A composition comprising a novel Ca.sup.2+-activated, [ATP].sub.i-sensitive nonspecific cation (NC.sub.Ca-ATP) channel is described. The channel is found in mammalian neural cells and exhibits a different sensitivity to block by various adenine nucleotides, and is activated by submicromolar [Ca].sub.i. The NC.sub.Ca-ATP channel is activated under conditions of ATP depletion, which causes severe cell depolarization, followed by cell swelling. The NC.sub.Ca-ATP channel is regulated by a sulfonylurea receptor and is inhibited by sulfonylurea compounds glibenclamide and tolbutamide. Methods employing compositions comprising the NC.sub.Ca-ATP channel to screen for compounds that block the channel and the use of such antagonists as therapeutics in preventing brain swelling and damage are described. In addition, methods employing compositions comprising the Kir2.3 channel to screen for compounds that open the channel and the use of such antagonists as therapeutics in preventing brain swelling and damage are described.

Provided is a workpiece bonding method that makes it possible to achieve a joining state with a high strength and to obtain a good repeatability of the joining state.

A workpiece bonding method according to the present invention is a workpiece bonding method for bonding two workpieces to each other, each of the two workpieces being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic resin, glass, silicon wafer, crystal and sapphire, the workpiece bonding method including: a surface activation step of activating a bonded surface of at least one of the workpieces; and a laminating step of laminating the two workpieces such that respective bonded surfaces contact with each other, and a pretreatment step of removing moisture from the bonded surface of the workpiece that is to be subjected to the surface activation step is performed before the surface activation step is performed.

To provide a microneedle array which includes a sheet and needles, improves transfer of a medicament into the blood, and is capable of achieving high drug efficacy.

Provided is a microneedle array including: a sheet; and a plurality of needles present on the upper surface of the sheet, in which the needles contain a water-soluble polymer and a medicament, the sheet contains a water-soluble polymer, and the administration is performed such that 20 μm≦L2≦L−L1 is satisfied, here, L represents the length of a needle, L1 represents the length of a needle tip region, which contains 90% of the total medicament in the microneedle array, from the needle tip, L2 represents the average remaining length of the needle after administration using the microneedle array, and the unit of L, L1, and L2 is μm.

A patterned thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) film for fabricating a liquid-filled blister, has a blister-sized cavity in fluid communication with a microfluidic channel via a gating region. The gating region is defined by a relief pattern that has at least one of the following: at least 5 separate compartments defined by respective recesses in the first side, each of the recesses bounded by walls that separate the compartments from each other, the recess, or the channel; at least 5 walls defined by the patterning of the first side, the walls separating a plurality of compartments from each other, the recess, or the channel, wherein the walls have a mean thickness that is less than a mean height, and each pair of walls has a mean separation greater than twice the mean thickness; an array of separate compartments bounded by walls defined by the patterning of the first side that collectively define a polygonal regular planar tiling with at least 50% of the surface area of the gating region being open spaces; and a focusing region in fluid communication with the cavity, and a seal region having at least one wall defined by patterning of the film, wherein the at least one wall separates the focusing region from the seal region, and a shape of the at least one wall tapers the focusing region towards the seal region.

The pattern complexity and functional value of wrinkled structures can be substantially increased by fabricating the wrinkles on pre-patterned quasi-planar substrates instead of flat substrates. This disclosure presents the methods for fabricating pre-patterned polymeric surfaces that can be subsequently used as the substrates during manufacture of complex wrinkled structures. Pre-patterned substrates are generated by imprinting the pre-patterns onto the substrates during the curing process. Suitability for post-curing use in fabrication of wrinkles is ensured by (i) delayed imprinting that occurs close to but before the gelation point and (ii) gradual alignment of pre-patterns to the direction of stretch that is applied later during manufacture of wrinkled structures.

Provided is a method of bonding two surfaces, which includes providing nitrogen or ammonia plasma to a plastic material where a polysiloxane contacted, and a construct manufactured therefrom.

The manufacturing method of the sheet having the needle-like protruding portions includes: preparing a mold including needle-like recessed portions, and a solution supply device including a slit-like opening formed at a nozzle distal end portion; supplying a solution from the solution supply device to the mold in a state that the nozzle distal end portion is pressed to a front surface of the mold, and filling the solution in the needle-like recessed portions; and moving the solution supply device relatively to the mold in a state that the nozzle distal end portion is brought into contact with the front surface of the mold, and, as a hardness distribution in a thickness direction of the mold, an average value of a Young's modulus at a part within 40 μm from the front surface of the mold is 1.9 MPa or higher and 100 MPa or lower.

Systems and methods for creating microneedle arrays capable of delivering a suitable drug dosages to subjects are provided. In one aspect, a method comprises creating at least one forming mold using laser ablation in a cross-over line pattern. The method further comprises casting a first material onto the at least one forming mold to create at least one microneedle mold. The method further comprises casting a second material onto the at least one microneedle mold to create at least one hollow microneedle.

Methods for mass production of new microfluidic devices are described. The microfluidic devices may include an array of micro-needles with open channels in fluid communication with multiple reservoirs located within a substrate that supports the micro-needles. The micro-needles are configured so as to sufficiently penetrate the skin in order to collect or sample bodily fluids and transfer the fluids to the reservoirs. The micro-needles may also deliver medicaments into or below the skin.

A flat-pressing manufacturing method of a bionic adhesive structure based on a micro through-hole nickel-based mold is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: preparing a nickel-based mold with a micro through-hole array; placing the nickel-based mold on an elastic pad in a magnetic mold closing system; coating a liquid prepolymer uniformly on a backing, and placing a side of the backing coated with the liquid prepolymer on the nickel-based mold, covering a sealing diaphragm on the backing to separate a cavity into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and performing a vacuum treatment on the lower chamber and an inflation treatment on the upper chamber to apply a uniform pressure on the backing layer and achieve a full filling of prepolymers with different viscosities; and after the filling is completed, curing and demolding to obtain the bionic adhesive structure.