The present invention relates to a foam formed solid composite, comprising: a matrix phase consisting of a mixture of nanocellulose, at least one foaming agent, and optional additives, and a dispersed phase consisting of solid low-density particles having a density of less than 1.2 kg/dm.sup.3. The present invention further relates to a method and a liquid foam composition for manufacturing the solid composite.

This invention provides a preparation, composition, product, and application of a photo-coupled synergistically crosslinked hydrogel material. The preparation includes dissolving Component A including a photosensitive polymer derivative having o-nitrobenzyl phototriggers and Component B including a polymer derivative having amine or alkene (double group) or sulfhydryl group in a biocompatible medium to obtain solution A and solution B, respectively; mixing the solution A and solution B homogeneously to obtain a hydrogel precursor solution; initiating photo-coupled synergistic crosslinking under an irradiation of a UV light to form the hydrogel. The irradiation causes the o-nitrobenzyl phototriggers to generate an aldehyde group/keto group or a nitroso group to initiate photo-coupled synergetic crosslinking. The photo-coupled synergistically crosslinked hydrogel has applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, 3D printing and as a carrier of cell, protein or drug.

A composite material includes biodegradable and/or renewable materials such as purified milk protein recovered as a byproduct in cheese making processes. The result is a material suitable for three-dimensional (3D) printing and extrusion based polymer processing, with improved properties but that is still environmentally friendly. Purified milk protein may be used to produce composite thermoplastic materials or resins. Additional chemical modification may improve the blending of purified milk protein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cross-linked poly(aspartic acid) product that can retain the gel shape, water absorbency, water retentivity, and other performance because it does not undergo hydrolysis over time owing to the absence of an ester bond, and a method for producing the cross-linked poly(aspartic acid) product. The cross-linked poly(aspartic acid) product according to an embodiment of the present invention is a reaction product of a polysuccinimide (PSI), a compound (A: a1-A1-a2) containing a first functional group (a1) and a second functional group (a2), and a polyfunctional epoxy compound (B). The cross-linked poly(aspartic acid) product contains a cross-linked structure (PABAP) represented by PSI-a1-A1-a2-B-a2-A1-a1-PSI, the cross-linked structure (PABAP) is partially hydrolyzed, and the second functional group of the compound (A) does not react with the polysuccinimide (PSI) or is less reactive with the polysuccinimide (PSI) than the first functional group.

The present invention refers to a bioactive coating material for coating plastic materials for cell cultures, comprising a polymer conjugate of each a polymer anchor molecule having surface active anchoring groups and one or more biologically active molecules. The anchor molecule is an amphiphilic molecule with a hydrophobic moiety of styrene-, methacrylic acid-, isobutene-, acrylic acid-, acrylic acid ester-, or methacrylic acid ester units and a hydrophilic moiety of units including carboxyl-, amino-, epoxide-, thiol-, alkine- or azide groups. By selecting cell instructive coating materials cell fate decisions are individually and effectively controllable, in particular, the cell adhesion of almost any cell culture one-way article by the user. With this concept, new options open up for high-throughput-diagnostics, stem cell-biotechnology and regenerative therapies.

Silk infused performance apparel and methods of preparing the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, silk performance apparel includes textiles, fabrics, consumer products, leather, and other materials that are coated with aqueous solutions of pure silk fibroin based protein fragments. In some embodiments, coated apparel products, textiles, and upholstery, as well as other materials, exhibit surprisingly improved moisture management properties, resistance to microbial growth, increased abrasion resistance, and flame resistance.

Disclosed are an oxygen barrier film, a food wrapper including the same, and a method of preparing the oxygen barrier film. The oxygen barrier film may include: a base layer; and an organic/inorganic hybrid layer located on the base layer and including a natural hydrogel and a silane coupling agent.

Provided is a water-absorbing and quick-drying property-imparting agent capable of easily imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to various materials or articles in a simple process, and a method capable of easily imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to predetermined materials or articles. A water-absorbing and quick-drying property-imparting agent containing modified fibroin as an active ingredient, and a method for imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to an article, the method including a step of incorporating modified fibroin into the article.

Provided are an oxygen barrier film, a food wrapper including the same, and a method of preparing the oxygen barrier film. The oxygen barrier film may include: a base layer; and an organic/inorganic hybrid layer located on the base layer and including a natural hydrogel and a silane coupling agent.

The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensionally (3D) printed tissue engineering scaffold for tissue regeneration and a method for manufacturing the 3D printed tissue engineering scaffold. The 3D printed tissue engineering scaffold may be fabricated at least in part from a composite material having an insoluble component and soluble component. The three-dimensional tissue scaffolds of the disclosure may be fabricated via a rapid prototyping machine. In some instances, the three-dimensional shape of the fabricated tissue engineering scaffold may correspond to a three-dimensional shape of a tissue defect of a patient.