Abstract: An in-bra wearable milk collection device for use in a breast pump system. The milk collection device comprises a breast shield, a shell, and a diaphragm. The breast shield includes a nipple tunnel and breast flange. The diaphragm has a dry side for connection to an air pump and a wet side configured to contact milk. The breast shield is removably attachable to the shell and, when attached, the breast shield and shell form a milk container. The breast shield is made from a deformable material such that the breast shield is configured to deform to attach to the shell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the study of gastrointestinal transit in a human or animal subject. The method being for the study of a subject which has previously ingested a container containing first and second fluids that are detectable and distinguishable by MRI, which method comprises the steps of forming a first magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the subject's GI tract in which the container is located, wherein the magnetizations of the first and second fluids are in-phase; forming a second magnetic resonance image, coincident with the first image, wherein the magnetizations of the first and second fluids are out-of-phase; and subtracting the second image from the first image, or vice versa, to form a composite image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the study of gastrointestinal transit in a human or animal subject. The method being for the study of a subject which has previously ingested a container containing first and second fluids that are detectable and distinguishable by MRI, which method comprises the steps of forming a first magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the subject's GI tract in which the container is located, wherein the magnetizations of the first and second fluids are in-phase; forming a second magnetic resonance image, coincident with the first image, wherein the magnetizations of the first and second fluids are out-of-phase; and subtracting the second image from the first image, or vice versa, to form a composite image.

Abstract: There is described a method of forming a wound dressing. The method comprises forming a protein polymer by reacting a protein with a polyfunctional spacer, or an activated derivative thereof. The polyfunctional spacer is preferably a polycarboxylic acid, especially a dicarboxylic acid, and protein polymers prepared using such spacers are suitable for a wide range of therapeutic applications, including use as wound dressings, for the delivery of therapeutically active agents to the body and as bioadhesives and sealants.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of a compound capable of preferential interaction with plasma membrane lipid microdomains (PMLMs) as enhancers of transport processes across endothelial, epithelial and mesothelial membranes (ie including blood-brain-blood barrier and gastrointestinal mucosal membranes). When associated with therapeutic agents, the compounds act as transport vehicles. When the compounds interact with PMLMs in such a way as to inhibit transport across the membrane, the compounds function as anti-infective agents.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a pharmaceutical conjugate comprising an insoluble carrier to which first and second active agents are bound, respectively via a first linker to a first functional group on the carrier and via a second linker to a second functional group on the carrier. For example, fibrinogen and Factor VIII can be independently linked to albumin microcapsules.

Abstract: A protein polymer is soluble in aqueous media and retains the native ligand binding properties of the protein. The polymer comprises two or more protein monomer units, such as albumin molecules, that are covalently bound through coupling agents that give rise to spacer chains of atoms between the protein molecules. The spacer chains preferably have a length of at least twenty atoms. The protein polymers are suitable for pharmaceutical drug delivery of physiologically active molecules by a variety of routes.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to microparticles of a lipid-binding protein such as defatted albumin or microparticles of such a protein having a non-natural lipid profile are useful in therapy, e.g., as a vehicle for gene therapy, and in imaging.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of a compound capable of preferential interaction with plasma membrane lipid microdomains (PMLMs) as enhancers of transport processes across endothelial, epithelial and mesothelial membranes (ie including blood-brain-blood barrier and gastrointestinal mucosal membranes). When associated with therapeutic agents, the compounds act as transport vehicles. When the compounds interact with PMLMs in such a way as to inhibit transport across the membrane, the compounds function as anti-infective agents.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a pharmaceutical conjugate comprising an insoluble carrier to which first and second active agents are bound, respectively via a first linker to a first functional group on the carrier and via a second linker to a second functional group on the carrier. For example, fibrinogen and Factor VIII can be independently linked to albumin microcapsules.

Abstract: A product comprises thrombin and microparticles having bound fibrinogen, as a combined preparation for simultaneous use in wound therapy or surgical repair. Another aspect lies in the use o insoluble microparticles having fibrinogen bound thereto, for the manufacture of a medicament for use in wound therapy or surgical repair of a patient having an abnormally low level of platelets.

Abstract: Removal of lipid from lipid-bound protein such as human serum albumin to produce defatted protein enhances ability of the protein to bind therapeutic agents for use as a carrier for the therapeutic agent. The defatted protein may be reloaded with cationic and/or anionic lipids such as fatty acids, e.g. DC-Chol, to modify charge, hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of the defatted protein to further enhance ability of the defatted protein to bind a therapeutic agent. A reloaded lipid itself may be a therapeutic agent. The defatted protein may be produced as microparticles by spray-drying. Defatting can be achieved by removing fatty acids with acidified activated charcoal, or by solvent extraction. A complex of DNA and a microparticle of defatted protein containing a cationic or anionic lipid molecule can be used for gene therapy. Defatted albumin may be reloaded with aminocaprylic acid to provide a microparticle for binding DNA for parenteral delivery.

Abstract: A method of treating tumors of a tissue selected from liver, lung, spleen and peritoneum, comprises administering to a subject hosting the tumors microparticles having a size appropriate to target the tissue, the microparticles having at least one cytotoxic agent bound thereto. Microparticles having two bound cytotoxic agents are new. The microparticles are also useful for treating multi drug resistance.

Abstract: A method of treating tumours of a tissue selected from liver, lung, spleen and peritoneum, comprises administering to a subject hosting the tumours microparticles having a size appropriate to target the tissue, the microparticles having at least one cytotoxic agent bound thereto. Microparticles having two bound cytotoxic agents are new. The microparticles are also useful for treating multi drug resistance.

Abstract: Platelet substitutes, comprising fibrinogen, or analogous products useful in therapy, which further comprise an insoluble carrier to which is bound an essentially non-degraded active protein including the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp. Such conjugates can be made by a conjugation process comprising 0.01 to 2.5% by weight active fibrinogen, and no more that 50% inactive fibrinogen.