To provide a means which makes it possible to hold a microneedle array without an adhesive sheet and protect tips of microneedles. A foam support sheet for a microneedle array, which has an open cell surface on at least one side, the open cell surface being an arrangement portion for the microneedle array holding the microneedle array with a microneedle side of the microneedle array facing downward; as well as a microneedle array sheet consisting of a microneedle array and a foam support sheet, the foam support sheet having an open cell surface on at least one side, and the microneedle array being arranged on the open cell surface with a microneedle side of the microneedle array facing downward.

Porous implantable devices for housing one or more therapeutic agents are disclosed herein. The implantable devices include a porous outer wall defining an interia or void. The interior void houses a carrier material carrying a first therapeutic agent. The implantable devices are made by patterning at least a portion of a polymerizable substrate into a polymerized three-dimensional porous outer wall surrounding an interior void. This can be achieved by two-photon polymerization techniques. A first therapeutic agent is then added to the interior void, which is then sealed. Methods of treating diseases using the implantable devices are disclosed herein. The methods include implanting the implantable device at a target area and locally releasing a therapeutically effective dosage of a first therapeutic agent from the interior void. The implantable devices can also be used in methods of screening potentially therapeutic agents for desired biological responses.

A connective or supportive sheath comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a hollow tube having a circumferential or perimeter wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall comprising interconnected, radially projecting, partitions, the partitions forming radially extending pores, the pores extending from said inner surface through said outer surface, and wherein the tube is comprised of, consists of, or consists essentially of a flexible or elastic polymer.

Disclosed are Self-Gelling materials and structures or materials or structures having one or more self-gelling components that overcome existing gel limitations due to hydrogel localization for medical applications by providing, for example, 1) microstructurally, or physically, anchored characteristics to help localize the gel, and the overall printed, or otherwise formed structure, giving structural form to the gel that allows the gel to be localized within the body, and even sutured in place, and mitigates gel migration and extends its residence time; 2) to provide an underlying 3D printed structure to help contain and support the gel after implantation; and more. Self-Gelling 3D printed structures may be further processed via milling to yield deconstructed scaffold micro-granules, with the composition and nano-/micro- structure of the original larger structure. Deconstructed scaffold micro-granules may be hydrated to form a micro-granule embedded gel network that can be injected, giving form to injectable gels.

The present disclosure provides a method for producing a multifunctional implantable structure, the method having: preparing an implantable base; coating a polymer layer on the base, wherein the polymer layer is partially curable; curing the polymer layer such that the polymer layer has cured and non-cured portions; and dry-etching the polymer layer to remove the non-cured portion thereof, to allow the polymer layer to have a nano-turf structure having pores defined therein.

A method for controlling generation of biologically desirable voids in a composition placed in proximity to bone or other tissue in a patient by selecting at least one water-soluble inorganic material having a desired particle size and solubility, and mixing the water-soluble inorganic material with at least one poorly-water-soluble or biodegradable matrix material. The matrix material, after it is mixed with the water-soluble inorganic material, is placed into the patient in proximity to tissue so that the water-soluble inorganic material dissolves at a predetermined rate to generate biologically desirable voids in the matrix material into which bone or other tissue can then grow.

The invention relates generally to the fields of biology and health sciences. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating cellular physiology and pathological processing using a combination of compounds that can be found in amniotic membrane tissue and umbilical cord tissue preparations.

The invention is an improved biocompatible surface for a variety of medical purposes. The biocompatible surface employs a unique tight microstructure that demonstrates enhanced cellular response in the body, particularly when placed in contact with blood. As a blood contact surface, the present invention can be beneficially employed in a wide variety of implantable devices and in many other devices and equipment that come in contact with blood.

A processing technique for creating nanowires and hierarchically porous micro/nano structures of ceramic materials is provided. The process includes evaporation of micron-sized water droplets containing dissolved organic salts on heated substrates followed by thermal decomposition of the deposited material. The micron-sized droplets may be generated by supercritical CO.sub.2 assisted nebulization, in which high-pressure streams of aqueous solution and supercritical CO.sub.2 are mixed, followed by controlled depressurization through a fine capillary. Rapid evaporation takes place on the heated substrates and structures are generated due to CO.sub.2 effervescence from the droplets and evaporation of water, along with the pinning of the three phase contact line. Depending on the mass deposited, a mesh of nano-wires or membrane-like structures may result. Sintering of the membrane-like scaffolds above the decomposition temperature of the organic salt creates nanopores within the structures, creating a dual hierarchy of pores.

A deployable occlusion device for filling an aneurysm. The occlusion device includes a support structure, for example a wire or otherwise elongate structure. The occlusion device also includes a mesh component having a porosity. The mesh component has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the mesh component is attached to the support structure and the second end portion of the mesh component is a free end. The mesh component extends from the support structure.