Abstract: Herein is disclosed an emulsion comprising a silicone pre-elastomer, glycerol, a cyclodextrin, and a metal catalyst suitable for use in the polymerization of the silicone pre-elastomer, a silicone elastomer formed from the emulsion and dermal patches for release of octenidine formed from the silicone elastomer. Further there is dis-closed methods of forming the emulsion, the silicone elastomer and the dermal patch.

Abstract: The invention comprises an implantable cell device that includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance body within the chamber for reducing the diffusion distance for a biological active factor to or across the membrane; and a support scaffold within the chamber for increasing the cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The invention features an implantable cell device that includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance body within the chamber for reducing the diffusion distance for a biological active factor to or across the membrane; and a support scaffold within the chamber for increasing the cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The invention features an implantable cell device. The device includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance body, within the chamber, for reducing the diffusion distance for a biological active factor to or across the membrane; and a support scaffold, within the chamber, for increasing the cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for Encapsulated Cell Therapy. The device includes an implantable capsule containing cells which secrete a biologically active compound for providing a biological function. The capsule has a semi permeable outer membrane for delivery of the compound e.g. at a site in the central nervous system or the spinal cord, e.g. in the brain of a patient. The capsule is connected to a tether which e.g. facilitates removal of the capsule from the patient. To facilitate insertion of the capsule into the patient, a stiffener may be attached to the tether to make the tether more rigid. The invention further provides a container for storing a cell therapy device and a method of locating the device in the body of a patient.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, an implantable cell device is disclosed. The device includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance means, within the chamber, for reducing diffusion distance for a biologically active factor to across the membrane; and a support means, within the chamber, for increasing cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for gene therapy, in particular in vivo gene therapy for delivery of bioactive Neurturin for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. In another aspect the invention relates to virus expression constructs comprising a mammalian signal peptide linked to a mature or N-terminally truncated Neurturin without a functional pro-region between the signal peptide and the Neurturin. These viral expression constructs are required for efficient secretion of bioactive Neurturin in in vivo gene therapy. The invention also concerns mammalian cells capable of producing Neurturin in increased amounts as well as the use of these cells for recombinant production of bioactive Neurturin and for therapeutic use.

Abstract: The JeT promoter is a recombinant promoter with transcriptional activity comparable to a number of strong mammalian promoters. The promoter consists of five key elements: (1) a TATA box; (2) a transcription initiation site (Inr); (3) a CAT consensus sequence in conjunction with (4) a CArG element and finally, (5) four Sp1 transcription binding sites (GGGCGG) arranged in two tandems.