Abstract: The invention is directed to novel cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “CFS” compositions), including novel sustained-release cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “SR-CFS” compositions), methods of making such novel compositions and uses thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for extracting platelets, compositions obtained therefore, and methods for using the same.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “CFS” compositions), including novel sustained-release cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “SR-CFS” compositions), methods of making such novel compositions and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing neural stem cell numbers or neurogenesis by using a pheromone, a luteinizing hormone (LH) and/or a human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The method can be practiced in vivo to obtain more neural stem cells in situ, which can in turn produce more neurons or glial cells to compensate for lost or dysfunctional neural cells. The method can also be practiced in vitro to produce a large number of neural stem cells in culture. The cultured stem cells can be used, for example, for transplantation treatment of patients or animals suffering from or suspected of having neurodegenerative diseases or conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to administering autologous uncultured cells into a diseased intervertebral disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising trophic factors, methods to decrease the degeneration of a retina, methods of treating ocular degenerative diseases and methods to select cells for transplantation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for a combination therapy with a cytokine antagonist and a corticosteroid. By means of the combination therapy diseases such as osteoarthritis, tendon injuries and/or degenerative spinal diseases can be treated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the expression and regulating growth factors in chrondrocytes and developing cartilage, particularly granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP). The invention relates to the modulation and manipulation of these growth factors, GEP, and/or the molecules they interact with, for instance COMP, in cartilage disorders, including arthritis. Assays and screening methods for the determination of the expression and activity of GEP, or of GEP-COMP, are provided, including for screening for the presence or extent of cartilage or arthritic disease and for identifying modulators or compounds/agents for treatment or prevention of cartilage or arthritic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising isolated human collagen, isolated human elastin and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier wherein the human elastin is substantially insoluble in water with a molecular weight greater than 100 kDa. The present invention further provides methods and kits for soft tissue augmentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating one or more phenotypes of a macrophage-related cell, e.g., a macrophage. The invention further provides methods of treating disease by modulating macrophage phenotype. Representative phenotypes include pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, immunogenic, tolerogenic, tissue-destructive, tissue restorative, cytotoxic, migratory, bone-resorbing, pro-angiogenic, anti-angiogenic, suppressor, antigen presentation, or phagocytic. Representative diseases include atherosclerosis, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: A process for preparing a conditioned cell culture medium is provided. The process comprises a) culturing eukaryotic cells in a growth medium having a composition effective to support cell growth; b) separating the cultured cells from the growth medium; and c) maintaining the cultured cells in a basal medium having a composition suitable to maintain cell viability, but not to support substantial cell growth. The cells are preferably dermal sheath, dermal papilla or dermal fibroblast cells. The compositions are useful as pharmaceutical compositions, especially for wound healing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations suitable for targeting particular tissue and/or organ(s) with a formulated active ingredient, for example when administered upstream of the target organ or tissue, and to use of the same in treatment methods of preparing the formulations. The pharmaceutical formulations of the invention are for parenteral administration to a target tissue and comprise particles containing an active ingredient, and a biodegradable excipient, wherein 90% or more of the particles have a diameter of between 10 and 20 microns and the formulation is substantially free of particles with a diameter greater than 50 microns and less than 5 microns, such that where the formulation is administered upstream of the target tissue the ability of the active to pass through the target tissue and pass into systemic circulation is restricted.

Abstract: Described herein are the use of peripheral blood derived germline stem cells and their progenitors, methods of isolation thereof, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Nutritional compositions and methods of making and using the nutritional compositions are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a nutritional composition including one or more exogenous nucleotides.

Abstract: This invention provides aragonite- and calcite-based scaffolds for the repair, regeneration, enhancement of formation or a combination thereof of cartilage and/or bone, which scaffolds comprise at least two phases, wherein each phase differs in terms of its chemical content, or structure, kits comprising the same, processes for producing solid aragonite or calcite scaffolds and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The use of autogenous bone graft is the current gold standard in the 1.5 million bone-grafting surgeries performed annually in the United States. Although this practice has resulted in high rates of fusion success, it is associated with increased operative time and blood loss, along with a significant degree of donor-site morbidity. Additionally, in certain settings such as revision cases, multilevel constructs, or in patients with medical comorbidities, autogenous bone graft may exist in limited quantity and quality. This significant need for a suitable alternative to autogenous bone graft has stimulated great interest in the exploration of bone graft substitutes and extenders.

