The present invention relates to a viscoelastic element comprising a polyurethane foam, wherein the polyurethane foam can be obtained by reacting at least one isocyanate-functional prepolymer (VI) in the presence of a special polyurethane urea dispersion (V2), wherein the reaction of the prepolymer (VI) takes place in the presence of the polyurethane urea (V2) with a medium containing isocyanate-reactive groups. The invention also relates to a method for producing the viscoelastic element and to the use thereof.

The invention relates to novel a high-volume swelling hydrogel which comprises a plurality of pores which are defined by an interpenetrating network, and/or a semi-interpenetrating network and/or simple cross-linked arrangement of a plurality of one or more species of hydrophilic polymers, optionally together with one or more biocompatible polymers and optionally together with one or more plasticising agents, characterised in that at least some of the pores are at least partially collapsed and/or flattened, and further characterised in that the interpenetrating network and/or semi-interpenetrating network and/or cross-linked arrangement which defines the collapsed and/or flattened pores is substantially unbroken. The invention also relates to a process for preparing such hydrogels, and to their use as an appetite suppressant.

The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensionally (3D) printed tissue engineering scaffold for tissue regeneration and a method for manufacturing the 3D printed tissue engineering scaffold. The 3D printed tissue engineering scaffold may be fabricated at least in part from a composite material having an insoluble component and soluble component. The three-dimensional tissue scaffolds of the disclosure may be fabricated via a rapid prototyping machine. In some instances, the three-dimensional shape of the fabricated tissue engineering scaffold may correspond to a three-dimensional shape of a tissue defect of a patient.

Implantable devices for orthopedic, including spine and other uses are formed of porous reinforced polymer scaffolds. Scaffolds include a thermoplastic polymer forming a porous matrix that has continuously interconnected pores. The porosity and the size of the pores within the scaffold are selectively formed during synthesis of the composite material, and the composite material includes a plurality of reinforcement particles integrally formed within and embedded in the matrix and exposed on the pore surfaces. The reinforcement particles provide one or more of reinforcement, bioactivity, or bioresorption.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a bilayer scaffold through single process comprising: preparing a first polymer aqueous solution; adding a second polymer into the first polymer aqueous solution and stirring a reactant; adding a surfactant into the stirred reactant and stirring the reactant at high temperature and high speed; freeze-drying the stirred reactant thereby obtaining a sponge; dipping the sponge in a cross-linking agent thereby rendering be cross-linked; and freeze-drying the cross-linked reactant.

The present invention relates to a viscoelastic element comprising a polyurethane foam, wherein the polyurethane foam can be obtained by reacting at least one isocyanate-functional prepolymer (V1) in the presence of a special polyurethane urea dispersion (V2), wherein the reaction of the prepolymer (V1) takes place in the presence of the polyurethane urea (V2) with a medium containing isocyanate-reactive groups. The invention also relates to a method for producing the viscoelastic element and to the use thereof.

Covalently cross-linked copolymers are described herein. More specifically, polysaccharide-polyamine copolymeric matrices or structures and cationic copolymeric matrices are described herein. The polysaccharide-polyamine copolymers, when protonated, can form cationic copolymeric matrices having exceptionally high densities of cationic sites. In one form, the covalently cross-linked copolymers provide a three-dimensional structure, especially when hydrated.

An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.

Compositions for forming porous materials and three-dimensional objects, including fibers, films and coatings made from the materials are provided. Also provided are methods for forming the porous objects from the compositions. The compositions include a solvent, a polymer binder that is soluble in the solvent, and solid particles that are insoluble in the solvent. The solid particles include water-soluble salt particles that can be selectively dissolved from objects made from the compositions to render the resulting structures porous.

Pressure sensing layers, devices comprising same, pressure sensing monitors and composite materials comprising a) a porous matrix material comprising a siloxane polymer, comprising a closed porosity volume fraction, and, optionally, an open porosity volume fraction, and b) a conductive or semiconductive filler substantially present in said closed porosity volume fraction of said porous matrix material a), and films, coated substrates and multilayer structures comprising the composite material and the use thereof in pressure sensing devices.