Complexes and methods of reducing inflammation

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides a method for reducing inflammation in a patient including locally administering a composition comprising a complex comprising octadecylamine surface-functionalized nanodiamonds with dexamethasone bound to octadecylamine. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for reducing inflammation in a patient comprising locally administering a composition including octadecylamine surface-functionalized nanodiamonds, wherein no therapeutic agent is bound to the nanodiamonds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing inflammation in a patient, comprising administering a composition comprising octadecylene surface-functionalized nanodiamonds, wherein the surface functionalized nanodiamonds do not bind a substantial amount of a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the site of inflammation is a lesion or diabetic ulcer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inflammation is caused by rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, venous leg ulcers, diabetes, psoriasis or multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is delivered to the skin, the intestine, the lungs, trachea, or kidney of the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient's macrophages phagocytose the surface-functionalized nanodiamonds. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface-functionalized nanodiamonds have a particle size of less than about 7 μm. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface-functionalized nanodiamonds have a particle size of about 1 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface-functionalized nanodiamonds are locally administered. 
     
     
         9 . A method of reducing a level of M2A macrophages in a patient comprising administering a composition comprising octadecylene surface-functionalized nanodiamonds, wherein the surface functionalized nanodiamonds do not bind a substantial amount of a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         10 . The complex according to  claim 9 , wherein the nanodiamonds are aggregated, unaggregated or partially aggregated.