Abstract: The various embodiments herein provide a gel based wound dressing comprising a lyophilized powder and a water-based solvent. The lyophilized powder comprises several nanoparticles and water miscible natural or synthetic polymers. The nanoparticles comprises pectin and a wound healing agent or an anti-microbial agent. The anti-microbial agent is nisin. The lyophilized powder and the water-based solvent are kept in two separate sealed packages and are mixed together before applying on a wound. The embodiments herein also provide a method of synthesizing the gel based wound dressing. The nano-particles control a release of the wound healing agent or the antimicrobial agent to a wound.

Abstract: This invention provides aragonite- and calcite-based scaffolds for the repair, regeneration, enhancement of formation or a combination thereof of cartilage and/or bone, which scaffolds comprise at least two phases, wherein each phase differs in terms of its chemical content, or structure, kits comprising the same, processes for producing solid aragonite or calcite scaffolds and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Described herein is a transmucosal delivery device and their use for delivering bioactive agents across a mucosal membrane. The delivery devices contain a pharmaceutically acceptable oxidizing and agents that facilitates the delivery of the blood stream across the mucosal membrane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a fibromodulin (FMOD) peptide (FMOD-P), a composition and a formulation comprising a FMOD-P, optionally with a TGF-? isoform, or comprising FMOD with a TGF-? isoform. The present invention also provides methods of making and using the FMOD-P, composition, or formulation.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing cell-guiding fibroinductive and angiogenic tissue engineering scaffolds composed of biodegradable and biocompatible natural biopolymers, synthetic polymers and/or their combination, incorporating growth and differentiation factors, growth hormone and chemoattractants, with interconnected pores and channels-containing microarchitecture inducing the regenerative cell migration, adhesion, proliferation and differentiation from the healthy tissues surrounding the periodontal defects, thereby facilitating the functional periodontal tissue regeneration. The methods for the application of the cell-guiding fibroinductive and angiogenic scaffolds in the surgical treatment of periodontal tissue defects resulted from destructive periodontal diseases are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an in situ-forming, bioadhesive hydrogel and the medical uses thereof. Being formed by in situ crosslinking through an enzymatic reaction, the hydrogel has an advantage over conventional bioadhesive hydrogels in terms of biocompatibility. In addition, the in situ-forming bioadhesive hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength and has excellent tissue adhesiveness thanks to modification with/without dopa derivatives. The hydrogel finds a variety of applications in the biomedical field, including bioadhesives or hemostats, implant substances for tissue regeneration and augmentation, carriers for delivering biologically active materials or drugs, etc.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates induction of immunological tolerance thereby providing permanent allogcaft acceptance. This method obviates the need for a lifelong regimen of immunosuppressive agents which can increase the risk of infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. Immunological tolerance is thought to be mediated by regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells) with immunosuppressive capabilities. A therapeutically relevant platform comprising artificial constructs are contemplated comprising numerous soluble and surface bound Treg cell stimulating factors that may induce tolerance following allograft transplantation. Such artificial constructs, being the size of a cell, have surface bound monoclonal antibodies specific to regulatory T-cell surface moieties and encapsulated soluble regulatory T-cell modulating factors.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “CFS” compositions), including novel sustained-release cellular factor-containing solution compositions (referred to herein as “SR-CFS” compositions), methods of making such novel compositions and uses thereof.

Abstract: A carrier matrix may be delivered to a target position within a patient in a minimally invasive manner by first cutting a collagen sponge sheet into a plurality of relatively small pieces. These pieces are sized so that, when wet, they are capable of flowing through a cannula and/or reduced-diameter syringe tip. The pieces are placed into a syringe and wetted, say with a morphogenic solution, and optionally mixed with a bulking material, which is similarly sized to fit through the cannula. The thoroughly mixed and wetted product forms a viscous aggregate which may then be injected into the patient at the target site.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are heretofore undescribed preparations of highly concentrated, solubilized proteins, such as but not limited to, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins. Such protein preparations can be formulated in an aqueous carrier at protein concentrations in excess of 10 mg/ml when using the methods of manufacture taught herein. Such methods yield stable protein preparations in either solubilized or lyophilized form. The protein preparations of the present invention are particularly beneficial when administered either locally or systemically, in part, because low administration volumes can be accomplished. This is especially important for local treatment of certain anatomic locations such as, for example, the synovial fluid of a joint when treating osteoarthritis with BMP-7 or the intradiscal space when treating degenerative disc disease with BMP-7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions devices and methods for treating bone and/or cartilage defects, and a method for manufacturing such a composition or device. In a certain embodiment, the invention provides a device and/or composition for treating bone and/or cartilage defects, having at least one collagen, for example of animal origin, and further containing at least one substance having an osteo-inductive or chondro-inductive activity, at least one differentiation and/or growth factor having osteo-stimulative and/or chondro-stimulative effect, and at least one filling material, in which the composition is in the form of a lyophil.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to compositions and methods of dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Abstract: Alginate nanofibers, scaffolds that include alginate nanofibers, implantable devices that include alginate nanofibers, and methods for making the alginate nanofibers by electrospinning.

