초록 ▼

A method and product are provided for the treatment of connective tissue weakened due to destruction of tissue architecture, and in particular due to elastin degradation. The treatment agents employ certain unique properties of phenolic compounds to develop a protocol for reducing elastin degradatio

A method and product are provided for the treatment of connective tissue weakened due to destruction of tissue architecture, and in particular due to elastin degradation. The treatment agents employ certain unique properties of phenolic compounds to develop a protocol for reducing elastin degradation, such as that occurring during aneurysm formation in vasculature. According to the invention, elastin can be stabilized in vivo and destruction of connective tissue, such as that leading to life-threatening aneurysms in vasculature, can be tempered or halted all together. The treatment agents can be delivered or administered acutely or chronically according to various delivery methods, including sustained release methods incorporating perivascular or endovascular patches, use of microsphere carriers, hydrogels, or osmotic pumps.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for stabilizing connective tissue comprising applying a composition including a phenolic compound directly to connective tissue, the composition having a pH between about 4 and about 9, wherein the connective tissue comprises elastin and wherein the phenolic compound

What is claimed is: 1. A method for stabilizing connective tissue comprising applying a composition including a phenolic compound directly to connective tissue, the composition having a pH between about 4 and about 9, wherein the connective tissue comprises elastin and wherein the phenolic compound comprises a hydrophobic core that includes more than one phenolic group. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connective tissue is elastic tissue. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connective tissue is a component of a blood vessel. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the blood vessel is an artery. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the artery is an aorta. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the composition in a drug delivery vehicle. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a sustained release drug delivery vehicle. 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising locating the drug delivery vehicle adjacent to the connective tissue. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is injected into the connective tissue. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is an in vivo therapeutic or prophylactic treatment method. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the phenolic compound is tannic acid or a derivative thereof. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the phenolic compound inhibits degradation of the elastin mediated by one or more elastases. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the phenolic compound inhibits degradation of the elastin mediated by one or more matrix metalloproteinases. 14. A method for stabilizing the structural architecture of a blood vessel comprising delivering a phenolic compound to the connective tissue of the blood vessel wall, wherein the phenolic compound is a component of a composition having a pH of between about 4 and about 9, wherein the connective tissue includes elastin, wherein the phenolic compound comprises a hydrophobic core that includes more than one phenolic group. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the blood vessel is an artery. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the artery is an aorta. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the blood vessel is a vein. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the phenolic compound is delivered to the connective tissue from a drug delivery vehicle. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a sustained release drug delivery vehicle. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the drug delivery vehicle comprises a hydrogel. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a perivascular drug delivery vehicle. 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is an endovascular drug delivery vehicle. 23. The method of claim 14, wherein the phenolic compound is delivered to the connective tissue of the blood vessel wall intravenously. 24. The method of claim 14, wherein the blood vessel is aneurysmal. 25. The method of claim 14, wherein the phenolic compound is a tannin. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the phenolic compound is tannic acid or a derivative of tannic acid. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the derivative of tannic acid is pentagalloylglucose. 28. A composition for stabilizing the structural architecture of connective tissue comprising: between about 0.0001 w/v % and about 10 w/v % of a phenolic compound, the phenolic compound comprising a hydrophobic core that includes more than one phenolic group; and a parenterally acceptable carrier; wherein the composition has a pH between about 4 and about 9. 29. The composition of claim 28, wherein the composition is loaded in a drug delivery vehicle. 30. The composition of claim 29, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a sustained release drug delivery vehicle. 31. The composition of claim 29, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is an implantable device. 32. The composition of claim 31, wherein the implantable device is a biodegradable implantable device. 33. The composition of claim 29, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a perivascular drug delivery vehicle. 34. The composition of claim 29, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is an endovascular drug delivery vehicle. 35. The composition of claim 34, wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a stent. 36. The composition of claim 29, wherein the drug delivery vehicle comprises a hydrogel. 37. The composition of claim 28, wherein the phenolic compound is a tannin or a derivative thereof. 38. The composition of claim 37, wherein the phenolic compound is pentagalloylgiucose. 39. The composition of claim 28, wherein the composition comprises less than about 5% free gallic acid residue. 40. The composition of claim 28, wherein the composition has a pH of between about 5.5 and about 7.4. 41. The composition of claim 28, wherein the phenolic compound comprises one or more double bonds.