A dynamic process for upcycling polymers. Polymers from a diverse post-consumer waste stream are gathered in a mixture. The mixture is extruded and combined with a liquid additive containing a particular PE wax at the verge of polymerization. The liquid additive is repolymerized into LDPE to form pellets. The pellets are delivered into a reactor and submerged in a suitable solvent to dissolve the LDPE. Causing a gradual and orderly separation of the remaining polymers from one another, resulting in a layered substrate. The suitable solvent, enzymes or depolymerizing compatible chemical is delivered into the reactor through independent pipes attached to tanks containing the suitable depolymerizing agent. The process repeats depolymerizing the layered substrate layer by layer with additional suitable solvents/enzymes or depolymerizing agents for each of the polymers resulting in the dissolving of the remaining polymers in an orderly manner producing a layered wax-like material for upcycling.

Hydrogels that degrade under appropriate conditions of pH and temperature by virtue of crosslinking compounds that cleave through an elimination reaction are described. The hydrogels may be used for delivery of various agents, such as pharmaceuticals.

Multilayer thin film devices that include a bioactive agent for elution to the surrounding tissue upon administration to a subject are provided. The multilayer thin film devices are useful as medical devices, such as ocular devices. Also provided are methods and kits for localized delivery of a bioactive agent to a tissue of a subject, and methods of preparing the subject devices. The multilayer thin film medical device includes a first layer, a bioactive agent and a second layer. The first and the second layers may be porous or non-porous. The devices have a furled structure, suitable for administration to a subject.

A system for aerating a marker material. The system includes a first container, a second container, and an aeration connector. The aeration connector includes a body and a screen disk disposed within the body. The first container is in communication with the second container via the aeration connector. The screen disk of the aeration connector is configured to aerate a marker material as the marker material is repeatedly passed between the first container and the second container.

Composite particles that are biodegradable and easy to handle while maintaining the characteristics of cellulose nanofibers, a method of producing composite particles, a dry powder containing the composite particles, and a skin application composition and a method of producing the skin application composition. A composite particle contains at least one type of particle and fine cellulose with which at least part of a surface of the particle is coated, wherein the particle and the fine cellulose are inseparable.

The present invention is directed to a biodegradable tough adhesive material comprising an interpenetrating networks (IPN) hydrogel comprising a first polymer network and a second polymer network, wherein the first polymer network comprises a first polymer covalently crosslinked with a biodegradable covalent crosslinker and the second polymer network comprises a second polymer crosslinked with ionic or physical crosslinks; a high density primary amine polymer; and a coupling agent. The present invention also provides methods preparing and using the biodegradable tough adhesive material.

Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) foam particles are obtained by: introducing a blowing agent into an aqueous dispersion in a pressure-resistant vessel, the aqueous dispersion containing a crosslinking agent and resin particles containing a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate); heating the contents of the pressure-resistant vessel to a given temperature in a range of 130 to 150° C.; holding the contents of the pressure-resistant vessel at the given temperature for 5 to 55 minutes; and opening one end of the pressure-resistant vessel to discharge the contents of the pressure-resistant vessel into a low-pressure atmosphere and foam the resin particles. The poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) is a mixture containing a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) copolymer and a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) homopolymer at a weight ratio of 99:1 to 80:20, and the crosslinking agent is an organic peroxide which is a percarbonate.

There is provided a method of manufacturing a multi-layered film structure on a handling substrate. The film structure may hold a core film layer, which may hold an active ingredient. There is also provided method for manufacturing multi-layered microstructures. The microstructures may be manufactured based on a provided multi-layered film structure having a core film layer holding an active ingredient. The active ingredient may be a drug, and the microstructures may be used for drug delivery.

A thermoformable and biodegradable cellulose acetate composition comprising at least one cellulose acetate and either polyethylene glycol or m ethoxy polyethylene glycol are disclosed. The compositions are formed into films, sheets, and articles.

A method for preparing a rooting plug is disclosed. The method calls for mixing a composition comprising (i) 0.2%-10% w/w bio-degradable polymer and (ii) an organic non-hydroxylic solvent with a plug mix. The resulting method prepares a rooting plug.