The present invention generally relates to microfluidic droplets and, in particular, to multiple emulsion microfluidic droplets. In certain aspects, particles such as gel particles can be prepared in an aqueous carrier from aqueous droplets (or a non-aqueous carrier from non-aqueous droplets). For example, in some embodiments, double-emulsion droplets of a first fluid, surrounded by a second fluid, contained in a carrier fluid may be prepared, where the first fluid forms a gel and the second fluid is removed. For instance, the second fluid may be dissolved in the carrier fluid, or the second fluid may be hardened, then removed, for example, due to a change in pH. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to kits containing such microfluidic droplets, microfluidic devices for making such microfluidic droplets, or the like.

The invention relates to a method for treating a nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel, wherein the nanofibrillar cellulose is oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose, wherein the oxidation has been carried out through N-oxyl mediated catalytic oxidation of cellulose-based raw material, and has at most 50 μmol of aldehyde groups per gram of dry nanofibrillar cellulose; and subjecting the nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel to a heat treatment.

Methods and techniques for forming high concentration hydrogels are disclosed herein. The presently disclosed high concentration hydrogels are formed using controlled dehydration and optional rehydration techniques, depending on desired use. The disclosed high concentration hydrogels may include agarose with or without other hydrogels or therapeutic agents, such as hyaluronic acid, present.

Systems and methods are described herein that create discrete volumes associated with solid-phase particles (e.g., drop-carrier particles) suspended in an immiscible phase (e.g., dropicles). One embodiment of the system includes a plurality of hydrogel-based drop-carrier particles containing a microscale voids or cavities that hold an aqueous phase droplet of fluid within each drop-carrier particle. The plurality of hydrogel drop-carrier particles associated with aqueous drops are suspended as individual elements in an immiscible oil phase. The microscale hydrogel drop-carrier particles containing the voids or cavities may be manufactured using microfluidic droplet generators. The dropicles may be used to analyze single-entities (e.g., single-molecules and single-cells) and analytes.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a restructured hydrogel, including forming a hydrogel containing a first polymer, unidirectionally shrinking and dehydrating the hydrogel, and additionally cross-linking and rehydrating the dehydrated hydrogel.

A process for producing superabsorbent particles by polymerizing a monomer solution, comprising the steps of continuously polymerizing the monomer solution on the continuous belt of a belt reactor, comminuting the polymer gel obtained, rinsing the polymer gel obtained on the underside of the belt reactor into a separation unit with water, separating the polymer gel from the water in the separation unit and recycling the polymer gel into the comminution, wherein the polymer gel has a swelling capacity in water of at least 100 g/g, the dwell time of the polymer gel in the rinse water is less than 40 minutes, and the separation unit has openings with a clear width of at least 1 mm.

The present embodiment relates generally to methods of performing surgical technique maxillary sinus floor augmentation with a lateral approach using a pre-portioned and ready pre-packaged bone graft composition in gelatin bags and method of producing gelatin bags. In addition the present inventions can be widely used in other medical fields such as dentistry, orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, plastic and reconstruction surgery, sport medicine, trauma surgery, phinoplasty surgery and veterinary.

Methods and systems for manufacturing a mixed-metal part by preparing a mixed-metal sol-gel as a feed material and using an additive manufacturing technique to form the mixed-metal part from the mixed-metal sol-gel feed material.

The invention relates to a method for treating a nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel, wherein the nanofibrillar cellulose is oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose, wherein the oxidation has been carried out through N-oxyl mediated catalytic oxidation of cellulose-based raw material, and has at most 50 μmol of aldehyde groups per gram of dry nanofibrillar cellulose; and subjecting the nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel to a heat treatment.

This disclosure demonstrates a new method to produce three dimensional multiphasic structures, including bijels, via vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS). In VIPS, the evaporation of the co-solvent from a ternary mixture of oil, water and ethanol, induces phase separation. Particles present in the mixture attach to the interface and arrest the phase separation between water and oil. VIPS enables, inter alia, the fabrication of films and coatings via spreading or spraying particle-laden suspension onto a surface without the need for an outer aqueous phase.