Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vivo method of promoting the growth of autologous cartilage and bone tissue, including tissue that can be explanted to other locations in the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vivo method of promoting the growth of autologous cartilage and bone tissue, including tissue that can be explanted to other locations in the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides a device having a surface and a functional layer associated with the surface, where the functional layer includes particles having a structure substituted with a functional group, where the functional group is adapted to modify a property of the device, the device is sufficiently biocompatible for application to a multicellular organism and the particles have an average diameter of about 5 nm to about 10 microns.

Abstract: An implantable device including a surface containing a plurality of first zones and a plurality of second zones depressed relative to the first zones so as to provide valleys below a plane defined by the first zones, wherein a first zone to second zone width ratio is non-random throughout the device; and a biologically active agent in the valley, wherein the device is adapted to be implanted within an organism such that when said surface is subjected to a flow causing a fluid-induced shear stress, the second zone has a reduced level of the fluid-induced shear stress relative to the first zone in an amount adequate to selectively retain the biologically active agent within the valley.

Abstract: The invention provides a fiber having different morphology and a method of making such fiber in a predictable manner. The method includes providing a first component including water, wherein the first component has a first evaporation rate, providing a second component including a polymer, wherein the second component has a second evaporation rate, provided that the second evaporation rate is higher than the first evaporation rate, combining the first component and the second component to make an emulsion, applying a force to the emulsion, and extruding the emulsion to make the fiber, wherein the fiber has an outer surface, an internal cavity and a diameter of at most 10 micrometers.

Abstract: A polyester including a macromeric unit, wherein the macromeric unit has (a) at least two lactone derived units, (b) an initiating core, and (c) a coupling unit, wherein the initiating core is linking the at least two lactone derived units to form a macromerdiol and wherein the coupling unit and the initiating core have a carbon chain of a length sufficient to alter hydrophobicity of the polyester, and thereby enable the polyester to degrade according to a surface erosion mechanism. The polyesters of the present invention are suitable for a wide range of biomedical applications including drug delivery, imaging, scaffolding for tissue engineering, coating of various surfaces such as for example implantable devices as well as colloids and microparticles. FIG. 1 is a reaction scheme depicting the preparation of polyesters of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a three-dimensional construct including a polymeric matrix and a nanoparticle as shown in FIG. 1 having a diameter of about 5 nm to about 10 microns, wherein the nanoparticle is (a) coated with at least two monomolecular layers each carrying biological information and (b) dispersed in the polymeric matrix at a density of at least 0.01 vol %. The invention further provides a method of presenting biological information to a cell or a tissue and thereby affecting at least one parameter of the cell or the tissue, the method involves providing the three-dimensional construct and contacting it with the cell or the tissue to present the biological information and thereby affecting at least one characteristic of the cell or the tissue. In certain embodiments, the diameter, the biological information and the density are selected to affect at least one characteristic of the cell or the tissue.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a substrate system of photopolymerizable monomers and bioactive molecules admixed with the monomers and shielded from the monomers by an insoluble material that undergoes a solid-gel transition at body temperature. Upon polymerization, the monomers produce a cross-linked structure and the shielded bioactive molecules are protected from attack in the polymerized environment. In different aspects, the substrate system is used for drug delivery and tissue engineering and protection of enzymes, proteins and growth factors. In another embodiment, the present invention is a drug delivery system of photopolymerizable monomers, drug molecules associated with the monomers and shielded from the monomers by an insoluble material that undergoes a solid-gel transition at body temperature, and a photopolymerizing means for polymerizing the monomers to produce a cross-linked structure including the drug molecules.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a transdermal delivery system including a drug formulated with a transport chaperone moiety that reversibly associates with the drug. The chaperone moiety is associated with the drug in the formulation so as to enhance transport of the drug across dermal tissue and releasing the drug after crossing said dermal tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vivo method of promoting the growth of autologous tissue and its use to form corrective structures, including tissue that can be explanted to other locations in the animal. In particular, the invention relates to methods and systems for (a) the site-specific regeneration of tissue, and (b) the synthesis of neotissue for transplantation.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and systems are provided for the stimulation of biological activities within stem cells by applying electromagnetic stimulation to an electroactive material, wherein the electromagnetic stimulation is coupled to the electromagnetic material. In general the present invention involves attaching or associating the desired cells to or with a surface comprising an electroactive material, and applying electromagnetic radiation directly to the desired area. In preferred embodiments, the stimulation of biological activities within cells results from inducing one or more activities including, but not limited to, gene expression, cell growth, cell differentiation, signal transduction, membrane permeability, cell division, contraction, and cell signaling.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and systems are provided for the stimulation of biological activities within stem cells by applying electromagnetic stimulation to an electroactive material, wherein the electromagnetic stimulation is coupled to the electromagnetic material. In general the present invention involves attaching or associating the desired cells to or with a surface comprising an electroactive material, and applying electromagnetic radiation directly to the desired area. In preferred embodiments, the stimulation of biological activities within cells results from inducing one or more activities including, but not limited to, gene expression, cell growth, cell differentiation, signal transduction, membrane permeability, cell division, contraction, and cell signaling.