Compositions and methods for treating diverticular disease

Abstract

Agents, compositions, and implants are provided herein for treating diverticular disease (e.g., diverticulosis and diverticulitis). In particular, fibrosis-inducing agents, hemostatic agents, and/or anti-infective agents, or compositions containing one or more of these agents are provided for use in methods for treating diverticular disease.

1 . A method of treating a diverticular disease, comprising introducing into a diverticulum in a host, a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a fibrosing agent and a polymer, wherein the fibrosing agent induces a fibrotic response within the diverticulum, thereby treating diverticular disease in the host.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the diverticular disease is diverticulosis or diverticulitis.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibrosing agent promotes regeneration, fibrosis and regeneration, angiogenesis, fibroblast migration, fibroblast proliferation, deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), or tissue remodeling, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibrosing agent is a diverticular wall irritant.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the diverticular wall irritant is talc, talcum powder, metallic beryllium or oxides thereof, copper, silica, crystalline silicates, quartz dust, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite, synthetic mineral, silver nitrate, or ceramic.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the diverticular wall irritant is starch or polymethylmethacrylate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is or comprises a biodegradable polymer.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is or comprises a non-biodegradable polymer.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is a naturally occurring polymer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the naturally occurring polymer is a protein, polypeptide, carbohydrate, or polysaccharide.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the naturally occurring polymer is collagen or a derivative thereof, fibrinogen, thrombin, albumin, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, starch, cellulose, methylcellulose, dextran, sodium alginate, heparin, or chitosan.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is a synthetic polymer.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the synthetic polymer is or comprises a polyester, a polyalkylene oxide, or a cyanoacrylate.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is in the form of a gel, paste, microsphere, particle, foam, spray or aerosol.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is introduced by delivery from an implant.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the implant is a thread, fiber, coil, film, mesh, tuft, sponge, rod, tube, slab or sphere.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  or 15 wherein the composition further comprises a bulking agent, tissue filler, sealant, or haemostatic agent.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a second pharmaceutically active agent.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the second pharmaceutically active agent is an anti-inflammatory agent, an agent that inhibits infection, an inflammatory cytokine, or an agent that stimulates cell proliferation.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising irrigating the diverticulum with an irrigation solution prior to introducing the fibrosing agent.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the irrigation solution comprises an anti-infective agent; an antiseptic agent; or both an anti-infective agent and an antiseptic agent.