Abstract: A device, interface complex, diagnostic system, kit or method for use in binding analyte of interest, wherein immobilizing is on an aluminum oxide surface. An interface molecule is immobilized on the aluminum oxide surface. Attached to the interface molecule, is a cross linking agent for binding to the analyte, or a biomolecule specific to the analyte. The interface molecule includes a polypeptide having at least one carboxy rich domain providing at least 5 free carboxyl groups within a molecular volume of 2.2-25 nm3, the free carboxyl groups being provided by amino acids containing two or more carboxyl groups, through which the interface molecule is immobilized to the aluminum oxide surface. The biomolecule may be covalently attached to the interface molecule, or the biomolecule may bean engineered antibody attached to the interface molecule through an antigenic determinant or through an Fc fragment.

Abstract: The invention provides colostrum derived stem cell populations, compositions and supplements having antimicrobial properties for enhancing mammalian health and for treating or preventing microbial contamination or infection. Also provided are methods of producing these populations, compositions and supplements from a female mammal in an inflammatory state. Also provided are colostrum derived stem cell populations and method of inducing differentiation into neural cells in neural progenitor medium including mammalian cell culture medium supplemented with casein depleted fraction of whey derived from colostrum. Also provided are neural progenitor medium, population of in vitro differentiated neural cells and pharmaceutical compositions containing same for use in treating neurological disease or disorder.

Abstract: A transcutaneous device dressing and method for its use with a transcutaneous medical device, such as an intravascular catheter, which punctures the skin of a patient and which has a portion of the medical device protruding from the skin which can lead to infection. The dressing includes a top and a bottom dressing, both being formed from a flexible material and having upper and lower surfaces, with the lower surface being the skin facing surface in use. The bottom dressing has a slit formed therein extending from one edge inwardly to a termination point within the confines of the bottom dressing. An anti-microbial material is provided without the use of adhesives at the upper and lower surfaces of the bottom dressing, and at least at the lower surface of the top dressing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals preferably selected from silver, gold, platinum, and palladium but most preferably silver, formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for reducing inflammation or infection of the mucosal membrane. The antimicrobial metal may be formulated as, or used in the form of, a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals, or a liquid or solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals selected from silver, gold, platinum, and palladium but most preferably silver, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for the treatment of a acne. The nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to induce apoptosis and to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases in a disease condition in a human or animal by contacting hyperplastic tissue, tumor tissue, or a cancerous lesion with one or more antimicrobial metals, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preventing excessive release of matrix metalloproteinases from an inflammatory cell in a disease condition in a human or an animal by contacting the cell with a therapeutically effective amount of a noble metal in a crystalline form characterized by atomic disorder, or with a solution derived therefrom to provide a modulatory effect on one or more matrix metalloproteinases, wherein the one or more noble metals is formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals, most preferably silver, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. The nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial metals.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits to form water swellable gel coatings, preferably lubricious coatings, on substrates, and coated substrates thus formed. The coatings contain one or more antimicrobial metals formed with atomic disorder, together with one or more antimicrobial metals formed with atomic disorder such that the coatings provide an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect when wet. The invention also provides a method to produce metal powders by sputtering a coating onto a moving surface, and then scraping the coating with one or more scrapers to produce the metal powder. The method is particularly useful for producing large amounts of nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal powders formed with atomic disorder, useful in the water swellable gel coatings of this invention.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits to form water swellable gel coatings, preferably lubricious coatings, on substrates, and coated substrates thus formed. The coatings contain one or more antimicrobial metals formed with atomic disorder, together with one or more antimicrobial metals formed with atomic disorder such that the coatings provide an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect when wet. The invention also provides a method to produce metal powders by sputtering a coating onto a moving surface, and then scraping the coating with one or more scrapers to produce the metal powder. The method is particularly useful for producing large amounts of nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal powders formed with atomic disorder, useful in the water swellable gel coatings of this invention.

