Tufts University

Allergan, Inc.

Monica A Serban

David L Kaplan

Nicholas J Manesis

Xiaojie Yu

Elizabeta Pavlovic

Xiaoqin Wang

Compositions useful as dermal fillers and methods using such compositions to treat various skin and soft tissue conditions. The dermal fillers can comprise silk attached to hyaluronic acid using for example two cross linkers and can be used to treat of facial imperfections, facial defects, facial augmentations, breast imperfections, breast augmentations or breast reconstructions.

Cross linked silk-hyaluronic acid composition

Disclosed herein are pH-dependent silk fibroin-based ionomeric compositions and colloids, and methods of making the same. The state of the silk fibroin ionomeric compositions is reversible and can transform from a gel-like colloid to a more fluid-like solution, or vice versa, upon an environmental stimulus, e.g., pH. Thus, the silk-based ionomeric compositions and colloids can be applied in various industries, ranging from electronic applications to biomedical applications, such as sensors, gel diodes, absorbent materials, drug delivery systems, tissue implants and contrast agents.

Silk-based ionomeric compositions

This invention relates to methods and compositions for preparation of silk-PEGs based biomaterials through crosslinking by chemically reacting active polyethylene glycols (PEGs) possessing different chemical groups (e.g., thiols and maleimides functionalized PEGs) that are additionally stabilized by the beta-sheet formation of silk fibroin. The crosslinked silk-PEGs biomaterials present strong adhesive properties, which are comparable to or better than the current leading PEG-based sealant, depending on the silk concentration in the silk-PEGs biomaterials. In addition, the silk-PEGs based biomaterials are cytocompatible, show decreased swelling behavior and longer degradation times, which make them suitable for hemostatic applications where the current available tissue sealant products can be contraindicated.

Silk fibroin and polyethylene glycol-based biomaterials

The present invention provides for compositions and methods of linking silk fibroin to active agents through the specific interaction between avidin and biotin, providing for functionalization of silk-based protein biomaterials. An avidin- or biotin-modified silk is a biomaterial platform for functionalization with a variety of correspondingly linked active agents, such as antibodies and growth factors. A variety of functionalized silk materials, such as silk hydrogel, silk micro/nanoparticles and silk films, can be prepared by the methods of the present invention. The functionalization strategies of the present invention are relatively easy, fast and feasible, and are thus useful in many biomedical applications.

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Melrose, MA, United States of America

Monica A Serban