Abstract: The present invention provides for silk fibroin-based compositions comprising one or more antibiotic agents for prevention or treatment of microbial contamination, methods of making antibiotic-containing silk scaffold, methods of stabilizing antibiotics in silk scaffolds, and methods for preventing or treating microbial contamination using the antibiotic-containing compositions. Various methods may be used to embed the antibiotic(s) into the silk fibroin-based compositions. The antibiotic-containing compositions of the invention are particular useful for stabilizing antibiotics, preventing bacterial infections, and for medical implants, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, or other pharmaceutical or medical applications.

Abstract: The inventions provided herein generally relate to compositions and methods for controlling response of immune cells to at least one stimulus or condition (e.g., but not limited to, tissue damage, an implantable device and/or a cytokine) in vitro or in vivo. The compositions described herein comprise a biomaterial (e.g., a silk fibroin-based matrix) comprising at least one immune cell-modulating agent in an effective amount sufficient to selectively alter activation state of at least one type of immune cells (e.g., but not limited to macrophages and dendritic cells). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the compositions and methods described herein can be used to selectively skew macrophages to M1 phenotype and/or M2 phenotype and thereby control the inflammatory and/or regenerative responses of the macrophages, e.g., to repair and/or regenerate a target tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides for silk fibroin-based compositions comprising one or more antibiotic agents for prevention or treatment of microbial contamination, methods of making antibiotic-containing silk scaffold, methods of stabilizing antibiotics in silk scaffolds, and methods for preventing or treating microbial contamination using the antibiotic-containing compositions. Various methods may be used to embed the antibiotic(s) into the silk fibroin-based compositions. The antibiotic-containing compositions of the invention are particular useful for stabilizing antibiotics, preventing bacterial infections, and for medical implants, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, or other pharmaceutical or medical applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to purification and use of a novel emulsion stabilizing polysaccharide. In particular, a polyelectrolyte exopolysaccharide with high molecular weight comprising a high molecular weight polymer with a tri-saccharide repeating unit is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, methods are directed to isolating and purifying a high molecular weight exopolysaccharide (EPS) from a cell supernatant. In another aspect, methods are disclosed for isolating a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a high molecular weight Acinetobacter polyelectrolyte exopolysaccharide (APE) from Acinetobacter bacteria. Compositions are also directed to lipid nanoparticles comprising a therapeutic agent encapsulated by a high molecular weight polysaccharide and nanoparticles comprising a therapeutic agent bound to a cationic polysaccharide cross-linked with a polyanion.

Abstract: The present invention provides for silk fibroin-based compositions comprising one or more antibiotic agents for prevention or treatment of microbial contamination, methods of making antibiotic-containing silk scaffold, methods of stabilizing antibiotics in silk scaffolds, and methods for preventing or treating microbial contamination using the antibiotic-containing compositions. Various methods may be used to embed the antibiotic(s) into the silk fibroin-based compositions. The antibiotic-containing compositions of the invention are particular useful for stabilizing antibiotics, preventing bacterial infections, and for medical implants, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, or other pharmaceutical or medical applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to purification and use of a novel emulsion stabilizing polysaccharide. In particular, a polyelectrolyte exopolysaccharide with high molecular weight comprising a high molecular weight polymer with a tri-saccharide repeating unit is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, methods are directed to isolating and purifying a high molecular weight exopolysaccharide (EPS) from a cell supernatant. In another aspect, methods are disclosed for isolating a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a high molecular weight Acinetobacter polyelectrolyte exopolysaccharide (APE) from Acinetobacter bacteria. Compositions are also directed to lipid nanoparticles comprising a therapeutic agent encapsulated by a high molecular weight polysaccharide and nanoparticles comprising a therapeutic agent bound to a cationic polysaccharide cross-linked with a polyanion.