Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

Tissue fillers derived from decellularized tissues are provided. The tissue fillers can include acellular tissue matrices that have reduced inflammatory responses when implanted in a body. Also provided are methods of making and therapeutic uses for the tissue fillers.

Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

A hybrid gel comprising a particulate decellularized tissue (obtained by pulverizing animal-derived biological tissues that are decellularized (decellularized biological tissues)), fibrinogen and thrombin; a cell culture material comprising the hybrid gel; a method for preparing the hybrid gel; and a kit comprising a particulate decellularized tissue and a biological tissue adhesive are provided. The hybrid gel of the present invention exerts the effect to promote differentiation and gain of function of stem cells and the therapeutic effect to a variety of diseases.

A self-reinforcing composite gel includes a solvent, and a plurality of swellable crosslinked polymer particles dispersed in a crosslinked polymer matrix, wherein the crosslinked polymer matrix and the plurality of swellable crosslinked polymer particles are immersed in the solvent, wherein the swellable crosslinked polymer particles absorb more solvent at equilibrium than the matrix polymer, and wherein the plurality of swellable crosslinked polymer particles swell in the solvent and are present in an amount sufficient to maintain or increase the elastic modulus and/or load-bearing ability of the self-reinforcing composite gel, i.e., compared to that of the crosslinked matrix polymer alone, upon swelling in the solvent.

The present invention provides an amphiphilic linear peptide and/or peptoid as well as a hy-drogel that includes the amphiphilic linear peptide/peptoid. The amphiphilic linear pep-tide/peptoid is capable of forming, a hydrogel. These peptides/peptoids include short amphi-philic sequences with a hydrophobic portion of aliphatic amino acids and at least one acidic, neutral, or basic polar amino acid. The amphiphilic linear peptide/peptoid is build up of non repetitive aliphatic amino acids, which may be in the L- or D-form. A plurality of such pep-tides/peptoids assembles to supramolecular helical fibers and forms peptide hydrogels after assembly: A corresponding hydrogel is formed in aqueous solutions at physiological pH and is thus useful for inter alia cell culture, tissue engineering, and drug release. Such hydrogels which are rigid, biocompatible and entrapping up to 99.9% of water are also well suited for applications utilizing electronic devices.

Mono- and multi-layered implants include at least one porous layer made from a freeze dried aqueous solution containing chitosan, the solution having a pH of less than about 5.

There are provided collagen based polymeric materials comprising collagen molecules and/or collagen derived molecules which have been functionalized by the addition of one or more ethylenically unsaturated moieties and which have been cross-linked via said moieties. Also provided are collagen based compositions and methods of producing collagen based polymeric materials.

A method for producing polyHIPE porous monoliths, of the polyHIPE type or in the form of a rigid foam, by hardening solutions of condensed tannins in the presence of oil and/or air or in the presence of a non-water-miscible volatile solvent and/or air. Also disclosed is the use of these materials in the areas of catalysis, chromatography, heat and sound insulation, tissue engineering and medication release and as a floral foam.