Abstract: A novel NF-?B-inhibitor peptide is a component in a skin care composition comprising the NF-?B-inhibitor and a dermatologically acceptable carrier. The composition may also include at least one additional skin care active. Additionally, the composition may include a peptide that acts as a TGF-?1 mimic. Means for treating mature, languished skin with compositions comprising the peptide are also provided.

Abstract: A novel NF-?B-inhibitor peptide is a component in a skin care composition comprising the NF-?B-inhibitor and a dermatologically acceptable carrier. The composition may also include at least one additional skin care active. Additionally, the composition may include a peptide that acts as a TGF-?1 mimic. Means for treating mature, languished skin with compositions comprising the peptide are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to skin care compositions containing a small peptide mimic of TGF-? and to methods of using such compositions to manage the health and condition of skin and scalp. More preferably, the skin care compositions contain a safe and effective amount of a peptide mimic for TGF-?, derivatives of a peptide mimic for TGF-?, and mixtures thereof; a safe and effective amount of at least one skin care active; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include composites comprising a biomaterial having compounds thereon with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These composites are useful for soft and hard tissue repair or reconstruction and for in vitro uses. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docking of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin) and have the amino acid residues -Ile-Ala-folded in a ?-bend.

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include composites comprising a biomaterial having compounds thereon with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These composites are useful for soft and hard tissue repair or reconstruction and for in vitro uses. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docking of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin) and have the amino acid residues -Ile-Ala- folded in a &bgr;-bend.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for pharmaceutical administration are provided in which one compound is a small peptide mimic of TGF-&bgr;. More preferably, pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are formulated as combinations of two components, wherein one component includes a peptide mimic for TGF-&bgr; and the other component is structurally or biologically analogous to a small region of collagen and mimics the conformation recognized by collagen binding species. A particularly preferred combination is A-N-V-A-E-N-A (SEQ ID NO:1) and G-T-P-G-P-Q-G-I-A-G-Q-R-G-V-V (SEQ ID NO:17).

Abstract: A family of small peptides have been found to be inhibitory to TGF-&bgr; activity, and preferably have the primary structure of Formula 1:

Abstract: A bone repair apparatus is provided where a biologically compatible structure has a compound carried on the structure that mimics collagen binding to cells. Living cells derived from fibroblasts are carried on the structure and display at least one morphologic change consistent with an osteogenic phenotype. The preferred method for practicing the invention includes harvesting a quantity of fibroblasts from a patient in need of a bone graft, growing the tissue under cell growth conditions, and seeding at least some cells of the cultured tissue on the biologically compatible structure with the collagen mimic thereon. The culture tissue cells are seeded on the structure and incubated under cell growth conditions, which results in the differentiation of the cells to bone-like cells and thus provides a tissue engineered apparatus ready for use as a bone graft.

Abstract: A family of small peptides have been found to be inhibitory to TGF-&bgr; activity, and preferably have the primary structure of Formula I: AA1-AA2-AA3-Pro-D-Glu-Ala  FORMULA I wherein AA1 is leucine, phenylalanine, &agr;-aminoisobutric acid, N-methylalanine, N-methylisoleucine, or isoleucine; AA2 is the same or a different amino acid residue as in AA1; and AA3 is alanine or N-methylalanine.

Abstract: Fibroblast cells are treated with a chemical inhibitor of protein kinase C such as staurosporine, in conjunction with functionally hypoxic micromass culture so as to be induced into chondrogenic differentiation. Such fibroblast-derived, chondrocyte-like cells may be seeded onto three-dimensional polymer scaffolds for use in the repair of articular cartilage lesions, and thus can obviate the need for invasive techniques to harvest autologous chondrocytes from a limited supply of existing articular cartilage, or to avoid the need for obtaining allogeneic chondrocytes from non-biocompatible donor tissues.

