Abstract: The present invention provides biodegradable polymer particle delivery compositions based on polymers, such as polyester amide (PEA) and polyester urethane (PEUR) polymers, that contain amino acids in the polymer. The polymer particle delivery compositions can be formulated as a liquid dispersion of polymer particles with the bioactive agents dispersed in the particle or conjugated attached to polymer molecules or particle surfaces. The bioactive agents can include drugs, polypeptides, DNA and cells for cell-based therapies using particles sized for local, mucosal or circulatory delivery. Methods of treating a disease by administering to a subject the polymer particle delivery composition, which incorporates a bioactive agent suitable for treatment of the disease, or its symptoms, are also included.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable solid polymer delivery composition that can be formulated to release a bioactive agent to an interior body site at a controlled rate over an extended period of time by adjusting the various components of the composition. The controlled delivery of the composition avoids an initial drug spike, resulting in a smooth delivery profile over time. Polymer layers in the composition can be porous and are both biodegradable in water and body enzymes and biocompatible. Methods of making the implantable solid polymer compositions and methods of delivering a bioactive agent at a controlled rate to an interior body site are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides biodegradable polymer particle delivery compositions based on polymers, such as polyester amide (PEA) and polyester urethane (PEUR) polymers, that contain amino acids in the polymer. The polymer particle delivery compositions can be formulated as a liquid dispersion of polymer particles with the bioactive agents dispersed in the particle or conjugated attached to polymer molecules or particle surfaces. The bioactive agents can include drugs, polypeptides, DNA and cells for cell-based therapies using particles sized for local, mucosal or circulatory delivery. Methods of treating a disease by administering to a subject the polymer particle delivery composition, which incorporates a bioactive agent suitable for treatment of the disease, or its symptoms, are also included.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that a vascular stent or other implantable medical device can be coated with a biodegradable biocompatible polymer to which is attached a bioligand that specifically captures progenitors of endothelial cells (PECs) from the circulating blood to promote endogenous formation of healthy endothelium in Type II diabetics. In one embodiment, the bioligand is a peptide that specifically binds to an integrin receptor on PECs. The invention also provides methods for using such vascular stents and other implantable devices to promote vascular healing in Type II diabetics, for example following mechanical intervention.

Abstract: The invention provides sequential poly(ester amide)s derived from Proline and that are synthesized by a two-step method, involving a final thermal polyesterification reaction. Molecular weights of polymers prepared by this method are from 14,000 Da to about 77,000 Da.1 When invention proline-based PEAs were thermally characterized, their glass transition temperatures were lower than other alpha-amino acid based poly(ester amides) due to lack of internal hydrogen bonding. These Proline-based PEAs assemble as nano-particles in aqueous solutions and form complexes with various cations and biologies, including hydrophobic small molecule drugs and biologies. Therefore the invention Proline-based PEAs are useful for drug delivery applications requiring a polymer with a molecular weight in the range from 14,000 Da to about 77,000 Da and for fabrication of nanoparticles for delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that a vascular stent or other implantable medical device can be coated with a biodegradable biocompatible polymer to which is attached a bioligand that specifically captures progenitors of endothelial cells (PECs) from the circulating blood to promote endogenous formation of healthy endothelium in Type II diabetics. In one embodiment, the bioligand is a peptide that specifically binds to an integrin receptor on PECs. The invention also provides methods for using such vascular stents and other implantable devices to promote vascular healing in Type II diabetics, for example following mechanical intervention.

Abstract: The invention provides biodegradable PEAs, PEURs and PEUs that are synthesized by solution polycondensation to include ?-amino acids and oligo-ethylene ether segments in the polymer backbone. The polymers can be obtained by substituting oligo-ethylene glycol (OEG) for aliphatic di-acid and diols during their fabrication. Also provided are compositions in which bioactive agents are dispersed in the polymers. The compositions biodegrade by enzymatic action to release incorporated bioactive agents and oligo-ethylene glycol segments, which are fully biodegradable at a molecular weight less than 400 Da. Due to their comparatively rapid surface enzymatic hydrolysis, the compositions can be used to deliver bioactive agents in a controlled manner within a relatively rapid delivery time, such as about 18 to 24 hours.

