Glue composition for lung volume reduction

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for sealing localized regions of damaged lung tissue to reduce overall lung volume. The glue compositions provide a glue featuring an adhering moiety coupled to one or more other moieties including, for example, a cross-linkable moiety and/or one other adhering moiety. The methods and compositions of the invention find use, for example, in treating pulmonary conditions, such as emphysema.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for sealing lung tissue, comprising:
 a bifunctional chemical linker;   a first adhering moiety connected via a first amide bond linkage to a first site on the bifunctional chemical linker; and   a second adhering moiety connected via a second amide bond linkage to a second site on the bifunctional chemical linker,   wherein the first and second adhering moieties adhere to different sites bearing elastase in a lung, and each adhering moiety comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an alpha-1 antitrypsin, an elafin, and a serpin.