The present invention relates to the unexpected discovery of compositions and methods for the treatment of growth plate defects. In certain embodiments, the methods prevent the growth of bony bars at the site of growth plate injury, thereby preventing growth arrest and/or deformity. In certain embodiments, the compositions comprise hydrogels comprising at least one biological factor capable of preventing bony bar formation.

The invention relates to a hybrid hydrogel, in particular degradable or non-degradable, comprising a first hydrogel polymer of formula (I) in association with an alginate hydrogel polymer, and optionally organosilica particles in particular degradable or non-degradable nanoparticles, or porous silicon particles; pharmaceutical, veterinary and/or cosmetic compositions thereof; and uses thereof as a medicament. The invention notably relates to the use of such hybrid hydrogel in the treatment of fistulas and physiological leaks/leakages, notably in the gastrointestinal tract. The present invention finds applications in the therapeutic and diagnostic medical technical fields and also in cosmetic and veterinary technical fields.

The present invention relates to functionalized hydrogel networks grafted with at least one moiety for use in numerous fields, from cosmetics to surgery and medicine.

A method of producing a gel comprises combining an acidic aqueous alginate solution with a second, less acidic aqueous suspension of a calcium salt. A product comprises an alginate-based air treatment gel that is not subject to temperature-induced liquefaction.

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.

A method for producing a crosslinked gel. The method comprises steps of: (a) combining (i) water, (ii) alginic acid, alginates, or mixtures thereof, (iii) carboxymethylcellulose, (iv) a salt of calcium, magnesium or zinc, (v) a nonionic surfactant and (vi) fragrance to form a gel having a surface; and (b) contacting with the surface of said gel an additional aqueous solution of a salt of calcium, magnesium or zinc.

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.

A shear-thinning hydrogel composition includes: a first polymer chain including: (i) a first plurality of units each having at least one of a monosaccharide and an amino acid; and (ii) a cross-linking group bound to the at least one of the monosaccharide and the amino acid of one of the first plurality of units via conversion of a carboxyl group of the unit to a peptide bond; a second polymer chain including a second plurality of the units; and a cross-linking additive connecting one of the second plurality of units to the first polymer chain via the cross-linking group.

Microencapsulation of bioactive and chemical cargo in a stable, cross-linked polymer matrix is presented that results in small particle sizes and is easily scaled-up for industrial applications. A formulation of a salt of an acid soluble multivalent ion, an acid neutralized with a volatile base and one or more monomers that cross-link in the presence of multivalent ions is atomized into droplets. Cross-linking is achieved upon atomization where the volatile base is vaporized resulting in a reduction of the pH of the formulation and the temporal release of multivalent ions from the salt that cross-link the monomers forming a capsule. The incorporation of additional polymers or hydrophobic compounds in the formulation allows control of hydration properties of the particles to control the release of the encapsulated compounds. The operational parameters can also be controlled to affect capsule properties such as particle-size and particle-size distribution.

The present invention is directed to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a gel comprising a solvent (S), wherein the solvent (S) has a volume (V1), pressurizing the gel with carbon dioxide at a temperature and a pressure at which carbon dioxide solubilizes in the solvent (S) forming gas-expanded liquid (EL), wherein the gas-expanded liquid (EL) has a volume (V2) and (V2) is greater than (V1); removing supernatant liquid, and drying the gel. The present invention further is directed to the porous material obtained or obtainable according to the process as such as the use of the porous material according to the invention in particular for medical, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications or for thermal insulation.