Methods have been discovered that make it possible to continuously extrude tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof. These methods allow tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof to be produced without radial deformation of the tubes despite the slow crystallization of the polymer and copolymers. The methods can produce tubes of P4HB and copolymers thereof with tightly defined outside and inside diameters which are required for medical application. These tubes are produced by radial expansion at temperatures above the melting temperature of P4HB and copolymers thereof, and using low tube cooling temperatures and prolonged cooling times. The tubes made from P4HB and copolymers thereof are flexible, and can be prepared with high elongation to break values.

This invention discloses methods and composition to form biodegradable polymer implant arrays in the live tissue. Artificial cavities are created in the live tissue by using laser ablation, oscillating needle, microneedle array and other methods. The cavities are then filled with biodegradable polymer solution. The solvent in the polymer solution is dissipated in the tissue to form a biodegradable polymer implant in artificial cavities. The cavities and implants formed are arranged to form of an array of implants. The biodegradable polymer in the cavity can also be loaded with drug to form biodegradable drug delivery array in the live tissue.

Blockchain environments may mix-and-match different encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes when mining blockchain transactions. Each encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work scheme may be separate, stand-alone programs, files, or third-party services. Blockchain miners may be agnostic to a particular coin's or network's encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes, thus allowing any blockchain miner to process or mine data in multiple blockchains. GPUs, ASICs, and other specialized processing hardware components may be deterred by forcing cache misses, cache latencies, and processor stalls. Hashing, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes require less programming code, consume less storage space/usage in bytes, and execute faster. Blockchain mining schemes may further randomize byte or memory block access, further improve cryptographic security.

A therapeutic bandage includes a bandage matrix and an array of microneedles extending from the bandage matrix. Each of the microneedles includes a first layer that encapsulates a first immunomodulatory compound and a second layer that encapsulates a second immunomodulatory compound. The array of microneedles is configured to guide foreign agents affected by the first immunomodulatory compound, the second immunomodulatory compound, or the first and second immunomodulatory compounds from one or more skin layers of a user to the bandage matrix such that the bandage matrix absorbs and captures the foreign agents.

The present invention is an implantable medical device comprising (i) a base coat layer having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface of the base coat layer contacting the implantable medical device; (ii) a top-coat layer of a hydrophilic polymer chemically crosslinked and covalently bonded to the outer surface of the base coat layer, the hydrophilic polymer comprising an anionic polyelectrolyte; and (iii) an amount of a hydrophilic cationic drug agent added to the top-coat layer sufficient to provide an effective dosage of the drug agent for delivery to a patient, whereby the hydrophilic cationic drug agent is initially adsorbed into the anionic polyelectrolyte of the top-coat layer and the hydrophilic cationic drug agent having a release rate after the medical device is implanted within a patient's body.

An electrospun nanofibrous silk fibroin mat infused with a reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection reagent is presented herein. The ROS detection agent may be Amplex red. A method of real time detection of ROS in a wound site to determine the need for a dressing change is also presented. The method includes applying an electrospun nanofibrous silk fibroin mat infused with Amplex red to a wound site of a patient and detecting a change in color of the mat. A color change indicates a higher than normal level of ROS in the wound site. Depending on the degree of color change, a therapeutic agent may be administered to the wound site and a new mat applied to measure ROS in the wound site after therapy is administered.

Disclosed herein are cohesive soft tissue fillers, for example, dermal and subdermal fillers, based on hyaluronic acids and optionally including proteins. In one aspect, hyaluronic acid-based compositions described herein include zero-length cross-linked moieties and optionally at least one active agent. The present hyaluronic acid-based compositions have enhanced flow characteristics, hardness, and persistence compared to known hyaluronic acid-based compositions. Methods and processes of preparing such hyaluronic acid-based compositions are also provided.

A tissue interface having visually contrasting portions, systems for using the same, and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The wound filler includes a first portion having a first color and a second portion having a second color. The second color contrasts to the first color. The first color and the second color both contrast to red and purple. The first color and the second color are complementary.

The present invention provides tissue sealant compositions and vasculature closure devices useful for the optical detection of tissue seal and/or clot formation. Compositions and devices of the present invention comprise optical dyes which undergo an observable change as the compositions and/or devices are incorporated into a tissue seal and/or clot, for example a change in fluorescence quantum yield and/or a change in visual color including a change in emission and/or absorption wavelength. Tissue sealants and vasculature closure devices of the present invention are useful for visualizing seal and/or clot formation, for example, during or after surgical procedures, after catheter removal, etc. The present invention further provides methods for formation and optical detection of tissue seals or vasculature puncture closures as well as medical kits useful for the formation and optical detection of tissue seals or vasculature puncture closures.

A condom for detection of STDs, including an interior condom surface having a control band and a test band, and an exterior condom surface that also has a control band and test band. Each test band allows binding and subsequent detection of STD antigens. A separate developing antibody produces a color change if bound to the antigen/antibody conjugate. The developing antibody may be present on the condom or applied separately after use.