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include composites comprising a biomaterial having compounds thereon with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These composites are useful for soft and hard tissue repair or reconstruction and for in vitro uses. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docking of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin) and have the amino acid residues -Ile-Ala- folded in a &bgr;-bend.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for pharmaceutical administration are provided in which one compound is a small peptide mimic of TGF-&bgr;. More preferably, pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are formulated as combinations of two components, wherein one component includes a peptide mimic for TGF-&bgr; and the other component is structurally or biologically analogous to a small region of collagen and mimics the conformation recognized by collagen binding species. A particularly preferred combination is A-N-V-A-E-N-A (SEQ ID NO:1) and G-G-T-P-Q-I-A-G-Q-R-G-V-V (SEQ ID NO:17).

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include composites comprising a biomaterial having compounds thereon with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These composites are useful for soft and hard tissue repair or reconstruction and for in vitro uses. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docking of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin) and have the amino acid residues -Ile-Ala-folded in a &bgr;-bend.

Abstract: Fibroblast cells are treated with a chemical inhibitor of protein kinase C such as staurosporine, in conjunction with functionally hypoxic micromass culture so as to be induced into chondrogenic differentiation. Such fibroblast-derived, chondrocyte-like cells may be seeded onto three-dimensional polymer scaffolds for use in the repair of articular cartilage lesions, and thus can obviate the need for invasive techniques to harvest autologous chondrocytes from a limited supply of existing articular cartilage, or to avoid the need for obtaining allogeneic chondrocytes from non-biocompatible donor tissues.

Abstract: Fibroblast cells are treated with a chemical inhibitor of protein kinase C such as staurosporine, in conjunction with functionally hypoxic micromass culture so as to be induced into chondrogenic differentiation. Such fibroblast-derived, chondrocyte-like cells may be seeded onto three-dimensional polymer scaffolds for use in the repair of articular cartilage lesions, and thus can obviate the need for invasive techniques to harvest autologous chondrocytes from a limited supply of existing articular cartilage, or to avoid the need for obtaining allogeneic chondrocytes from non-biocompatible donor tissues.

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include composites comprising a biomaterial having compounds thereon with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These composites are useful for soft and hard tissue repair or reconstruction and for in vitro uses. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docking of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin) and have the amino acid residues -Ile-Ala- folded in a .beta.-bend.

Abstract: Small peptide mimics of TGF-.beta., having the general sequence AA.sub.i -AA.sub.i+1 -AA.sub.i+2 followed by AA.sub.i+n shortly thereafter, have been prepared. In this sequence, AA.sub.i is alanine, asparagine, or leucine, AA.sub.i+1 is valine or isoleucine, AA.sub.i+2 is alanine, n is 3, 4, or 5 such that there are n-3 amino acid residues in between AA.sub.i+2 and AA.sub.i+n, and AA.sub.i+n is glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine or asparagine. Because the essential requirement for TGF-.beta. activity is the peptide's ability to form a stable .beta.-bend structure under physiologic conditions, the inventive peptides are collectively referred to as .beta.-bend peptides. Compositions for applications such as tissue repair are also provided that comprise a biocompatible matrix having cytomodulin or a cytomodulin analog admixed with or carried by the matrix.

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include packing materials having compounds thereon with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These packing materials are useful for in vitro uses such as for cell culture in bioreactors. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docking of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin) and have the amino acid residues -Ile-Ala- folded in a .beta.-bend.

Abstract: A peptide has been synthesized with the sequence ANVAENA (SEQ ID NO:1). This peptide, designated "cytomodulin," is able to mimic a broad range of activities of TGF-.beta.1 in various cell types. Compositions for applications such as tissue repair are provided that comprise a biocompatible matrix having cytomodulin admixed with or carried by the matrix.

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include composites comprising a biomaterial having compounds thereon with enhanced cell binding with respect to collagen. These composites are useful for soft and hard tissue repair or reconstruction and for in vitro uses. Suitable compounds with enhanced cell binding include synthetic peptides that mimic the conformation necessary for recognition and docking of collagen binding species (such as cell surface receptors for collagen and fibronectin) and have the amino acid residues -Ile-Ala- folded in a .beta.-bend.