Abstract: In one aspect, methods of promoting bone growth are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of promoting bone growth described herein comprises promoting cell differentiation or phenotype progression in a population of bone cells by providing a citrate-presenting composition to the population of bone cells. In some embodiments, the citrate-presenting composition is provided to the bone cells at a first stage of cell development selected to obtain a first cell differentiation or phenotype progression. Additionally, in some cases, a second citrate-presenting composition is further provided to the bone cells at a second stage of cell development selected to obtain a second cell differentiation or phenotype progression.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of monitoring the membrane permeabilization of a liposome and the incidental release of a compound of interest. The method utilizes liposomes comprising a thermosensitive lipidic membrane encapsulating the product of interest and superparamagnetic nanoparticles having the electrostatic surface charge below ?20 mV or above +20 mV when measured in an aqueous medium at physiological pH. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: a) measuring relaxation time (T2*); b) heating the liposome at Tm or above Tm; c) measuring T2* after step b); d) obtaining the transverse relaxivity (r2*) values from the T2* values obtained from step a) and step c); and e) determining the ratio of r2* before and after the heating step b). A ratio above 1.5 indicates the liposome membrane permeabilization and the incidental release of the product of interest.

Abstract: An oral composition and a method of delivering an oral composition to a dental structure are described. The oral composition can include a solvent; an acidic copolymer having acidic acrylate monomeric units, acidic methacrylate monomeric units, or a combination thereof; a neutral copolymer having neutral acrylate monomeric units, neutral methacrylate monomeric units, or a combination thereof; and optionally an active agent. The acidic and neutral copolymers can be dissolved in the oral composition and the oral composition can form a film on a surface when contacted with an aqueous solution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition comprising a drug in a polymer nanoparticle. The nanoparticles may have a size and/or a surface potential selected to facilitate lymph node uptake and/or dissemination throughout the lymphatic system. The nanoparticle may be a polyethyleneglycol-block-poly(?-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) nanoparticle. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method of using the composition. The composition may be administered subcutaneously. The drug-loaded nanoparticles are useful for treating certain cancers and/or decreasing the number of melanocytes in lymph nodes that are proximal to, distal to or both proximal and distal to a site of administration.