Georgia Tech Research Corporation

University of Virginia Patent Foundation

North Carolina State University

Emory University

Thomas Harrison Barker

Ashley Carson Brown

Louis Andrew Lyon

Nicole Welsch

Sarah E Stabenfeldt

John Nicosia

Leandro Moretti

Dwight M Chambers

Methods and compositions for modulating transforming growth factor-beta (TGF&#x3b2;) biological activity in a vertebrate subject in need thereof. The methods involve administering to the vertebrate subject an effective amount of a substance capable of modulating activity of LEMD3 in the vertebrate subject to thereby modulate TGF&#x3b2; biological activity in the vertebrate subject.

LEMD3 antagonizes TGF-beta-driven Smad2/3 transcription in a stiffness-dependent fashion in both the nucleus and cytosol

Ultra-low crosslinked microgels made of an ultra-low crosslinked polymer are provided. The microgels, also referred to as Platelet-like Particles (PLPs), preferably have &#x3c;0.5% crosslinking densities. One or more of the polymers are conjugated with a fibrin-binding element or moiety, preferably H6, in an amount effective to confer to the microgel selective binding to fibrin under physiological conditions. The PLPs can recapitulate multiple key functions of platelets including binding, stabilizing and enhancing fibrin clot formation, responsiveness to injury cues, and induction of clot contraction. In a preferred embodiment, the microgel or PLP has little or no binding to soluble fibrinogen under physiological conditions compared to its binding to fibrin. The microgels or PLPs are prepared using crosslinker-free synthesis conditions, and can promote or induce clotting and clot contraction.

Functionalized microgels with fibrin binding elements

Compositions and methods for targeting substances to fibrinogen, fibrin monomers, or fibrin polymers are provided. These compositions and methods generally involve the use of fibrin knob peptides that bind fibrin(ogen), which can be used to detect fibrin(ogen) and modulate fibrin polymerization and fibrinolysis.

Peptides for binding fibrinogen and fibrin

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Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Thomas Harrison Barker