The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a porous substrate containing a bioabsorbable polymer and heparin in a simple manner without use of a surfactant, a porous substrate containing a bioabsorbable polymer and heparin, and an artificial blood vessel. The present invention provides a method for producing a porous substrate containing a bioabsorbable polymer and heparin, including: a solution preparing step of preparing a heparin-bioabsorbable polymer solution having heparin uniformly dispersed therein and a bioabsorbable polymer dissolved therein, using the bioabsorbable polymer, the heparin, a solvent 1 that is a poor solvent having a lower solvency for the bioabsorbable polymer, a solvent 2 that is a good solvent having a higher solvency for the bioabsorbable polymer and is incompatible with the solvent 1, and a common solvent 3 compatible with the solvent 1 and the solvent 2; a precipitating step of cooling the heparin-bioabsorbable polymer solution to precipitate a porous body containing the bioabsorbable polymer and the heparin; and a freeze-drying step of freeze-drying the porous body containing the bioabsorbable polymer and the heparin to provide a porous substrate containing the heparin.

A liquid crystal polyester resin composition including a liquid crystal polyester resin, 15 parts by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less of a carbon fiber with respect to 100 parts by mass of the liquid crystal polyester resin, and 0.001 parts by mass or more and 0.02 parts by mass or less of a fullerene with respect to 100 parts by mass of the carbon fiber.

A preform for a biodegradable container wherein the preform includes from about 40 to about 99 weight percent of a polymer derived from random monomeric repeating units having a structure of

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.3 and a C.sub.3 to C.sub.19 alkyl group, wherein the polymer comprises from about 20 to about 99 wt. % of the preform and wherein the monomeric units wherein R.sup.1═CH.sub.3 comprise 75 to 99 mol percent of the polymer and wherein the preform has a body having a uniform wall thickness throughout the body of the preform. A resin adapted for forming the preform is also disclosed.

Methods to produce laminates including layers of constructs made from P4HB and copolymers thereof have been developed. These laminates may be used as medical implants, or further processed to make medical implants. The laminates are produced at a temperature equal to or greater than the softening points of the P4HB or copolymers thereof. The layers may include oriented forms of the constructs. Orientation can be preserved during lamination so that the laminate is also oriented, when the laminates are formed at temperatures less than the de-orientation temperatures of the layers. The laminate layers may include, for example, films, textiles, including woven, knitted, braided and non-woven textiles, foams, thermoforms, and fibers. The laminates preferably include one or more oriented P4HB films.

Solution casting a nanostructure. Preparing a template by ablating nanoholes in a substrate using single-femtosecond laser machining. Replicating the nanoholes by applying a solution of a polymer and a solvent into the template. After the solvent has substantially dissipated, removing the replica from the substrate.

The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a porous substrate containing a bioabsorbable polymer and heparin in a simple manner without use of a surfactant, a porous substrate containing a bioabsorbable polymer and heparin, and an artificial blood vessel. The present invention provides a method for producing a porous substrate containing a bioabsorbable polymer and heparin, including: a solution preparing step of preparing a heparin-bioabsorbable polymer solution having heparin uniformly dispersed therein and a bioabsorbable polymer dissolved therein, using the bioabsorbable polymer, the heparin, a solvent 1 that is a poor solvent having a lower solvency for the bioabsorbable polymer, a solvent 2 that is a good solvent having a higher solvency for the bioabsorbable polymer and is incompatible with the solvent 1, and a common solvent 3 compatible with the solvent 1 and the solvent 2; a precipitating step of cooling the heparin-bioabsorbable polymer solution to precipitate a porous body containing the bioabsorbable polymer and the heparin; and a freeze-drying step of freeze-drying the porous body containing the bioabsorbable polymer and the heparin to provide a porous substrate containing the heparin.

Methods for producing hydrocarbon-based polymers and hydrocarbon-based polymeric structures that are capable of removing carbon dioxide from an ambient environment to produce breathable oxygen. The methods produce enclosed, solar-exposed polymeric structures capable of expanding in area through the reuse of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-based polymers. As such, the method produces self-sustaining polymeric/hydrocarbon-based structures capable of in-situ resource harvesting and reuse to create a sustainable, habitable area. The methods can be used to create a habitable environment in otherwise harsh conditions, such as those associated with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and low pressure, without the need to use external, non-renewable resources, and instead using renewable, in-situ resources to improve the viability of habitation within the environment of the manufactured three-dimensional structures.

A method for forming a prosthesis comprising a bone-like portion and a cartilage-like portion can comprise additively manufacturing a first positive mold in accordance with a portion of a first three-dimensional model of a portion of a bone. A first negative mold can be formed from the first positive mold. The bone-like portion can be created within the first negative mold. A second positive mold of the bone and a cartilage can be additively manufactured from a second three-dimensional model. A portion of the second three-dimensional model can correspond to a portion of the first three-dimensional model. A second negative mold can be formed from the second positive mold. The bone-like portion can be positioned in the second negative mold so that the second negative mold and the bone-like portion can define a cartilage space that can be filled with a material to form the cartilage-like portion of the prosthesis.

This disclosure relates to a method of 3-D printing comprising: applying a layer of build material onto a print platform, wherein the build material comprises particles of a polymer comprising polymer chains having at least one reactive group that is protected with a protecting group; printing a de-protecting agent at selected locations on the layer of build material; and coalescing particles of the polymer at the printed locations on the layer of build material to form a coalesced polymer layer.

Systems and methods for using microneedle arrays to deliver bioactive compounds are presented. In general, the microneedle array comprises at least three layers: a base layer, a separation layer, and a bioactive layer, wherein the separation layer is situated between the base layer and the bioactive layer. Upon exposure to physiological conditions, the separation layer dissolves and/or disperses, allowing the base layer to be removed while the bioactive layer remains embedded in the outer surface of the skin.