Medical device are provided for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. In certain embodiments, the additive has a hydrophilic part and a drug affinity part, wherein the drug affinity part is at least one of a hydrophobic part, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by hydrogen bonding, and a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by van der Waals interactions. In embodiments, the additive is water-soluble. In further embodiments, the additive is at least one of a surfactant and a chemical compound, and the chemical compound has a molecular weight of from 80 to 750 or has more than four hydroxyl groups.

The present disclosure is directed to a class of fluorinated copolymers, such as a PTFE copolymers, that can be dissolved in low toxicity solvents, such as Class III Solvents, and that enable the creation of stable water-in-solvent emulsions comprising the fluorinated copolymers dissolved in a low toxicity solvents and a hydrophilic agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent) dissolved in an aqueous solvent, such as water or saline.

The present invention relates to a coating comprising at least one biodegradable polymer, wherein the polymer comprises at least one or a blend of a poly (ester amide) (PEA) having a chemical formula described by structural formula (II), wherein; R.sub.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of (C.sub.2-C.sub.20)alkylene, (C.sub.2-C.sub.20)alkenylene, —(R.sub.9—CO—O—R.sub.10—O—CO—R.sub.9)—, CH R.sub.11—O—CO—R.sub.12—COOCR.sub.11— and combinations thereof; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 in a single co-monomer m or p, respectively, are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.2-C.sub.6)alkenyl, (C.sub.2-C.sub.6)alkynyl, (C.sub.6-C.sub.10)aryl, (C.sub.1C.sub.6)alkyl, —(CH.sub.2)SH, —(CH.sub.2).sub.2S(CH.sub.3), CH.sub.2OH, —CH(OH)CH.sub.3, —(CH.sub.2).sub.4NH.sub.3+, ˜(CH.sub.2).sub.3NHC(═NH.sub.2+)NH.sub.2, —CH.sub.2COOH, (CH.sub.2)COOH, —CH.sub.2—CO—NH.sub.2—CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—CO—NH.sub.2, —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2COOH, CH.sub.3—CH.sub.2—CH(CH.sub.3)—, formula (a), HO-.sub.P-Ph-CH.sub.2—, (CH.sub.3).sub.2—CH—, Ph- NH—, NH—(CH.sub.2).sub.3—C—, NH—CH═N—CH═C—CH.sub.2—. R.sub.5 or R.sub.6 are independently selected from bicyclic-fragments of 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols or from the group consisting of (C.sub.2-C.sub.20)alkylene, (C.sub.2-C.sub.20)alkenylene, alkyloxy, oligoethyleneglycol with a Mw ranging from 44 Da up to 700 Da, —CH.sub.2—CH—(CH.sub.2OH).sub.2, CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2 whereby R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are non identical. R.sub.7 is hydrogen, (C.sub.6-C.sub.10) aryl, (C.sub.1C.sub.6) alkyl or a protecting group such as benzyl- or a bioactive agent; R.sub.8 is independently (C.sub.1-C.sub.20) alkyl or (C.sub.2-C.sub.20)alkenyl; R.sub.9 or R.sub.10 are independently selected from C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkylene or C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkenylene and R.sub.11 or R.sub.12 are independently selected from H, methyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkylene or C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkenylene.

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In some aspects, the disclosure pertains to injectable particles that contain at least one pH-altering agent that is configured to be released from the injectable particles in vivo, upon embolization of an intratumoral artery of a tumor with the injectable particles. In certain instances, the pH-altering agent may be a basic agent having a pH value of 7.5, a buffering agent having a pKa value of 7.6 or more, or both. Other aspects of the disclosure pertain to preloaded containers containing such injectable particles and methods of using such injectable particles.

The present invention relates to the identification of a microRNA family, designated miR-29a-c, that is a key regulator of fibrosis in cardiac tissue. The inventors show that members of the miR-29 family are down-regulated in the heart tissue in response to stress, and are up-regulated in heart tissue of mice that are resistant to both stress and fibrosis. Also provided are methods of modulating expression and activity of the miR-29 family of miRNAs as a treatment for fibrotic disease, including cardiac hypertrophy, skeletal muscle fibrosis other fibrosis related diseases and collagen loss-related disease.

A balloon catheter that includes an elongated main body extending in an axial direction and a balloon connected to the distal portion of the elongated main body. The balloon includes an interior and is inflatable and deflatable. The balloon catheter also includes a plurality of elongate bodies extending radially away from the outer surface of the balloon. The elongate bodies are crystals of a water-insoluble drug. The elongate bodies each possess an independent longitudinal axis. Each of the elongate bodies includes a base portion at the proximal end of the elongate body. A plurality of elongate body proximal portions extend radially inwardly from the base portion of each of the elongate bodies toward the interior of the balloon. The elongate body proximal portions are continuous extensions of the crystal of the water-insoluble drug.

Borate-glass biomaterials comprising: aNa.sub.2O. bCaO. cP.sub.2O.sub.5. dB.sub.2O.sub.3 wherein a is from about 1-40 wt %, b is from about 10-40 wt %, c is from about 1-40 wt %, and d is from about 35-80 wt %; and wherein the biomaterial has a surface area per mass of more than about 5 m.sup.2/g. Methods of making and uses of these biomaterials.

Disclosed herein is a delivery composition for administering a hydrophobic active agent. In one embodiment, a delivery composition for local administration of a hydrophobic active agent to a tissue or organ of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the delivery composition includes a cationic delivery agent, a therapeutically effective amount of a hydrophobic active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier. In one embodiment, the cationic delivery agent includes polyethyleneimine (PEI). In an embodiment, the invention includes a drug delivery device including a substrate; and coated therapeutic agent particles disposed on the substrate, the coated therapeutic agent particles comprising a particulate hydrophobic therapeutic agent; and a vinyl amine polymer. Methods of making the delivery composition, as well as kits and methods of use are also included herein.

Medical devices are provided for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. The additive has a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part and the therapeutic agent is not enclosed in micelles or encapsulated in particles or controlled release carriers.

The invention provides compositions featuring chitosan and polyethylene glycol and methods for using such compositions for the local delivery of biologically active agents to an open fracture, complex wound or other site of infection. Advantageously, the chitosan-PEG compositions can be loaded with one or more antimicrobial agents, including hydrophobic agents, and can be tailored to the needs of particular patients at the point of care (e.g., in a surgical suite, clinic, physician's office, or other clinical setting).