Abstract: The invention provides bioabsorbable materials with antimicrobial coatings or powders which provide an effective and sustainable antimicrobial effect. Specifically, this invention provides bioabsorbable materials comprising a bioabsorbable substrate associated with one or more antimicrobial metals being in a crystalline form characterized by sufficient atomic disorder, such that the bioabsorbable material in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases atoms, ion, molecules, or clusters of at least one antimicrobial metal at a concentration sufficient to provide an antimicrobial effect. The one or more antimicrobial metals do not interfere with the bioabsorption of the bioabsorbable material, and do not leave behind particulates larger than 2 &mgr;m, as measured 24 hours after the bioabsorbable material has disappeared.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more noble metals selected from silver, gold, platinum, and palladium but most preferably silver, in a nanocrystalline form, for the treatment of a hyperproliferative skin disorder or disease such as psoriasis. Among the noble metals, silver is preferred for such treatment. The nanocrystalline noble metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more noble metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more noble metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more noble metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals preferably selected from silver, gold, platinum, and palladium but most preferably silver, formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for reducing inflammation or infection of the mucosal membrane. The antimicrobial metal may be formulated as, or used in the form of, a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals, or a liquid or solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to induce apoptosis and to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases in a disease condition in a human or animal by contacting hyperplastic tissue, tumor tissue, or a cancerous lesion with one or more antimicrobial metals, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preventing excessive release of matrix metalloproteinases from an inflammatory cell in a disease condition in a human or an animal by contacting the cell with a therapeutically effective amount of a noble metal in a crystalline form characterized by atomic disorder, or with a solution derived therefrom to provide a modulatory effect on one or more matrix metalloproteinases, wherein the one or more noble metals is formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals, most preferably silver, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. The nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to induce apoptosis and to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases in a disease condition in a human or animal by contacting hyperplastic tissue, tumor tissue, or a cancerous lesion with one or more antimicrobial metals, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form. The nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals selected from silver, gold, platinum, and palladium but most preferably silver, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for the treatment of a acne. The nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial metals.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits to form water swellable gel coatings, preferably lubricious coatings, on substrates, and coated substrates thus formed. The coatings contain one or more antimicrobial metals formed with atomic disorder, together with one or more antimicrobial metals formed with atomic disorder such that the coatings provide an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect when wet. The invention also provides a method to produce metal powders by sputtering a coating onto a moving surface, and then scraping the coating with one or more scrapers to produce the metal powder. The method is particularly useful for producing large amounts of nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal powders formed with atomic disorder, useful in the water swellable gel coatings of this invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more noble metals selected from silver, gold, platinum, and palladium but most preferably silver, in a nanocrystalline form, for the treatment of a hyperproliferative skin disorder or disease such as psoriasis. Among the noble metals, silver is preferred for such treatment. The nanocrystalline noble metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more noble metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more noble metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more noble metals.

Abstract: A process for production of an actively antimicrobial surface for a substrate and for use in a biologically dynamic environment, such as for treating and preventing microbial infections, including a film consisting of at least an antimicrobial element and another electrochemically nobler element and which forms multitudinous galvanic cells with electrolyte-containing biological fluids, such as body fluids from wounds, etc., for releasing the antimicrobial element at the surface.

Abstract: The invention provides bioabsorbable materials with antimicrobial coatings or powders which provide an effective and sustainable antimicrobial effect. Specifically, this invention provides bioabsorbable materials comprising a bioabsorbable substrate associated with one or more antimicrobial metals being in a crystalline form characterized by sufficient atomic disorder, such that the bioabsorbable material in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases atoms, ion, molecules, or clusters of at least one antimicrobial metal at a concentration sufficient to provide an antimicrobial effect. The one or more antimicrobial metals do not interfere with the bioabsorption of the bioabsorbable material, and do not leave behind particulates larger than 2 &mgr;m, as measured 24 hours after. The bioabsorbable material has disappeared.