Methods of forming, dissolving, and functionalizing an extracellular matrix gel on demand based on cross-linking, modification, and dissolution of hydrogels using transpeptidase (e.g. sortase) are disclosed. Also provided are hydrogels comprising one or more macromers crosslinked to a mixture of peptides, wherein all or a portion of the peptides in the mixture comprise a recognition motif cleavable by a transpeptidase (e.g., sortase).

Covalently linked linear polyethylenimine (PEI) clusters are provided that change conformation depending upon changes in counterion concentrations. The structures may be used for the storage, delivery, and/or transport of substances.

Covalently linked linear polyethylenimine (PEI) clusters are provided that change conformation depending upon changes in counterion concentrations. The structures may be used for the storage, delivery, and/or transport of substances.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel-containing composition including an aerogel, a water-soluble binder, a foaming agent, and a mixture of water and a polar organic solvent as a solvent, and an insulation blanket prepared using the same. In the aerogel-containing composition, the aerogel is uniformly dispersed in the composition, and when preparing a blanket, an insulation blanket having low thermal conductivity and flexibility of low density is prepared without concern of shrinkage of the substrate for a blanket and detachment of the aerogel during a drying process.

Methods of forming cross-linked polysaccharides are disclosed in which one or more polysaccharides are dissolved in solution, gelled, modified to have a desired concentration, and subsequently irradiated. The irradiation of the gel crosslinks the polysaccharide(s) present. The disclosed techniques may be applied to various polysaccharides, including but not limited to agarose and/or hyaluronic acid.

Methods of forming cross-linked polysaccharides are disclosed in which one or more polysaccharides are dissolved in solution, gelled, modified to have a desired concentration, and subsequently irradiated. The irradiation of the gel crosslinks the polysaccharide(s) present. The disclosed techniques may be applied to various polysaccharides, including but not limited to agarose and/or hyaluronic acid.

Described herein are treated polymers comprising a polyacrylamide homopolymer or a copolymer thereof having at least 30 mol % acrylamide residue content and a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1×10.sup.5 g/mol to 1×10.sup.8 g/mol, and 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a C1-C6 alkyl ricinoleate based on the weight of the mixture of polymer and alkyl ricinoleate. The polymers are in powder form and include less than about 30 wt % water based on the powder weight. The treated polymer powders dissolve rapidly in water and develop very little or even no insoluble gel upon diluting with water, even when the water is produced water or connate. The treated polymer solutions are useful for in-the-field rapid dilution for applications such as papermaking, flocculation, beneficiation, wastewater treatment, and enhanced oil recovery.

Described are silicone hydrogels with high levels of polyamides exhibiting an excellent balance of physical, mechanical, and biological properties. The silicone hydrogels are formed from a reactive monomer mixture comprising: a hydroxylalkyl (meth)acrylate monomer; hydroxyl-containing silicone components; and a polyamide, wherein the polyamide is present in an amount greater than 15 weight percent, based on the total weight of reactive components in the reactive monomer mixture.

A method of preparing a hydrogel product including crosslinked glycosaminoglycan molecules, said method including: i) providing a glycosaminoglycan crosslinked by amide bonds, wherein the crosslinked glycosaminoglycans include residual amine groups; and ii) acylating residual amine groups of the crosslinked glycosaminoglycans provided in i) to form acylated crosslinked glycosaminoglycans.

A method of preparing a hydrogel product including crosslinked glycosaminoglycan molecules, said method including: i) providing a glycosaminoglycan crosslinked by amide bonds, wherein the crosslinked glycosaminoglycans include residual amine groups; and ii) acylating residual amine groups of the crosslinked glycosaminoglycans provided in i) to form acylated crosslinked glycosaminoglycans.