Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for creating a Biologically Modified Vein Graft with improved survival by pretreating the vein to be used as a vascular graft with compositions comprising oligo-L-arginine, or salts thereof, and an organic acid or a salt thereof. The disclosure further provides methods of improving vascular vein graft survival comprising pretreating the graft for a set period of time with a set concentration of oligo-L-arginines in a buffer comprising either the organic acid or the salt thereof and flushing the BMVG before implantation with the same buffer absent the arginine oligomer. This treatment may prevent vein graft disease in the transplanted vessel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for creating a Biologically Modified Vein Graft with improved survival by pretreating the vein to be used as a vascular graft with compositions comprising oligo-L-arginine, or salts thereof, and an organic acid or a salt thereof. The disclosure further provides methods of improving vascular vein graft survival comprising pretreating the graft for a set period of time with a set concentration of oligo-L-arginines in a buffer comprising either the organic acid or the salt thereof and flushing the BMVG before implantation with the same buffer absent the arginine oligomer. This treatment may prevent vein graft disease in the transplanted vessel.

Abstract: Methods and formulations to target and activate B-1a lymphocytes and/or macrophages are described. The methods and formulations can be delivered to the respiratory tract to target B-1a lymphocytes and/or macrophages in the pleural cavity. Conditions with inflammatory or autoimmune components can be treated. B-1a lymphocytes and/or macrophages can be targeted and activated using fibrils or fibril-forming peptides.

Abstract: Methods and formulations to target and activate B-1a lymphocytes and/or macrophages are described. The methods and formulations can be delivered to the respiratory tract to target B-1a lymphocytes and/or macrophages in the pleural cavity. Conditions with inflammatory or autoimmune components can be treated. B-1a lymphocytes and/or macrophages can be targeted and activated using fibrils or fibril-forming peptides.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating inflammatory diseases by administering to the subject an effective amount of specific peptides derived from HSPB5, where the dose is effective to suppress or prevent initiation, progression, or relapses of disease, including the progression of established disease.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating inflammatory diseases by administering to the subject an effective amount of an agent that provides small heat shock protein activity, where the dose is effective to suppress or prevent initiation, progression, or relapses of disease, including the progression of established disease.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices employing a sol-gel composition coatings that functions as a bioactive material reservoir, and the use of sol-gel composition coatings for improved adhesion of organic and inorganic substrates are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of drugs and other agents across epithelial tissues, including into and across ocular tissues and the like. The compositions and methods are also useful for delivery across endothelial tissues, including the blood brain barrier. The compositions and methods employ a delivery enhancing transporter that has sufficient guanidino or amidino sidechain moieties to enhance delivery of a compound conjugated to the reagent across one or more layers of the tissue, compared to the non-conjugated compound. The delivery-enhancing polymers include, for example, poly-arginine molecules that are preferably between about 6 and 25 residues in length.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for treatment of vascular conditions. The invention provides arginine polymers and arginine homopolymers for the treatment and/or prevention of glaucoma, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, erectile dysfunction, Raynaud's syndrome, heparin overdose, vulvodynia, and wound healing. The invention also provides arginine polymers and arginine homopolymers for use in organ perfusate and preservation solutions.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of drugs and other agents across epithelial tissues, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary epithelium, ocular tissues and the like. The compositions and methods are also useful for delivery across endothelial tissues, including the blood brain barrier. The compositions and methods employ a delivery enhancing transporter that has sufficient guanidino or amidino sidechain moieties to enhance delivery of a compound conjugated to the reagent across one or more layers of the tissue, compared to the non-conjugated compound. The delivery-enhancing polymers include, for example, poly-arginine molecules that are preferably between about 6 and 25 residues in length.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices employing a sol-gel composition coatings that functions as a bioactive material reservoir, and the use of sol-gel composition coatings for improved adhesion of organic and inorganic substrates are disclosed.

Abstract: Cardiovascular cell proliferation in a blood vessel subjected to trauma, such as angioplasty, vascular graft, anastomosis, or organ transplant, can be inhibited by contacting the vessel with a polymer consisting of from 6 to about 30 amino acid subunits, where at least 50% of the subunits are arginine, and the polymer contains at least six contiguous arginine subunits. Exemplary polymers for this purpose include arginine homopolymers 7 to 15 subunits in length.

Abstract: Cardiovascular cell proliferation in a blood vessel subjected to trauma, such as angioplasty, vascular graft, anastomosis, or organ transplant, can be inhibited by contacting the vessel with a polymer consisting of from 6 to about 30 amino acid subunits, where at least 50% of the subunits are arginine, and the polymer contains at least six contiguous arginine subunits. Exemplary polymers for this purpose include arginine homopolymers 7 to 15 subunits in length.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for transporting drugs and macromolecules across biological membranes are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for enhancing transport of a selected compound across a biological membrane, wherein a biological membrane is contacted with a conjugate containing a biologically active agent that is covalently attached to a transport polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer consists of from 6 to 25 subunits, at least 50% of which contain a guanidino or amidino sidechain moiety. The polymer is effective to impart to the attached agent a rate of trans-membrane transport across a biological membrane that is greater than the rate of trans-membrane transport of the agent in non-conjugated form.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for treatment of vascular conditions. The invention provides arginine polymers and arginine homopolymers for the treatment and/or prevention of glaucoma, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, erectile dysfunction, Raynaud's syndrome, heparin overdose, vulvodynia, and wound healing. The invention also provides arginine polymers and arginine homopolymers for use in organ perfusate and preservation solutions.

Abstract: Vaccines comprising peptide sequences corresponding to immunorecessive determinants in gonorrhea pilus protein are disclosed. The vaccines are effective in protecting human subjects against infection by a wide range of gonorrhea strains by raising antibodies which interfere with the colonization of the epithelium by the infecting bacteria or which enhance phagocytosis.

Abstract: Vaccines comprising peptide sequences corresponding to immunorecessive determinants in gonorrhea pilus protein are disclosed. The vaccines are effective in protecting human subjects against infection by a wide range of gonorrhea strains by raising antibodies which interfere with the colonization of the epithelium by the infecting bacteria.