Abstract: The present invention provides wound dressings, optionally surgically implantable, containing biodegradable, polymers and hydrogels having allogenic or autologous precursor cells, such as stem cells and progenitor cells dispersed within. Alternatively, the wound dressings can have conditioned medium obtained from the precursor cells dispersed within. The wound dressings promote tissue restoration processes at a site of application or implantation. Additional bioactive agents can also be dispersed within the polymer/hydrogel matrix, which can be formulated to biodegrade at a controlled rate by adjusting the composition. Methods are also provided for using such biodegradable wound dressings as a delivery device or carrier for the precursor cells, conditioned medium and bioactive agents, or as coatings on implantable medical devices, to promote tissue restoration at a lesion site.

Abstract: The invention provides metal-chelating poly(ether amide) polymers useful in preparation of polymer compositions for delivering a variety of cargo molecules, such as bioactive agents. In solution metal ions and cargo molecules, such as vaccine epitopes, that include metal avid amino acids can be loaded into the polymer compositions and held in a non-covalent complex. Nanoparticles of such polymer compositions can also be prepared directly from the solution.

Abstract: The invention provides liposomal particle compositions, which incorporate a lipophilic biodegradable polymer, such as amino acid-containing polyester amide (PEA), polyester urethane (PEUR), and polyester urea (PEU), throughout the particles to stabilize the composition for in vivo delivery in of an incorporated biologic agent. For oral delivery, a biologic, such as insulin, is conjugated directly to the polymer. Lipids in the particle are selected to further stabilize the composition during fabrication and digestion, providing sustained delivery of the biologic with native activity. Methods of making and using the invention compositions to administer the biologic agent in vivo are also included.

Abstract: The invention provides gene transfer compositions using as the gene carrier a biodegradable polymer that contains one or more cationic alpha amino acids, such as arginine or agmatine. The compositions form a tight soluble complex with a poly nucleic acid suitable for transfecting target cells to effect translation of the cargo poly nucleic acid by the target cell. Thus, such compounds are useful both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that a vascular stent or other implantable medical device can be coated with a biodegradable biocompatible polymer to which is attached a bioligand that specifically captures progenitors of endothelial cells (PECs) from the circulating blood to promote endogenous formation of healthy endothelium in Type II diabetics. In one embodiment, the bioligand is a peptide that specifically binds to an integrin receptor on PECs. The invention also provides methods for using such vascular stents and other implantable devices to promote vascular healing in Type II diabetics, for example following mechanical intervention.

Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic vaccines against a variety of pathogenic organisms and tumor cells in humans and other mammals based on biodegradable polymers containing polyester amide (PEA), polyester urethane (PEUR), and polyester urea (PEU) and immunostimulatory adjuvants. The vaccines can be formulated as a liquid dispersion of polymer particles or molecules in which are dispersed an immunostimulatory adjuvant, such as a TLR agonist, and whole protein or peptidic antigens containing MHC class I or class II epitopes derived from organism or tumor cell proteins. Methods of inducing an immune response via intracellular mechanisms to the pathogenic organism or tumor cells specific for the antigen in the invention compositions are also included.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that stents can be coated with biodegradable, bioactive polymers that promote endogenous healing processes at a site of stent implantation. The polymers biodegrade over time, releasing agents which establish or re-establish the natural healing process in an artery. Preferably, the stent is implanted at the time an artery is damaged, such at the time of angioplasty to protect the damaged artery against deleterious blood-borne factors that initiate proliferation of smooth muscle cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of novel medicaments for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of allergic disease. In particular, the novel medicaments are epitopes or mimotopes derived from the C&egr;3 or C&egr;4 domains of IgE. These novel regions may be the target for both passive and active immunoprophylaxis or immunotherapy. The invention further relates to methods for production of the medicaments, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in medicine. Also forming an aspect of the present invention are ligands, especially monoclonal antibodies, which are capable of binding the IgE regions of the present invention, and their use in medicine as passive immunotherapy or immunoprophylaxis.