70 results about "Neurite growth" patented technology

The present invention relates to the discovery that biocompatible anionic polymers can effectively inhibit fibrosis, scar formation, and surgical adhesions. The invention is predicated on the discovery that anionic polymers effectively inhibit invasion of cells associated with detrimental healing processes, and in particular, that the effectiveness of an anionic polymer at inhibiting cell invasion correlates with the anionic charge density of the polymer. Thus the present invention provides a large number of materials for use in methods of inhibiting fibrosis and fibroblast invasion. Anionic polymers for use in the invention include but are not limited to natural proteoglycans, and the glycosaminoglycan moieties of proteoglycans. Additionally, anionic carbohydrates and other anionic polymers may be used. The anionic polymers dextran sulfate and pentosan polysulfate are preferred. In a more preferred embodiment, dextran sulfate, in which the sulfur content is greater than about 10% by weight, may be used. In a more preferred embodiment, the average molecular weight is about 40,000 to 500,000 Daltons. The present invention provides compositions and methods to inhibit fibrosis and scarring associated with surgery. The invention further provides compositions and methods to inhibit glial cell invasion, detrimental bone growth and neurite outgrowth. In a preferred embodiment, the inhibitory compositions further comprise an adhesive protein.

The present invention relates to methods of inducing neurite outgrowth in the central nervous system by antagonizing neural growth inhibitory factors. More particularly, the present invention is directed to use of antibodies to the central nervous system (CNS) myelin associated proteins; such antibodies can be used in the diagnosis and therapies of nerve damage resulting from trauma, infarction, and degenerative disorders of the CNS. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the monoclonal antibody IN-1 may be used to promote neurite outgrowth of nerve fibers over long distances in spinal cord lesions.

Neuro-enhancing agents, compositions and methods are disclosed herein. Preferred neuro-enhancing agents of the present invention include progesterone and metabolites of progesterone, such as 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (THP). These agents yield neuro-enhancing effects on neural cells that include neural progenitor and / or stem cells, whereby the agents stimulate mitosis of neural progenitor cells, stimulate neurite growth and organization, protect against neural loss, or one or more of these neural processes. Thus, the neuro-enhancing agents, compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful to reverse or prevent neurological disease or defects associated with neural loss or degeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease, neurological injuries, including injuries resulting from radiation therapy, and age-related neurological decline, including impairments in memory and learning.

The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds, and more specifically to certain bicycloheteroaryl-heteroaryl-benzoic acid compounds of the following formula (for convenience, collectively referred to herein as “BHBA compounds”), which, inter alia, are (selective) retinoic acid receptor beta (RARβ) (e.g., RARβ2) agonists. The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to (selectively) activate RARβ (e.g., RARPβ2), to cause or promote neurite development, neurite outgrowth, and / or neurite regeneration, and in the treatment of diseases and conditions that are mediated by RARβ (e.g., RARβ2), that are ameliorated by the activation of RARβ (e.g., RARβ2), etc., including, e.g., neurological injuries such as spinal cord injuries.