A method of treating or preventing endocarditis in a human patient in need of therapy is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a patient inflicted with or being at risk of contracting Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, or Enterococcus faecium; and locally delivering to or in the vicinity of a heart valve a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of rifampicin, daptomycin, dalbavancin, vancomycin, or gentamycin, or a combination of rifampicin, daptomycin, dalbavancin, vancomycin, and gentamycin. The method comprises treatment or prevention of a bacterial biofilms on the endocardium caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, or Enterococcus faecium.

The present disclosure relates to the development of hydrogels with extreme stiffness and high-strength. In particular, an hydrogel comprising poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and graphene material with a specific oxidation degree. The hydrogels of the present disclosure may be used in medicine, veterinary or cosmetic, namely as scaffold, cartilage, intervertebral disc and blood contact device such as: catheters, vascular grafts, heart valves, stents, artificial kidneys, artificial lungs, ventricular assist devices or drug delivery system. Uses in other areas can be envisaged, like in soft robotics, packaging, sealing and sensors.

A medical implant is provided defined as an electrospun hollow-cored porous suture ring. The suture ring is a continuous ring made by rolling up circular sheet of electrospun material, which was electrospun over a cylindrical target. The suture ring, upon implantation, is capable of being absorbed and replaced by natural tissue due to ingrowth of cells and nutrients into pores of the electrospun hollow-cored biodegradable suture ring. The suture ring addresses at least some of the existing problems with suture or sewing rings.

Provided are novel biocompatible copolymers, compositions comprising the copolymers, and methods of using the copolymers. The copolymers are non-toxic and typically have an LCST below 37° C. Compositions comprising the copolymers can be used for wound treatment, as a cellular growth matrix or niche and for injection into cardiac tissue to repair and mechanically support damaged tissue. The copolymers comprise numerous ester linkages so that the copolymers are erodible in situ. Degradation products of the copolymers are soluble and non-toxic. The copolymers can be amine-reactive so that they can conjugate with proteins, such as collagen. Active ingredients, such as drugs, can be incorporated into compositions comprising the copolymers.

Tissue prostheses having a base structure and a physiological sensor system. The tissue prostheses are adapted and configured to induce remodeling of damaged tissue and regeneration of new tissue and concurrently detect and monitor physiological characteristics when implanted in the subject.

A hybrid scaffold is disclosed which is made of materials that define peripheral layers designed to interface with the tissues in the implant site and one or more intermediate layers. The materials are combined to give the scaffold mechanical properties suitable for withstanding the stresses of the implant site. The materials are fibroin for the peripheral layers and polyurethane combined with fibroin for each intermediate layer.

Devices and methods for reinforcing a regenerative heart valve are provided. A reinforcing element can provide structure and rigidity to withstand stresses that occur within the aortic root. In some instances, a support ring is attached to a regenerative heart valve. In some instances, a tubular wall is provided surrounding a regenerative heart valve.

Certain embodiments are directed to methods and compositions for inhibiting, stabilizing or preventing fungal infections by yeast on a surface using an agent comprising one or more types of quantum dots sufficient to regulate the growth of fungal cells or biofilms thereof.

A valved conduit including a bioprosthetic valve, such as a heart valve, and a tubular conduit sealed with a bioresorbable material. The bioprosthetic heart valve includes prosthetic tissue that has been treated such that the tissue may be stored dry for extended periods without degradation of functionality of the valve. The bioprosthetic heart valve may have separate bovine pericardial leaflets or a whole porcine valve. The sealed conduit includes a tubular matrix impregnated with a bioresorbable medium such as gelatin or collagen. The valved conduit is stored dry in packaging in which a desiccant pouch is supplied having a capacity for absorbing moisture within the packaging limited to avoid drying the bioprosthetic tissue out beyond a point where its ability to function in the bioprosthetic heart valve is compromised. The heart valve may be sewn within the sealed conduit or coupled thereto with a snap-fit connection.

A tissue or organ replacement includes a tissue-engineered construct that includes one or more bio ink compositions and a biocompatible support structure. The support structure includes one or more external supports, one or more internal supports, or combinations thereof of a biocompatible material. The composition has a three-dimensional (3D) shape, and the biocompatible material is present in an amount of about 1% to about 100% by weight of the biocompatible support structure.