The present disclosure provides a method for freeze-drying cells in a hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose, the method comprising providing a hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose, providing cells, combining the cells and the hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose to form a cell system, and freeze drying the cell system to obtain dried cells in a hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose. The present disclosure also provides a freeze-dried hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose and cells.

Methods to produce substantially closed cell foams with densities less than 0.75 g/cm.sup.3, and more preferably less than 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, without substantial loss of the polymer's weight average molecular weight, have been developed. The closed cells foams have an open cell content of generally less than 50%, and more preferably an open cell content of less than 20%, and the cells have a maximum diameter of less than 5 mm. The foam may include poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or a copolymer thereof. Preferably, the foam is derived by heating a foam polymer formula to a temperature above the melt temperature of the polymer to form a melt polymer system, adding a blowing agent to produce a foamable melt, extruding the foamable melt through a die to a lower pressure to cause foaming, cooling of the foam, and solidification of the foam. These foam structures can be used for fabrication of medical products.

Described herein is a process for producing a hydrophilic flexible polyurethane foam. Also described herein is a flexible polyurethane foam obtainable by such a process and a method of using such a flexible polyurethane foam for treating wounds.

Compositions including a plurality of particles that may be prepared from a chitosan salt and methods for preparing the same. The plurality of particles may have an average diameter ranging from about 100 μm to about 750 μm, such as from about 150 μm to about 500 μm; a steepness value ranging from about 30 to about 90; and an average aspect ratio greater than 0.6. The plurality of particles may be substantially spherical in shape, for example. Methods of preparation include electrospraying a chitosan salt solution through a needle.

Disclosed herein is a polymeric material that includes a crosslinked polymer matrix formed from a non-mammalian collagen and a crosslinking agent and/or a crosslinked polymer matrix formed from a non-mammalian collagen that has undergone self-crosslinking, wherein the non-mammalian collagen is type I collagen. Also disclosed herein is a wound dressing that incorporates said material and methods of treatment of a wound with said polymeric material or said wound dressing.

The invention relates, generally, to porous absorbent materials which are suitable for packing antrums or other cavities of the human or animal body. More particularly, it relates to hydrophilic biodegradable foams, which may be used e.g. in the form of a plug or tampon, for instance for controlling bleeding, wound closure, prevent tissue adhesion and/or support tissue regeneration. The invention provides an absorbent foam, suitable for packing antrums or other cavities of the human or animal body, comprising a biodegradable synthetic polymer, which polymer preferably comprises —C(O)—O— groups in the backbone of the polymer, for instance polyurethane and/or polyester units combined with polyethers.

One aspect of the present invention generally relates to methods of sealing a wound or tissue plane or filling a void splace. In a preferred embodiment, the wound is an ophthalmic, pleural or dural wound. In certain instances, the compositions used to seal the wound or tissue plane comprises a polyalkyleneimine. In a preferred embodiment, the polyalkyleneimine is polyethyleneimine. Treatment of the polyethyleneimine with a cross-linking reagent causes the polyethyleneimine polymers to polymerize forming a seal. In certain instances, the cross-linking reagent is a polyethylene glycol having reactive terminal groups. In certain instances, the reactive terminal groups are activated esters, such as N-hydroxy succinimide ester. In certain instances, the reactive terminal groups are isocyanates. In certain instances, the polyethyleneimine has a lysine, cysteine, isocysteine or other nucleophilic group attached to the periphery of the polymer. In certain instances, the polyethyleneimine is mixed with a second polymer, such as a polyethylene glycol containing nucleophilic groups. In certain instances, the compositions used to seal the wound or tissue plane are formed by reacting a polyalkyleneimine bearing electrophilic groups with a cross-linking reagent containing nucleophilic groups. In certain instances, the electrophilic groups on the polyalkyleneimine are activated esters, such as N-hydroxy succinimide ester. In certain instances, the compositions used to seal the wound or tissue plane are formed by reacting a polyalkyleneimine bearing photopolymerizable groups with ultraviolet or visible light. Compositions used to seal the wound which contain PEI or a derivative of PEI are found to adhere tightly to the tissue. Other aspects of the present invention relate to methods of filling a void of a patient or adhering tissue. In certain instances, the methods use a polyalkyleneimine. In a preferred embodiment, the polyalkyleneimine is polyethyleneimine. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a polymeric composition formed by exposing a polyalkyleneimine to an activated polyalkylene glycol. In certain instances, the composition is attached to mammalian tissue.

The invention relates to the use of a haemoglobin for the preparation of dressings and to the resulting dressings.

Disclosed is a dry composition comprising one or more polyols, which upon addition of an aqueous medium forms a substantially homogenous paste suitable for use in haemostasis procedures. The paste reconstitutes spontaneously upon addition of the liquid; hence no mechanical mixing is required for said paste to form. The composition may further comprise an extrusion enhancer, such as albumin. Also disclosed are methods of preparing said dry composition, a paste obtained from said dry composition and uses of said dry composition or paste for medical and surgical purposes.

Provided are pharmaceutical foam compositions comprising a peptone, a peptide hydrolysate or an enzymatically-hydrolyzed protein prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of a full-length protein; methods of preparation and uses thereof.