Abstract: Immobilized proteases for activation of the zymogen form of transglutaminase are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a tissue implant for implantation. The method includes harvesting a tissue material from a human or an animal donor, treating the tissue material in a nuclease-containing solution, and thereafter treating the tissue material with an alkaline alcohol solution. The nuclease-containing solution includes an antimicrobial. The alkaline alcohol solution comprises sodium hydroxide and ethanol.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a tissue implant for implantation. The method includes treating a pericardium tissue material, which has been harvested from a donor and rendered essentially acellular, with a chlorine dioxide treatment solution; and thereafter treating the pericardium tissue material with an antioxidant solution, which comprises ascorbic acid or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a tissue implant for implantation. The method includes harvesting a tissue material from a human or an animal donor, treating the tissue material in a nuclease-containing solution, and thereafter treating the tissue material with an alkaline alcohol solution. The nuclease-containing solution includes an antimicrobial. The alkaline alcohol solution comprises sodium hydroxide and ethanol.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a tissue implant for implantation. The method includes harvesting a tissue material from a human or an animal donor, treating the tissue material with water or a hypotonic solution to lyse native cells of the tissue material, treating the tissue material in a nuclease-containing solution which includes an antimicrobial, treating the tissue material with an alkaline alcohol solution, treating the tissue material with a chlorine dioxide treatment solution, and sterilizing the tissue material.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a tissue implant for implantation. The method includes treating a pericardium tissue material, which has been harvested from a donor and rendered essentially acellular, with a chlorine dioxide treatment solution; and thereafter treating the pericardium tissue material with an antioxidant solution, which comprises ascorbic acid or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a tissue implant for implantation. The method includes harvesting a tissue material from a human or an animal donor, treating the tissue material in a nuclease-containing solution, and thereafter treating the tissue material with an alkaline alcohol solution. The nuclease-containing solution includes an antimicrobial. The alkaline alcohol solution comprises sodium hydroxide and ethanol.

Abstract: An antibiotic composition is provided for use in decontaminating biological tissue, for example, graft tissues for transplantation or preparation for terminal sterilization. The antibiotic composition is a physiological solution includes a lantibiotic, such as nisin. The antibiotic solution is effective to substantially inhibit bacterial growth of at least one type of gram-positive bacteria while substantially maintaining the physiological characteristics of the tissue. The method may include contacting the tissue with the antimicrobial composition at a temperature and for a period of time effective to substantially inhibit bacterial growth of the at least one type of gram-positive bacteria while substantially maintaining the physiological characteristics of the tissue.

Abstract: Bioprosthetic devices include an exterior biological tissue member which at least partly defines a cavity, and a proteinaceous biopolymer which fills the cavity, and intercalates and is chemically bound (fixed) to the tissue of the surrounding biological tissue member. In preferred forms, the bioprosthetic device is a bioprosthetic vertebral disc having a fibrillar outer annulus which surrounds and defines an interior cavity and is formed by removal of at least a substantial portion of the natural gelatinous core therefrom. The cavity defined by the fibrillar outer annulus may then be filled with a flowable proteinaceous biopolymer. Preferably, the proteinaceous biopolymer Is a liquid mixture comprised of human or animal-derived protein material and a di- or polyaldehyde, which are allowed to react in situ to form a cross-linked biopolymer within the cavity. The liquid mixture may be formed in advance of being introduced into the cavity, or may be formed simultaneously during introduction into the cavity.

Abstract: Bioprosthetic devices include an exterior biological tissue member which at least partly defines a cavity, and a proteinaceous biopolymer which fills the cavity, and intercalates and is chemically bound (fixed) to the tissue of the surrounding biological tissue member. In preferred forms, the bioprosthetic device is a bioprosthetic vertebral disc having a fibrillar outer annulus which surrounds and defines an interior cavity and is formed by removal of at least a substantial portion of the natural gelatinous core therefrom. The cavity defined by the fibrillar outer annulus may then be filled with a flowable proteinaceous biopolymer. Preferably, the proteinaceous biopolymer is a liquid mixture comprised of human or animal-derived protein material and a di- or polyaldehyde, which are allowed to react in situ to form a cross-linked biopolymer within the cavity. The liquid mixture may be formed in advance of being introduced into the cavity, or may be formed simultaneously during introduction into the cavity.

Abstract: Bioprosthetic devices include an exterior biological tissue member which at least partly defines a cavity, and a proteinaceous biopolymer which fills the cavity, and intercalates and is chemically bound (fixed) to the tissue of the surrounding biological tissue member. In preferred forms. the bioprosthetic device is a bioprosthetic vertebral disc having a fibrillar outer annulus which surrounds and defines an interior cavity and is formed by removal of at least a substantial portion of the natural gelatinous core therefrom. The cavity defined by the fibrillar outer annulus may then be filled with a flowable proteinaceous biopolymer. Preferably, the proteinaceous biopolymer is a liquid mixture comprised of human or animal-derived protein material and a di- or polyaldehyde, which are allowed to react in situ to form a cross-linked biopolymer within the cavity. The liquid mixture may be formed in advance of being introduced into the cavity, or may be formed simultaneously during introduction into the cavity.

Abstract: A method of producing N,N-disubstituted aminophenols of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, the phenyl ring of which may be further substituted, alkoxyalkyl, or a cycloalkylalkyl, except that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not simultaneously methyl and R' represents hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano, alkyl or alkoxy, which comprises reacting an aminophenol of general formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 represents hydrogen or R.sub.1, and R' is as defined above, with an organic halide species of general formula R.sub.2 X wherein R.sub.2 is as defined above and X is halogen under aqueous acidic conditions with the periodic addition of an acid trapping agent in such a way that continuous monitoring of pH is not required.