Abstract: A cyclized peptide designated BMP Binding Peptide (BBP) is a synthetic peptide that avidly binds rhBMP-2, as do endogenous forms of BBP, and sequence conservation between species results in a variety of useful BBP compositions. BBP increases the over-all osteogenic activity of rhBMP-2, increases the rate at which rhBMP-2 induces bone formation, and BBP induces calcification alone. Compositions and substrates including BBP, and methods of using BBP are useful in therapeutic, diagnostic and clinical applications requiring calcification and osteogenesis.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the production of differentiated mammalian cells. More particularly, the present invention provides cellular differentiation methods employing culturing the cells on a feeder layer or under feeder-free conditions in cell culture and further contacting the cells with an inhibitor of the PI3-kinase pathway and a member of the TGFb family for the generation of differentiated mammalian cells from pluripotent mammalian stem cells. Preferably, the differentiated cell is selected from the group consisting of a mesendodermal cell, a mesodermal cell, and an endodermal cell.

Abstract: A cyclized peptide designated BMP Binding Peptide (BBP) is a synthetic peptide that avidly binds rhBMP-2. BBP increases the over-all osteogenic activity of rgBMP-2, increases the rate at which rhBMP-2 induces bone formation, and BBP induces calcification alone. Compositions and substrates including BBP, and methods of using BBP are useful in therapeutic, diagnostic and clinical applications requiring calcification and osteogenesis.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the preparation of conjugates of a variety of bioactive components, especially proteins, with water-soluble polymers (e.g., poly(ethylene glycol) and derivatives thereof), which conjugates have reduced antigenicity and immunogenicity compared to similar conjugates prepared using poly(ethylene glycol) containing a methoxyl or another alkoxyl group. The invention also provides conjugates prepared by such methods, compositions comprising such conjugates, kits containing such conjugates or compositions and methods of use of the conjugates and compositions in diagnostic and therapeutic protocols.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating cardiovascular tissue. For example, stem cells, compositions containing stem cells, methods for obtaining stem cells, compositions for generating stem cells expressing particular markers (e.g., compositions comprising TGF-?1, BMP-2, FGF-4, and leukemia inhibitory factor), and methods for repairing cardiovascular tissue are provided.

Abstract: A method for direct therapeutic treatment of myocardial tissue in a localized region of a heart having a pathological condition. The method includes identifying a target region of the myocardium and applying material directly and substantially only to at least a portion of the myocardial tissue of the target region. The material applied results in a physically modification the mechanical properties, including stiffness, of said tissue. Various devices and modes of practicing the method are disclosed for stiffening, restraining and constraining myocardial tissue for the treatment of conditions including myocardial infarction or mitral valve regurgitation.

Abstract: Disclosed are in situ-forming injectable hydrogel and medical uses thereof. In the in situ-forming injectable hydrogel two or more homogeneous or heterogeneous polymers are bonded to each other by a dehydrogenation reaction between phenol or aniline moieties on adjacent polymers, wherein a polymer backbone is grafted with a phenol or aniline moiety using a linker. In contrast to conventional hydrogel, the in situ-forming injectable hydrogel is superior in terms of in vivo stability and mechanical strength thanks to the introduction of a water-soluble polymer as a linker which leads to an improvement in the reactivity of phenol or aniline moieties. Having the advantage of superior bio stability and mechanical strength, the hydrogel finds a variety of applications in the biomedical field.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for tissue regeneration without cell transplantation.

