Methods for treating joint diseases, disorders, and conditions, such as osteoarthritis, with a composition containing a therapeutically effective amount of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are provided. The composition can contain TIMPs as part of amniotic fluid, or the TIMPs can be isolated from another source or recombinantly produced. The methods are particularly useful for treating osteoarthritis associated with degradation of articular cartilage by proteases. Also provided are methods of lubricating a joint, such as an osteoarthritic joint.

The invention relates to an acetabulum (1) for a hip prosthesis, comprising an inner cavity (2) and a rear outer surface (3) facing the bone. In order to be able to implant the acetabulum (1) without using cement, at least some areas of the outer surface (3) are porous and osseointegrative, and the acetabulum (1) is made exclusively of a ceramic material.

A medical implant structure is provided comprising a substrate 10 with at least a first surface and a second surface that surfaces differ from one another with regard to at least one property in relation to biological material.

A method for implanting a medical device for implantation in a mammal joint. The method comprising the steps of creating an opening reaching from outside of the human body into the joint, providing said artificial contacting surface to said joint, fixating the artificial contacting surface to the joint, implanting said reservoir in the human body, and lubricating the artificial contacting surface with use of a lubricating fluid contained in said reservoir.

Biocompatible copolymers and thermo-responsive hydrogels formed from the copolymers are disclosed. The biocompatible copolymers include monomers comprising polysaccharides or derivatives thereof, therapeutic agents or derivatives thereof and thermo-responsive monomers and are cross-linked with an acrylamide-containing crosslinker. The hydrogels are used as implant materials to treat or prevent joint damage or osteoarthritis in a subject.

The invention provides natural multi-composite bone implants such as bone-connective tissue-bone and osteochondral implants for the replacement and/or repair of, for example and in particular a damaged or defective bone-meniscus-bone joint or a bone-patella tendon-bone joint or osteochondral lesions, methods of preparing the composites and uses thereof. The invention also provides natural or native composite bone-connective tissue-bone and osteochondral matrices or scaffolds that are substantially decellularised for subsequent transplantation/implantation.

Methods for improving the wear performance of silicon nitride and/or other ceramic materials, particularly to make them more suitable for use in manufacturing biomedical implants.

The present invention relates to implants comprising a deformable body formed of a polymer comprising functional groups capable of cross-linking to form a cross-link; said body provided in a first configuration which is cross-linked to a second configuration upon application of a selected stimuli; wherein said selected stimuli causes said cross-linking of said functional groups.

An isolated peptide is disclosed. The peptide comprises a titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence connected to a heterologous biologically active amino acid sequence via a beta sheet breaker linker, wherein: (i) the titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence is selected to bind coordinatively with titanium oxide; (ii) the titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence is selected to induce a beta sheet structure; and (ii) the titanium oxide binding amino acid sequence binds to titanium oxide with a higher affinity than said biologically active amino acid sequence binds to the titanium oxide under physiological conditions. Use of the peptides and titanium devices comprising same are also disclosed.

The present application provides compositions comprising hyaluronic acid having low levels of functional group modification, mixtures formed by controlled reaction of such lightly modified hyaluronic acid with suitable difunctional or multi-functional crosslinkers, and hydrogel precursor compositions and the resulting hydrogels. The compositions are lightly cross-linked and possess low pro-inflammatory properties when injected in vivo, and can be used as, for example, medical devices, biomedical adhesives and sealants, and for localized delivery of bioactive agents, among other uses.