating the syringe body with a delivery tube; positioning the delivery tube at the site to be restored; using a syringe piston to advance the said material into the delivery tube; using the syringe piston or a plunger that mates with the delivery tube after removal of the syringe body to deliver the bone graft to the site at a force of less than 50 lbs. extrusion force; wherein said material is at least 75% porous with a mineral to polymer ratio of 80:20.

The invention provides methods for the treatment of vaginal laxity which include delivering a cell-containing composition to the vagina. The composition can include fat tissue to provide a bulking effect to reduce the size of the vaginal opening. The cells can provide healing and revascularization of the vaginal treatment area to sustain the bulking provided by the fat. The invention also provides systems and compositions useful for performing the method, and can include instruments and devices for removal of autologous adipose tissue from a patient (e.g., by liposuction), equipment for the enrichment of cells from adipose tissue, mechanical processing of adipose tissue, and the mixing of cells and processed adipose tissue. Devices for the delivery of the cell compositions to the vagina can also be included in the system.

A composite material can include a gel and at least one nanostructure disposed within the gel. A method for healing a soft tissue defect can include applying a composite material to a soft tissue defect, wherein the composite material includes a gel and a nanostructure disposed within the gel. A method for manufacturing a composite material for use in healing soft tissue defects can include providing a gel and disposing nanofibers within the gel.

Compositions and methods are described for a polymer hydrogel created by a cycloaddition reaction between an azide and an alkyne that proceeds rapidly without catalyst to produce the polymer hydrogel in less than ninety seconds. The polymer hydrogel can be used in in vivo applications for the localized delivery of therapeutic agent in aqueous solutions. An example of therapeutic delivery of a protein in a mouse model is demonstrated.