Abstract: Drug-eluting devices and methods for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas, biliary system, gallbladder, liver, small bowel, or colon, are provided. Methods include deploying a drug-eluting device having a film which includes a mixture of a degradable polymer and a chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the film has a thickness from about 2 ?m to about 1000 ?m, into a tissue site and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of the chemotherapeutic drug from the film to treat the tumor, wherein the release of the therapeutically effective amount of the drug from the film is controlled by in vivo degradation of the polymer at the tissue site.

Abstract: Drug-eluting devices and methods for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas, biliary system, gallbladder, liver, small bowel, or colon, are provided. Methods include deploying a drug-eluting device having a film which includes a mixture of a degradable polymer and a chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the film has a thickness from about 2 ?m to about 1000 ?m, into a tissue site and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of the chemotherapeutic drug from the film to treat the tumor, wherein the release of the therapeutically effective amount of the drug from the film is controlled by in vivo degradation of the polymer at the tissue site.

Abstract: An electronic intravascular device is placed in tight contact with vessel walls and is used for electrical stimulation and/or electrical recording of the vessel wall and surrounding target tissue. The electrodes may operate via connectors interfacing them to external hardware or may incorporate electronics to allow wireless power, information transfer, and control. The device includes an internal skeleton, a flexible substrate attached to the exterior of the skeleton, at least one pair of electrodes located on the substrate, and power and control circuitry connected to the electrodes. The power and control circuitry may include connectors for direct powering of the electrodes or circuit elements for wireless powering of the device by RF-based, optical-based, ultrasound-based, piezoelectric, or vibrational energy harvesting methods.

Abstract: A fixture facilitates using a linear force of a uni-axial test machine to subject a test sample to bending forces. The test machine includes a frame and a crosshead. To generate the linear force, the crosshead translates with reference to the frame in a plane of motion. The fixture includes an upper connecting link, a lower connecting link, and two transverse arms. The upper connecting link is configured to attach to the crosshead for receiving the linear force, and the lower connecting link is configured to attach to the frame. The two transverse arms are pivotably carried between the upper and lower links. Each transverse arm has an inner end configured to attach to the test sample, the test sample being suspended between the arms. The transverse arms pivot in opposite directions in response to the linear force applied to the upper connecting link, exposing the sample to bending forces.

Abstract: The invention relates to composition and a method of using the composition for modulting proliferation, invasiveness, the expression of a biomarker of an abnormal cell, of reducing the risk of patient cell becoming abnormal, or of modulating proliferation of a carcinoma-associated fibroblast or of a tumor-associated macrophage. The invention also relates to a method of culturing the composition to produce molecules that modulate abnormal cell proliferation, invasiveness, or metastasis. The composition comprises a biocompatible matrix and cells engrafted thereon.

Abstract: Methods for treating, adhering, or sealing biological tissue are provided. The methods include combining solutions containing a polymer component and a dendrimer component capable of reacting with each other, and at least one of the components includes a substituent capable of photoreversible dimerization that can be reversibly dimerized. Drug delivery compositions and kits containing these two components also are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials and methods for modulating an immunologically adverse response to an exogenous or endogenous immunogen, including a cell, tissue, or organ associated immunogen. An implantable material comprising cells, such as but not limited to endothelial cells, anchored or embedded in a biocompatible matrix can modulate an adverse immune or inflammatory reaction to exogenous or endogenous immunogens, including response to non-syngeneic or syngeneic cells, tissues or organs, exogenous immunogens or stimuli, as well as ameliorate an autoimmune condition. The implantable material can be provided prior to, coincident with, or subsequent to occurrence of the immune response or inflammatory reaction. The implantable material can induce immunological acceptance in a transplant patient, reduce graft rejection and reduce donor antigen immunogenicity.

Abstract: Endovascular devices are provided. The endovascular devices include a conformable scaffold with one or more outpocketings. The outpocketing in the endovascular device creates a corresponding outpocketing of a vessel wall, thereby altering local fluid dynamics.

Abstract: Endothelial implants restore vascular homeostasis after injury without reconstituting vascular architecture. Endothelial cells line the vascular epithelium and underlying vasa vasorum precluding distinction between cellular controls. Unlike blood vessels, the airway epithelium is highly differentiated and distinct from endothelial cells that line the bronchial vasa allowing investigation of the differential control tissue engineered cells may provide in airways and blood vessels. Through airway injury and cell culture models, tissue engineered implants of the bronchial epithelium and endothelium were found to promote synergistic repair of the airway through biochemical regulation of the airway microenvironment. While epithelial cells modulate local tissue composition and reaction, endothelial cells preserve the epithelium; together their relative impact was enhanced suggesting both cell types act synergistically for airway repair.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and systems are provided for mobilizing and recruiting progenitor, progenitor-like cells, and/or stem cells to a target site, such as an in vivo site in a patient in need of treatment. In embodiments, the methods include embedding cells in a matrix material having a three-dimensional structure capable of contacting the cells in a non-planar manner to alter the secretome of the cells and/or miRNA expression in a manner effective to recruit progenitor, progenitor-like, or stem cells.

Abstract: Biocompatible adhesive materials, such as for use with biological tissues and/or medical implants, are provided, as well as methods and kits for making and using the biocompatible adhesive materials. The biocompatible adhesive materials include a dendrimer component and a polymer component, and may be tailored for specific tissue types and conditions.