Abstract: The present invention concerns improved osteoinductive materials comprising matrix materials and morphogenetic proteins, wherein depending on the subject matter the proteins may be dimeric or monomeric proteins. The osteoinductive materials according to the present invention have improved properties. The invention further concerns methods for producing the respective improved osteoinductive materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified growth differentiation factor (GDF) receptor, including a GDF-8 (myostatin) receptor, as well as functional peptide portions thereof. In addition, the invention provides a virtual representation of a GDF receptor or a functional peptide portion thereof. The present invention also provides a method of modulating an effect of myostatin on a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that affects myostatin signal transduction in the cell. In addition, the invention provides a method of ameliorating the severity of a pathologic condition, which is characterized, at least in part, by an abnormal amount, development or metabolic activity of muscle or adipose tissue in a subject, by modulating myostatin signal transduction in a muscle cell or an adipose tissue cell in the subject.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating the activities of connexins are provided, including, for example, for use in post-surgical, trauma, or tissue engineering applications. These compounds and methods can be used therapeutically, for example, to reduce the severity of adverse effects associated diseases and disorders where localized disruption in direct cell-cell communication is desirable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a functionalized composition and resulting functionalized body or prosthesis for in vitro and in vivo use comprising at least one calcium phosphate containing phase that is functionalized with a linker group comprising at least one of an organic acid molecule, a phosphonic acid, an amine, N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and 3-maleimidopropionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, and combinations thereof, and one or more of a chemical and/or a biologically active moieties, wherein the linker group provides for a reactive location for the attachment of the chemical or biologically active moiety, or both, to the calcium phosphate containing phase, and optionally including an unmodified and/or modified calcium aluminate containing phase. The functionalized compositions have a pliable physical property when mixed with water and adhere to natural bone and subsequently harden at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds for disrupting the binding of a matrix metalloprotease (MMP) protein to a substrate protein at an interaction site other than the protease catalytic site. In particular the inventive compounds inhibit the MMP's ability to cleave a substrate protein. In some cases the compound may prevent activation of transforming growth factor beta (TGF?). The compounds are preferably polypeptide fragments of the hemopexin-like domain of the MMP, but may be mimetics thereof or peptides or mimetics of the portion of the MMP substrate protein to which the MMP interacts.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions, methods of preparation thereof, and use thereof for cartilage repair.

Abstract: Described are osteogenic implants that include a first implant material covered at least in part by a second implant material carrying an osteogenic protein such as a bone morphogenic protein. The first implant material can comprise a mineral and provide an inner scaffolding portion for supporting bone ingrowth, and the second implant material can comprise a collagen or other sponge carrier covering the first implant material and having a liquid osteogenic protein formulation imbibed therein. Related implant materials and methods of preparation and use constitute additional aspects of the invention.

Abstract: Osteogenic sponge compositions having enhanced osteoinductive properties for use in bone repair are described. The compositions include a quickly resorbable porous carrier, a more slowly resorbed mineral scaffold and an osteogenic factor, preferably a bone morphogenetic protein. The compositions enable increased osteoinductive activity while retaining a reliable scaffold for the formation of new bone at an implant site. Methods for therapeutic use of the compositions are also described.

Abstract: Recombinant NELL peptides and methods of preparing the same are disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to providing enhanced application tissue graft materials in regenerative medicine through improved cellular interactions. Biocompatible implant materials, methods for preparing biocompatible implant materials, methods for using same, and methods for treating tissue injury are disclosed. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for increasing transport of agents across the blood brain barrier while allowing their activity once across the barrier to remain substantially intact. The agents are transported across the blood brain barrier via one or more endogenous receptor-mediated transport systems. In some embodiments the agents are therapeutic, diagnostic, or research agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device consisting of cross-linked nanofibrillary fibrin supported on and rooted to a microporous nonwoven fabric consisting of a biocompatible synthetic polymer material. An active ingredient is advantageously dispersed in the fibrin layer. The fibrin layer does not have a haemostatic function, but is suitable for retaining the active ingredient and releasing it with controlled kinetics. The device forming the object of the invention, preferably in the form of patches, is useful for in vitro cell cultures or for treating tissues damaged by wounds or necrosis, such as cardiac walls bearing the sequelae of infarction, or a tissue damaged by a diabetic ulcer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing large amounts of human growth factors from human adipose-derived stem cells. More specifically, the invention provides a method capable of synthesizing human growth factors in significantly large amounts by culturing adipose-derived stem cells extracted from human adipose cells in suitable media and conditions. Also, stem cell culture media produced according to the method of the invention, and human growth factors isolated from the culture media, can be advantageously used as raw materials for drugs and cosmetics.