The invention provides a cleaning formulation comprising a multiplicity of solid cleaning particles, wherein the solid cleaning particles comprise polymeric particles and at least one cleaning agent, wherein the at least one cleaning agent is immobilised on the surface of the polymeric particles. Typically the at least one cleaning agent is immobilised on the surface of the polymeric particles by means of chemical bonds, typically ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds, polar bonds, or bonds formed by virtue of unequal charge distributions between polymeric particles and immobilised materials. The invention also provides a method for the cleaning of a substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the substrate with a formulation according to the invention, and a method for the preparation of the cleaning formulation of the invention which comprises treating a multiplicity of polymeric particles with at least one cleaning agent.

Provided are combinations, compositions and kits containing a hyaluronan degrading enzyme, such as a soluble hyaluronidase, for treatment of hyaluronan-associated conditions, diseases and disorders. In one example, the products include an additional agent or treatment. Such products can be used in methods for administering the products to treat the hyaluronan-associated diseases and conditions, for example, hyaluronan-associated cancers, for example, hyaluronan-rich tumors. The methods include administration of the hyaluronan degrading enzyme composition alone or in combination with other treatments. Also provided are methods and compositions for providing sustained treatment effects in hyaluronan-associated diseases and conditions.

A material for reducing the content of polluting and/or unwanted substances in a liquid includes at least one polymeric and/or inorganic base, suitable to be immersed in the liquid, having at least a surface, whereto is bonded at least one catalyst of the degradation reaction of inorganic salts in gaseous substances. The catalyst, whose function is to reduce the energy required for the activation of said reaction and to accelerate its progress, is an enzyme preferably selected among the lyase group, the hydrolase group and the oxidoreductase group.

The invention provides a non-particulate cross-linked poly--lysine polymer. The poly--lysine and cross linker are linked by amide bonds and may the cross linker has at least two functional groups capable of reacting with an alpha carbon amine of poly--lysine. The polymer is suitably insoluble in water and other solvents and is provided in macro form for example a sheet, article or fiber. The macro form polymer is useful in a wide range of applications including wound treatment, as a medical diagnostic comprising a particulate support and a functional material bound or retained by the support and solid phase synthesis of peptides, oligonucleotides, oligosaccharides, immobilisation of species, cell culturing and in chromatographic separation.

The present inventions in various aspects provide elastic biodegradable polymers. In various embodiments, the polymers are formed by the reaction of a multifunctional alcohol or ether and a difunctional or higher order acid to form a pre-polymer, which is cross-linked to form the elastic biodegradable polymer. In preferred embodiments, the cross-linking is performed by functionalization of one or more OR groups on the pre-polymer backbone with vinyl, followed by photopolymerization to form the elastic biodegradable polymer composition or material. Preferably, acrylate is used to add one or more vinyls to the backbone of the pre-polymer to form an acrylated pre-polymer. In various embodiments, acrylated pre-polymers are co-polymerized with one or more acrylated co-polymers.

In accordance with one embodiment, a mixture for forming polymer-encapsulated whole cells includes: at least one polymer precursor; at least one initiator; and a plurality of whole cells. In further embodiments, a product includes a structure comprising a plurality of whole cells encapsulated by a polymer network, where polymer(s) of the polymer network are cross-linked. The whole cells may include live whole cells, dried whole cells, and/or reconstituted whole cells, and have a characteristic to convert a chemical reactant to a product, where the chemical reactant is a gas (e.g., C1-C3 carbon gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, ethane, etc.) and the product is a liquid (e.g. methanol, etc.). For example, the whole cells may include organisms such as methanotrophic organisms and/or acetogenic anaerobes.

In accordance with one embodiment, a mixture for forming polymer-encapsulated whole cells includes: at least one polymer precursor; at least one initiator; and a plurality of whole cells. In further embodiments, a product includes a structure comprising a plurality of whole cells encapsulated by a polymer network, where polymer(s) of the polymer network are cross-linked. The whole cells may include live whole cells, dried whole cells, and/or reconstituted whole cells, and have a characteristic to convert a chemical reactant to a product, where the chemical reactant is a gas (e.g., C1-C3 carbon gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, ethane, etc.) and the product is a liquid (e.g. methanol, etc.). For example, the whole cells may include organisms such as methanotrophic organisms and/or acetogenic anaerobes.

The invention provides a non-particulate cross-linked poly--lysine polymer. The poly--lysine and cross linker are linked by amide bonds and may the cross linker has at least two functional groups capable of reacting with an alpha carbon amine of poly--lysine. The polymer is suitably insoluble in water and other solvents and is provided in macro form for example a sheet, article or fibre. The macro form polymer is useful in a wide range of applications including wound treatment, as a medical diagnostic comprising a particulate support and a functional material bound or retained by the support and solid phase synthesis of peptides, oligonucleotides, oligosaccharides, immobilisation of species, cell culturing and in chromatographic separation.

The present inventions in various aspects provide elastic biodegradable polymers. In various embodiments, the polymers are formed by the reaction of a multifunctional alcohol or ether and a difunctional or higher order acid to form a pre-polymer, which is cross-linked to form the elastic biodegradable polymer. In preferred embodiments, the cross-linking is performed by functionalization of one or more OR groups on the pre-polymer backbone with vinyl, followed by photopolymerization to form the elastic biodegradable polymer composition or material. Preferably, acrylate is used to add one or more vinyls to the backbone of the pre-polymer to form an acrylated pre-polymer. In various embodiments, acrylated pre-polymers are co-polymerized with one or more acrylated co-polymers.

Disclosed herein is a structure having: a porous polymeric film permeated by a first extracellular matrix material; and a topcoat layer comprising a second extracellular matrix gel disposed on the film. Also disclosed herein is a method of: providing a porous polymeric film; permeating the film with a first extracellular matrix material; and applying a topcoat layer of a second extracellular matrix material to the film. Also disclosed herein is a method of: laser-machining holes through a film comprising collagen to form a web-like structure.