A microneedle assembly and a method of fabrication the assembly are provided. The microneedle assembly includes an array of microneedles attached to a base. Each of the microneedles comprise a tip, a needle shaft and a plurality of cantilevered barbs protruding outwardly from the needle shaft, where a plurality of the microneedles include two or more of the cantilevered barbs arranged in a series of concentric rings along the needle shaft of each of the plurality of microneedles. The microneedle assembly may be fabricated using a 3D printing technique, where one or more cantilevered layers are formed by exposing a photocurable liquid resin including monomer material to a light source to create initially horizontal, cantilevered barbs having a crosslinking gradient, and rinsing to remove an amount of un-crosslinked monomers from the cantilevered layers to induce curvature in the cantilevered barbs extending towards a direction of the lower crosslinking.

Provided herein is a hierarchical superhydrophobic surface comprising an array of first geometrical features disposed on a substrate comprising a first material and a terminal level disposed on the second features, wherein the terminal level comprises a second material, the second material being different from the first material. The second material has a hydrophilicity different from the hydrophilicity of at least one of 1) the hydrophilicity of the second material and 2) hydrophilicity induced by the hierarchical structure. The present disclosure further includes methods of preparing hierarchical superhydrophobic surfaces and medical devices comprising the hierarchical superhydrophobic surfaces.

A method for manufacturing a microprojection unit (10) according to the invention involves: a microprojection tool forming step of forming a microprojection tool (1) by bringing a projecting mold part (11) into contact from one surface (2D) side of a base sheet (2A) including a thermoplastic resin, and thus forming a protrusion (3) that protrudes from another surface (2U) side, and withdrawing the projecting mold part (11) from the interior of the protrusion (3); a joining step of joining the one surface (2D) side of the base sheet (2A), in which the microprojection tool (1) has been formed, and a tip end of a base component (4); and a cutting step of cutting the base sheet (2A), to which the base component (4) has been joined, along a contour (4L) of the base component (4) at a position more inward than the base component's contour (4L) in a planar view of the base sheet (2A) as viewed from the microprojection tool (1) side, to manufacture a microprojection unit (10).

A method for manufacturing a microprojection unit (10) according to the invention involves: a microprojection tool forming step of forming a microprojection tool (1) by bringing a projecting mold part (11) into contact from one surface (2D) side of a base sheet (2A) including a thermoplastic resin, and thus forming a protrusion (3) that protrudes from another surface (2U) side, and withdrawing the projecting mold part (11) from the interior of the protrusion (3); a joining step of joining the one surface (2D) side of the base sheet (2A), in which the microprojection tool (1) has been formed, and a tip end of a base component (4); and a cutting step of cutting the base sheet (2A), to which the base component (4) has been joined, along a contour (4L) of the base component (4) at a position more inward than the base component's contour (4L) in a planar view of the base sheet (2A) as viewed from the microprojection tool (1) side, to manufacture a microprojection unit (10).

Provided are thermoplastic polymer particles having an aspect ratio of 1.00 or more and less than 1.05, and a roundness of 0.95 to 1.00. The thermoplastic polymer particles are formed from a thermoplastic polymer resin in a continuous matrix phase. The thermoplastic polymer particles show a peak cold crystallization temperature (T.sub.cc) at a temperature between a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) and the melting point (T.sub.m) in a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve which is derived from temperature rise analysis at 10° C./min by differential scanning calorimetry.

Materials for additive manufacturing. More precisely, a non-breaking filament, preferably for 3D printing bone substitutes. The filament includes 50% to 99% in weight to the total weight of the filament (w/w) of a polymeric matrix and 1% to 50% w/w of tricalcium silicate. Also, a method and composition for preparing the filament. Additionally, the uses of the filament, such as for example in the dental field; especially, for providing suitable bone and dental substitutes.

Bag-in-container with a coating layer The invention is in the field of containers for foods and drinks. There is provided a method for applying a coating layer (10, 14, 2, 4) on a preform (1, 2, 7) for a bag-in-container using plasma deposition. There is also provided a preform (1, 2, 7) for a bag-in-container, comprising an inner preform (8) and an outer preform (9) with facing surfaces, wherein at least one of the facing surfaces comprises a coating layer (10, 14, 2, 4) that is applied using plasma deposition.

Container (1) with a coating layer. The invention is in the field of containers for foods and drinks. There is provided a method for applying a coating layer (2, 4) on a preform (1, 2) for a container (1) using plasma deposition. There is also provided a preform (1, 2) for a container (1), as well as a container (1) obtainable by stretching of the preform (1, 2).

A connective or supportive sheath comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a hollow tube having a circumferential or perimeter wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall comprising interconnected, radially projecting, partitions, the partitions forming radially extending pores, the pores extending from said inner surface through said outer surface, and wherein the tube is comprised of, consists of, or consists essentially of a flexible or elastic polymer.

Provided are a biodegradable sheet with antiviral properties, a manufacturing method thereof, and the use thereof. The biodegradable sheet comprises: a biodegradable polymer resin consisting of a polylactic acid-based polymer; or a composite degradable polymer resin comprising of a biodegradable resin and a petrochemical resin; and particles of an inorganic antiviral agent or aggregated composite particles of at least two inorganic antiviral agents incorporated into the biodegradable sheet so that the inorganic antiviral agent can be dispersed with a particle size of 100 to 900 nm.