Abstract: For applications in drug delivery, “smart” materials have been designed to respond to conditions within microenvironments of tissues or cells. The present invention features stimuli-responsive cross-linked hydrogels that respond to specific metabolites of disease. For example, protein-polymer materials of the present invention are configured to release their drug cargo upon encountering the higher lactate concentrations within tumor microenvironments.

Abstract: The technology relates to a prophylactic bandage contact lens that prevents microbial infections in an eye as well as treats infection by dispensing antimicrobial medication at controlled rates. In one embodiment, the invention provides a bandage with nanostructures, and provides a continuous treatment over 10 days and shields the eye from the environment, significantly diminishing the risk of infection while allowing damaged tissues to heal.

Abstract: Provided herein are isolated polynucleotides encoding collagen-like polypeptide domains and the encoded polypeptides. In one such polypeptide, at least a portion of the encoded collagen-like polypeptide domain is in the form of Gly-X-Y triads, where X and Y symbolize individual amino acids; X is proline in at least 20% of the triads; Y is proline in at least 20% of the triads. The encoding polynucleotide of such a polypeptide encodes a region having at least 50 consecutive amino acids, wherein the region is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring collagen polypeptide; and no more than 98% of the nucleotides of the collagen-like polypeptide domain-encoding portion of the polynucleotide fall into a window of 100 consecutive nucleotides in which the nucleotides of the window have greater than 98% identity to a naturally occurring collagen-encoding nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: Liquid formulations of celecoxib have been found to provide faster pain relief than conventional solid formulations of celecoxib. The present invention provides combinations of excipients in which celecoxib is highly soluble for formulation as pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The invention concerns excipients or combinations thereof suitable for preparing an oral formulation containing a pharmaceutical agent. More particularly, the invention is directed to stable, efficacious and bioavailable oral pharmaceutical formulations comprising paclitaxel, derivatives of paclitaxel and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formulations of the invention increase bioavailability of paclitaxel when dissolved in the gastrointestinal system. The formulations of the invention are useful for administering paclitaxel, its derivatives, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such derivatives to patients in need thereof. The formulations of the invention are particularly suitable for oral administration to mammals including humans.