Abstract: Drug-eluting devices and methods for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas, biliary system, gallbladder, liver, small bowel, or colon, are provided. Methods include deploying a drug-eluting device having a film which includes a mixture of a degradable polymer and a chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the film has a thickness from about 2 ?m to about 1000 ?m, into a tissue site and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of the chemotherapeutic drug from the film to treat the tumor, wherein the release of the therapeutically effective amount of the drug from the film is controlled by in vivo degradation of the polymer at the tissue site.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for assessing clot activity in blood under various conditions in vitro. The apparatus includes a plurality of test receptacles that receive the blood, at least one flow generating mechanism in communication with the test receptacles, and a clot detector configured to analyze an amount of clot formation that occurs within the blood in each receptacle. Blood contacting surfaces of a first subset of the test receptacles are coated with a first surface substrate and blood contacting surfaces of a second subset of the test receptacles are coated with a different second surface substrate. The flow generating mechanism is configured to generate a first blood flow rate through a third subset of the test receptacles and to generate a different second blood flow rate through a fourth subset of the test receptacles.

Abstract: Biocompatible adhesive materials, such as for use with biological tissues and/or medical implants, are provided, as well as methods and kits for making and using the biocompatible adhesive materials. The biocompatible adhesive materials include a dendrimer component and a polymer component, and may be tailored for specific tissue types and conditions.

Abstract: Endothelial implants restore vascular homeostasis after injury without reconstituting vascular architecture. Endothelial cells line the vascular epithelium and underlying vasa vasorum precluding distinction between cellular controls. Unlike blood vessels, the airway epithelium is highly differentiated and distinct from endothelial cells that line the bronchial vasa allowing investigation of the differential control tissue engineered cells may provide in airways and blood vessels. Through airway injury and cell culture models, tissue engineered implants of the bronchial epithelium and endothelium were found to promote synergistic repair of the airway through biochemical regulation of the airway microenvironment. While epithelial cells modulate local tissue composition and reaction, endothelial cells preserve the epithelium; together their relative impact was enhanced suggesting both cell types act synergistically for airway repair.

Abstract: The compositions and methods of the present invention relate to the co-delivery of a molecule and a polypeptide to cells to improve the therapeutic efficacy of the molecules. In one embodiment of the invention, the invention may improve delivery of growth factors by co-delivering these growth factors with their receptors and co-receptors, such as syndecans. Co-delivery of growth factors with syndecans, for example, may protect growth factors from proteolysis, enhance their activity, and target the growth factors to the cell surface to facilitate growth factor signaling. This novel approach to growth factor therapy could be extended to other systems and growth factors enabling the enhancement of multiple signaling pathways to achieve a desired therapeutic outcome.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials and methods for modulating an immunologically adverse response to an exogenous or endogenous immunogen, including a cell, tissue, or organ associated immunogen. An implantable material comprising cells, such as but not limited to endothelial cells, anchored or embedded in a biocompatible matrix can modulate an adverse immune or inflammatory reaction to exogenous or endogenous immunogens, including response to non-syngeneic or syngeneic cells, tissues or organs, exogenous immunogens or stimuli, as well as ameliorate an autoimmune condition. The implantable material can be provided prior to, coincident with, or subsequent to occurrence of the immune response or inflammatory reaction. The implantable material can induce immunological acceptance in a transplant patient, reduce graft rejection and reduce donor antigen immunogenicity.

Abstract: Endothelial implants restore vascular homeostasis after injury without reconstituting vascular architecture. Endothelial cells line the vascular epithelium and underlying vasa vasorum precluding distinction between cellular controls. Unlike blood vessels, the airway epithelium is highly differentiated and distinct from endothelial cells that line the bronchial vasa allowing investigation of the differential control tissue engineered cells may provide in airways and blood vessels. Through airway injury and cell culture models, tissue engineered implants of the bronchial epithelium and endothelium were found to promote synergistic repair of the airway through biochemical regulation of the airway microenvironment. While epithelial cells modulate local tissue composition and reaction, endothelial cells preserve the epithelium; together their relative impact was enhanced suggesting both cell types act synergistically for airway repair.

Abstract: A fixture facilitates using a linear force of a uni-axial test machine to subject a test sample to bending forces. The test machine includes a frame and a crosshead. To generate the linear force, the crosshead translates with reference to the frame in a plane of motion. The fixture includes an upper connecting link, a lower connecting link, and two transverse arms. The upper connecting link is configured to attach to the crosshead for receiving the linear force, and the lower connecting link is configured to attach to the frame. The two transverse arms are pivotably carried between the upper and lower links. Each transverse arm has an inner end configured to attach to the test sample, the test sample being suspended between the arms. The transverse arms pivot in opposite directions in response to the linear force applied to the upper connecting link, exposing the sample to bending forces.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials and methods for modulating an immunologically adverse response to an exogenous or endogenous immunogen, including a cell, tissue, or organ associated immunogen. An implantable material comprising cells, such as but not limited to endothelial cells, anchored or embedded in a biocompatible matrix can modulate an adverse immune or inflammatory reaction to exogenous or endogenous immunogens, including response to non-syngeneic or syngeneic cells, tissues or organs, exogenous immunogens or stimuli, as well as ameliorate an autoimmune condition. The implantable material can be provided prior to, coincident with, or subsequent to occurrence of the immune response or inflammatory reaction. The implantable material can induce immunological acceptance in a transplant patient, reduce graft rejection and reduce donor antigen immunogenicity.