Abstract:
Disclosed herein are cargo carrying nanoparticles and pharmaceutical formulations thereof. The cargo carrying nanoparticles can self-assemble from cargo molecule subunits and/or targeting subunits. The cargo carrying molecules can be configured to induce macropinocytosis in a cell when a targeting moiety specifically binds a binding partner on the surface of a cell. The pharmaceutical formulations containing the cargo carrying nanoparticles disclosed herein can be administered to a patient for the treatment or prevention of cancer.
Abstract:
DNA constructs coding for a chimeric polypeptides containing fragments of cartilage matrix proteins that can bind collagen and their protein products are described. Also, the invention relates to purified chimeric polypeptides, and methods of their production and purification from transformed cells as well as their use as agents in therapeutics and clinical imaging. In addition, the invention disclosed a method for forming collagen fibrils using the chimeric polypeptide.
Abstract:
Pharmaceutically acceptable, non-immunogenic compositions are formed by covalently binding atelopeptide collagen to pharmaceutically pure, synthetic, hydrophilic polymers via specific types of chemical bonds to provide collagen/polymer conjugates. The atelopeptide collagen can be type I, type II or type III and may be fibrillar or non-fibrillar. The synthetic hydrophilic polymer may be polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof having a weight average molecular weight over a range of from about 100 to about 20,000. The compositions may include other components such as liquid, pharmaceutically acceptable, carriers to form injectable formulations, and/or biologically active proteins such as growth factors. The collagen-polymer conjugates of the invention generally contain large amounts of water when formed. The conjugates can be dehydrated to form a relatively solid object. The dehydrated, solid object can be ground into particles which can be suspended in a non-aqueous fluid such as an oil and injected into a living being for the purpose of providing soft tissue augmentation. Once in place, the particles rehydrate and expand in size five fold or more.
Abstract:
Pharmaceutically acceptable, non-immunogenic compositions are formed by covalently binding biologically inactive, natural, biocompatible polymer to pharmaceutically pure, synthetic, hydrophilic polymers via specific types of chemical bonds to provide biocompatible conjugates. The synthetic hydrophilic polymer may be polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof having a weight average molecular weight over a range of from about 100 to about 20,000. The compositions may include other components such as liquid, pharmaceutically acceptable, carriers to form injectable formulations, and/or biologically active proteins such as growth factors. The conjugates of the invention generally contain large amounts of water when formed. The conjugates can be dehydrated to form a relatively solid object. The dehydrated, solid object can be ground into particles which can be suspended in a non-aqueous fluid such as an oil and injected into a living (preferably human) being for the purpose of providing soft tissue augmentation. Once in place, the particles rehydrate and expand in size five fold or more.
Abstract:
A gene delivery system is made of enzymatically degradable polymeric cation and nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) nanospheres optionally with a linking moiety or a targeting ligand attached to the surface. The delivery system can be made by a simple method of coacervation. Targeting ligands can be attached to the nanosphere directly or via a linking moiety. The linkage design allows the attachment of any molecule onto the nanosphere surface including antibodies, cell adhesion molecules, hormones and other cell-specific ligands.
Abstract:
Polypeptides are provided that have a sequence of at least about four amino acids corresponding substantially to an amino acid sequence within the triple-helical domain of Type I collagen. The polypeptides promote cell adhesion and/or cell migration. Cell culture substrates coated with the polypeptides are also provided. Prosthetic devices and methods for identifying and distinguishing cells of different types are also provided.
Abstract:
Affinity bound collagen matrices for the delivery of biologically active agents, and methods for preparing such matrices, are disclosed. A preferred method for preparing the matrices of the invention comprises mixing a binding ligand and an active agent together, allowing the resulting binding ligand-active agent mixture to form an affinity bound complex, then combining the resulting affinity bound complex with collagen to form a matrix. Particular affinity bound matrices comprising collagen, heparin, and an active agent are also disclosed, as well as methods for using the matrices of the invention for delivery of biologically active agents.
Abstract:
Disclosed are a crosslinked gelatin microspheres containing CSF and a water soluble CSF-gelatin conjugate. Both the microspheres and the water soluble conjugate provide an improved CSF stability. They have a high potentiation on the antitumor activity of macrophages in respect of the CSF amount and the time required for macrophage activation and are effective in maintaining their activated state for a long period, compared with the native CSF. The mechanism of macrophage activation by the microspheres containing CSF is mediated via phagocytosis and different from that by native CSF, which is believed to activate macrophages via cell surface receptor. The species specificity of CSF may be abrogated when the CSF is internalized into macrophages through phagocytosis.