Nanocomposite films comprising carbon nanotubes dispersed throughout a polymer matrix and further comprising at least two surfaces with differing amounts of carbon nanotubes and differing electrical resistivity values are provided. Nanocomposite films comprising a polymer layer, a conductive nanofiller layer, and a polysaccharide layer having antistatic properties are provided. In particular, nanocomposites comprising polyvinyl alcohol as the polymer, graphene as the conductive nanofiller and starch as the polysaccharide are provided. In addition, processes for forming the nanocomposites, methods for characterizing the nanocomposites as well as applications in or on electrical and/or electronic devices are provided.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object of polyurethane, polyurea, or copolymer thereof is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid including at least one of: (i) a blocked or reactive blocked prepolymer, (ii) a blocked or reactive blocked diisocyanate, or (iii) a blocked or reactive blocked diisocyanate chain extender; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid blocked polymer scaffold and advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, with the intermediate containing the chain extender; and then (d) heating or microwave irradiating the three-dimensional intermediate sufficiently to form from the three-dimensional intermediate the three-dimensional object of polyurethane, polyurea, or copolymer thereof.

A cryo formulation-based microneedle device for transdermal delivery of bioactive therapeutic agents. The microneedle device includes: one or more microneedle patches each including an array of miniaturized needles, wherein each miniaturized needle defining a base end and a tip; and a substrate to which the base end of the array of miniaturized needles is attached or integrated thereto; wherein the microneedle patch is in a cryo status; wherein each of the one or more microneedle patch is adapted to be applied on a skin surface, in which the miniaturized needles penetrates into skin; and wherein the miniaturized needles is further arranged to melt so as to release one or more bioactive therapeutic agents into the skin to achieve a targeted therapeutic effect.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for selectively sintering particulate material, the method comprising: providing a layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a radiation absorbent material over a selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a material that comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) over at least part of the selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; and providing radiation (8) across the selected surface portion of the layer of particulate material so as to sinter a portion of the material of the layer (6) including causing the plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) to become embedded in the sintered portion of material.

Provided is a manufacturing method for a substrate having a microstructure. The manufacturing method for a substrate having a microstmcture comprises the steps of: forming a microstructure on the upper surface of an auxiliary substrate; coating a base solution on the microstructure; forming a base substrate covering the microstructure by heattreating the base solution; and removing the auxiliary substrate from the base substrate.

Provided is a process for obtaining a film or film-forming article. The process includes a) providing a solvent system comprising at least one molecule bearing a sulfoxide function, where the solvent system has a water content of less than 1000 ppm by weight and having a pH of greater than or equal to 6. The process also includes b) preparing a polymer solution, either by dissolving the polymers in the solvent system or by synthesizing the polymers in the solvent system. The process also includes c) removing the solvent system to obtain the film or the film-forming article.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid including a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer scaffold from the first component and also advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, and containing the second solidifiable component carried in the scaffold in unsolidified and/or uncured form; and (d) concurrently with or subsequent to the irradiating step, solidifying and/or curing the second solidifiable component in the three-dimensional intermediate to form the three-dimensional object.

Nanocomposite films comprising carbon nanotubes dispersed throughout a polymer matrix and further comprising at least two surfaces with differing amounts of carbon nanotubes and differing electrical resistivity values are provided. Nanocomposite films comprising a polymer layer, a conductive nanofiller layer, and a polysaccharide layer having antistatic properties are provided. In particular, nanocomposites comprising polyvinyl alcohol as the polymer, graphene as the conductive nanofiller and starch as the polysaccharide are provided. In addition, processes for forming the nanocomposites, methods for characterizing the nanocomposites as well as applications in or on electrical and/or electronic devices are provided.

Nanocomposite films comprising carbon nanotubes dispersed throughout a polymer matrix and further comprising at least two surfaces with differing amounts of carbon nanotubes and differing electrical resistivity values are provided. Nanocomposite films comprising a polymer layer, a conductive nanofiller layer, and a polysaccharide layer having antistatic properties are provided. In particular, nanocomposites comprising polyvinyl alcohol as the polymer, graphene as the conductive nanofiller and starch as the polysaccharide are provided. In addition, processes for forming the nanocomposites, methods for characterizing the nanocomposites as well as applications in or on electrical and/or electronic devices are provided.

The application discloses a method to fabricate microneedle patches, comprising a) casting (painting and pasting) an aqueous polymer solution on a mold of array of micro-holes which is made of porous materials; b) sucking the polymer solution into the micro-holes by applying vacuum at the back of the mold; d) freezing and thawing the casted polymer solution to induce gelation; and e) drying the gelled polymer solution. Specifically, the present invention describes a process and composition of polymeric microneedlepatch which overcomes the limitations of existing microneedles systems and may be used for transdermal delivery system for therapeutics and other applications.