The present invention relates in part to the unexpected discovery of novel hybrid organic-inorganic aerogel materials with one-dimensionally aligned pores.

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to matrices comprising polymers and methods for preparing them.

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.

Methods of producing microporous zwitterionic cryogels are described, wherein the cryogels are useful for sustaining release of therapeutic agents. The disclosed cryogels overcome several limitations associated with existing compositions, for example the disclosed cryogels have high loading efficiencies and a sustained release profile with minimal burst of up to 4 months or more. The characteristics of the disclosed cryogels can be varied by altering monomer (e.g. zwitterion) and crosslinker selection. The amount of monomer contained in the hydrogel may also be varied to aid in controlling the cryogel's chemistry.

A composition that is self-foaming in an acid medium, and includes: at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one compound capable of crosslinking the hydrophilic polymer by forming ionic bonds, at least one foaming agent, and at least one foam stabilizer agent; and to the use thereof as a drug, particularly for preventing and/or treating obesity.

Provided are rapidly cross-linkable silicone foam compositions, kits, and methods for filling implanted medical devices in situ or in vivo, the implanted medical devices, including for example, body implants and tissue expanders, the compositions including a platinum divinyl disiloxane complex; a low viscosity vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane; a low viscosity hydride terminated polydimethylsiloxane; a silicone cross-linker; and a gas and/or gas-filled microcapsules, where the rapidly cross-linkable silicone foam composition has a viscosity of 150 cPs for 1 min. post-preparation and 300 cPs5 min. post-preparation, at ambient temperature.

Polymeric based closed cell foams, such as shape memory polymer foams, contain bubbles. Making these bubbles continuous is called reticulation. Disclosed are embodiments of a device and method to controllably reticulate polymer-based closed cell foams by puncturing the membranes of these polymer-based closed cell foams.

Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition for treating hyperuricemia (HUA). The pharmaceutical composition includes a polysaccharide-polyamine copolymer and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as active ingredients. The polysaccharide-polyamine copolymer is formed by copolymerization of the following two parts: a selectively oxidized polysaccharide with 2,3-dialdehydo, and a polyamine with an amino functional group; the polyamine with an amino functional group and the selectively oxidized polysaccharide with 2,3-dialdehydo can form a net structure by means of covalent crosslinking, resulting in a hydrogel with an amino functional group or a granular polysaccharide-polyamine copolymer, wherein the amino functional group in the hydrogel with an amino functional group or the granular polysaccharide-polyamine copolymer can be protonated so as to form a cationic copolymer of a three-dimensional network structure having a protonated site, and the nitrogen content of the cationic copolymer and the nitrogen content of the polysaccharide-polyamine copolymer are above 12.3 wt %, and both the cationic copolymer and the polysaccharide-polyamine copolymer are water-insoluble.

A method for manufacturing a breast implant includes producing an elastic filler material including foam, by applying a source of gas bubbles to a silicone monomer to create a mixture. The mixture is inserted into a sealed chamber. After inserting the mixture, a pressure inside the sealed chamber is set to a first pressure, and a temperature of the mixture inside the sealed chamber is set to a first temperature. Then, following a preset time duration, the pressure is lowered to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, and after a given time, the temperature is lowered to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. A flexible shell, configured for implantation within a breast of a human subject, is filled with the elastic filler material.

To provide a collagen sponge excellent in mechanical strength and a production method for the collagen sponge. A collagen sponge including a porous construct having a pore structure, the collagen sponge having a tensile strength of 1 N or more and 5 N or less in every direction including a length direction and a width direction. The collagen sponge may be produced by a production method including the following steps: (1) a step of subjecting a collagen solution obtained by mixing collagen and a solvent to stirring and deaeration treatment; (2) a step of subjecting the collagen solution to freeze-dry treatment; and (3) a step of subjecting a dried collagen product after the freeze-dry treatment to insoluble treatment.