Treatment of disease with poly-n-acetylglucosamine nanofibers

Abstract

This application relates to compositions comprising shortened fibers of poly-N-acetylglucosamine and/or a derivative thereof (“sNAG nanofibers”) and the use of such compositions in the treatment of disease.

1 . A method for treating a viral infection or preventing a viral disease in a human subject, comprising topically administering a composition comprising sNAG nanofibers to a human subject having a viral infection or human subject at risk of developing a viral disease, wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length, and wherein the sNAG nanofibers (a) are non-reactive when tested in an intramuscular implantation test; and (b) increase the metabolic rate of serum-starved human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells in a MTT assay and/or do not rescue apoptosis of serum-starved human umbilical cord endothelial cells in a trypan blue exclusion test. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viral infection or the viral disease is a topical viral infection or a topical viral disease. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viral infection is an HSV infection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising sNAG nanofibers is administered to the skin or mucous membrane of the subject. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating a solid tumor in a human subject, comprising topically administering a composition comprising sNAG nanofibers to a human subject diagnosed with a solid tumor, wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length, and wherein the sNAG nanofibers (a) are non-reactive when tested in an intramuscular implantation test; and (b) increase the metabolic rate of serum-starved human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells in a MTT assay and/or do not rescue apoptosis of serum-starved human umbilical cord endothelial cells in a trypan blue exclusion test. 
     
     
         9 . A method for treating Crohn's disease or an inflammatory bowel disease in a human subject, comprising topically administering a composition comprising sNAG nanofibers to a human subject having Crohn's disease or an inflammatory bowel disease, wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length, and wherein the sNAG nanofibers (a) are non-reactive when tested in an intramuscular implantation test; and (b) increase the metabolic rate of serum-starved human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells in a MTT assay and/or do not rescue apoptosis of serum-starved human umbilical cord endothelial cells in a trypan blue exclusion test. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for treating a disease, wherein the disease is dermatitis or psoriasis, in a human subject, comprising topically administering a composition comprising sNAG nanofibers to a human subject having dermatitis or psoriasis, wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length, and wherein the sNAG nanofibers (a) are non-reactive when tested in an intramuscular implantation test; and (b) increase the metabolic rate of serum-starved human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells in a MIT assay and/or do not rescue apoptosis of serum-starved human umbilical cord endothelial cells in a trypan blue exclusion test. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers are formulated as a membrane, a powder, a suspension, a liquid solution, an ointment, a cream, a spray, or a gel. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 2 to 10 μm in length, more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 4 to 7 μm in length, or 100% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers comprise N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides and/or glucosamine monosaccharides, and wherein more than 70%, 90% or 95% of the monosaccharides of the sNAG nanofibers are N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers are formulated as a membrane, a powder, a suspension, a liquid solution, an ointment, a cream, a spray, or a gel. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 2 to 10 μm in length, more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 4 to 7 μm in length, or 100% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers comprise N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides and/or glucosamine monosaccharides, and wherein more than 70%, 90% or 95% of the monosaccharides of the sNAG nanofibers are N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers are formulated as a membrane, a powder, a suspension, a liquid solution, an ointment, a cream, a spray, a gel or a suppository. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 2 to 10 μm in length, more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 4 to 7 μm in length, or 100% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers comprise N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides and/or glucosamine monosaccharides, and wherein more than 70%, 90% or 95% of the monosaccharides of the sNAG nanofibers are N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers are formulated as a membrane, a powder, a suspension, a liquid solution, an ointment, a cream, a spray, or a gel. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 2 to 10 μm in length, more than 50% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 4 to 7 μm in length, or 100% of the sNAG nanofibers are between about 1 to 15 μm in length. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sNAG nanofibers comprise N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides and/or glucosamine monosaccharides, and wherein more than 70%, 90% or 95% of the monosaccharides of the sNAG nanofibers are N-acetylglucosamine monosaccharides.