The present invention relates to novel biocompatible oxygen gas generating devices that can be implanted into a living subject. In certain embodiments, the oxygen gas generating devices can be used to deliver oxygen gas to tissue in a subject, thereby stimulating tissue growth and repair. In other embodiments, the devices operate by electrolytically splitting endogenous water in a subject. In yet other embodiments, the device further comprises an implantable supercapacitor capable of supplying energy to the oxygen gas generating device.

The present invention discloses an artificial endothelial keratoplasty graft consisting a support layer made of rehydrated crosslinked hydrogel and corneal endothelial cells on top or within said support layer. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing an artificial endothelial keratoplasty graft, wherein said method consisting of a step of drying support layer material followed by a crosslinking step.

Neurosupportive materials that possess strong tissue adhesion were synthesized by photocrosslinking two polymers, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and methacryloyl-substituted tropoelastin (MeTro). The engineered materials exhibited tunable mechanical properties by varying the GelMA/MeTro ratio. In addition, GelMA/MeTro hydrogels exhibited 15-fold higher adhesive strength to nerve tissue ex vivo compared to traditionally used fibrin-based materials. Furthermore, the composites were shown to support Schwann cell (SC) viability and proliferation, as well as neurite extension and glial cell participation in vitro, which are essential cellular components for nerve regeneration. Finally, subcutaneously implanted GelMA/MeTro hydrogels exhibited slower degradation in vivo compared with pure GelMA, indicating its potential to support the growth of slowly regenerating nerves. Thus, GelMA/MeTro composites may be used as clinically relevant biomaterials to regenerate nerves and reduce the need for microsurgical suturing during nerve reconstruction.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing inorganic nanoparticle-gelatin core-shell composite nanoparticles, comprising: dissolving gelatin in a aqueous solution (in which inorganic nanoparticles are dispersed in) to obtain the gelatin-contained aqueous solution, dropwise adding a polar organic solvent to obtain a suspension of inorganic nanoparticle-gelatin core-shell composite particles of nanometer size or submicrometer size, then adding a cross-linking agent thereto to cross-link the gelatin components of the composite particles, followed by washing step to finally obtain inorganic nanoparticle-gelatin core-shell composite micro/nano-particles with inorganic nanoparticles as the core and gelatin as the shell. The present invention firstly provides a process for preparing the core-shell composite nano-scaled particles with inorganic nanoparticles as the core and gelatin as the shell by using a co-precipitation method which is simple and convenient, and beneficial for applying to industrial mass production.

A valved conduit including a bioprosthetic valve, such as a heart valve, and a tubular conduit sealed with a bioresorbable material. The bioprosthetic heart valve includes prosthetic tissue that has been treated such that the tissue may be stored dry for extended periods without degradation of functionality of the valve. The bioprosthetic heart valve may have separate bovine pericardial leaflets or a whole porcine valve. The sealed conduit includes a tubular matrix impregnated with a bioresorbable medium such as gelatin or collagen. The valved conduit is stored dry in packaging in which a desiccant pouch is supplied having a capacity for absorbing moisture within the packaging limited to avoid drying the bioprosthetic tissue out beyond a point where its ability to function in the bioprosthetic heart valve is compromised. The heart valve may be sewn within the sealed conduit or coupled thereto with a snap-fit connection.

The invention relates to methods for producing a polymeric scaffold for use in tissue engineering applications or soft tissue surgery, as well as to the produced scaffolds and an associated kit. The method features a first fast drying step of applying a mechanical compression on a polymeric gel layer and a second slow drying step of the gel up to reach a polymer mass fraction of at least 60% w/w in the final scaffold. The method allows the production of scaffolds with high regeneration and healing properties of a grafted tissue via host cell invasion and colonization, and a good suturability. These goals are achieved through the formation within the scaffold of a non-uniform architecture creating softer and stiffer areas, which is maintained even upon re-swelling of the scaffold upon hydration of the final dried product.

A dental tissue regenerative composition. The composition includes a combination of (1) human dental pulp stem cells and (2) at least one of human umbilical vein endothelial cells or vascular endothelial growth factor. The combination is encapsulated in a light-activated gelatin methacrylate hydrogel.

A dental tissue regenerative composition. The composition includes a combination of (1) human dental pulp stem cells and (2) at least one of human umbilical vein endothelial cells or vascular endothelial growth factor. The combination is encapsulated in a light-activated gelatin methacrylate hydrogel.

Described herein are compounds having a hydrogen-bonding group and optionally a functional group for binding (e.g., covalently binding) the compound to another compound (e.g., hyaluronic acid and/or gelatin). A compound of the present invention may have a structure represented by and/or comprising Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV, Formula IV′, Formula V, Formula V′, Formula VI, Formula VII, and/or Formula VIII as described herein. Compositions including compounds of the present invention along with methods of preparing and using the same are also described herein.

Converting colloidal systems, such as emulsions, dispersions, and suspensions to powders is highly demanded in a myriad of biomedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, oil and gas, food, energy, and environmental applications. Handling colloids is typically associated with persistent challenges including bacterial and viral contaminations, lack of terminal sterilization, impaired stability, short shelf life, high processing costs, and difficult packaging and transportation. Current techniques such as freeze-drying and spray-drying have noticeably failed in completely preserving the properties of dispersed phase while removing the continuous phase. The invention disclosed herein provides a new and easy method to convert colloidal systems to powders that are able to readily revive their properties upon resuspension.