An apparatus includes a hydrogel including a metallic compound, a surfactant, an acid, agarose and water. The hydrogel is substantially colorless. A radiated hydrogel having a color is formed when the hydrogel receives a low dose of ionizing radiation.

Provided herein a biodegradable composite comprising a biodegradable polymer and bio-crystals, wherein the bio-crystals are in a concentration of between 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the biodegradable polymer.

The present invention relates to a preparation method of an edible and biodegradable environmental-friendly tableware, and the present invention provides a preparation method of a natural macromolecule-based edible and degradable tableware, where the principles of endogenous diffusion and polymer crosslinking to prepare an edible tableware such as a straw, a cup and a bowl from a microscopic state. The tableware material of the present invention may degrade rapidly under natural conditions and requires no composting. The tableware prepared by the method of the present invention has an excellent water stability performance. In terms of material acquisition, carrageenan, sodium alginate and other raw materials are widely available and stable, and may constitute a good substitute for grain starch, wood, etc., and the material cost is low.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous scaffold for tissue engineering. It is another object of the present invention to provide a porous scaffold obtainable by the method as above described, and its use for tissue engineering, cell culture and cell delivery. The method of the invention comprises the steps consisting of: a) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising an amount of at least one polysaccharide, an amount of a cross-linking agent and an amount of a porogen agent b) transforming the solution into a hydrogel by placing said solution at a temperature from about 4 C. to about 80 C. for a sufficient time to allow the cross-linking of said amount of polysaccharide and c) submerging said hydrogel into an aqueous solution d) washing the porous scaffold obtained at step c).

The present application relates to a polymer microparticle, a preparation method therefor and use thereof. The polymer microparticle is formed by cross-linking at least partially cross-linkable polymer materials including rigid nanoparticles, wherein at least one of the rigid nanoparticles has a non-spherical, symmetrical shape in a solution, and the rigid nanoparticles at least partially form a substantially ordered arrangement structure in the polymer microparticle. The polymer microparticle disclosed by the present application, when used as a stationary phase in a chromatographic separation, has excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility, and can also effectively improve the separation efficiency.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous scaffold for tissue engineering. It is another object of the present invention to provide a porous scaffold obtainable by the method as above described, and its use for tissue engineering, cell culture and cell delivery. The method of the invention comprise the steps consisting of a) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising an amount of at least one polysaccharide and one cross-linking agent b) freezing the aqueous solution of step a) c) sublimating the frozen solution of step b) characterized in that step b) is performed before the cross-linking of the polysaccharide occurs in the solution of step a).

Methods for removing endotoxin from naturally occurring materials, such as polysaccharides (e.g., agarose and/or carrageenan) are described herein. Polysaccharides that are substantially free of endotoxins and uses thereof are also described. The polysaccharide materials can be isolated from microorganisms, multicellular organisms, such as, algae, plants, seaweed, etc. The method involves the use of acidic and basic solutions to hydrolyze the lipid-polysaccharide bond in endotoxins. Cleaving the fatty acid from the polysaccharide reduces the water-solubility of the fatty acid and enables its removal with an organic solvent such as ethanol. The polysaccharide component can also undergo acidic or basic hydrolysis due to the weak glycosidic bond between the sugar rings.

An artificial flower, plant, or other botanical is produced from an aqueous agar-based solidifying mixture. The artificial botanical may be colored as desired by adding one or more colorants. The artificial botanical may also be scented by adding a perfume, odorant, or other scent. Because the artificial botanical is produced using the aqueous agar-based solidifying mixture, no animal-based gelatin products are used. The artificial botanical may thus also be edible and satisfies vegan diets. The artificial botanical may thus also be flavored by adding a flavoring, such as fruit, concentrate, or sweetener. The artificial botanical may be all-natural and edible by adding mica powder as the colorant and by adding glycerin as the flavoring.

The present invention relates to a method for fabricating microparticles by using a degassed gas-permeable micro-mold and discontinuous dewetting. The method for fabricating microparticles according to the present invention comprises the steps of: depressurizing and degassing a porous micro-mold including a plurality of micro-wells concavely recessed in a predetermined shape and size from one surface thereof (S100); loading a microparticle precursor solution on which the micro-wells are formed, and covering the microparticle precursor solution with a cover substrate (S200); moving the cover substrate to the side (S300); and curing the microparticle precursor solution filled in the micro-wells, thereby synthesizing microparticles (S400).

Compostable seaweed-based compositions, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the seaweed-based composition comprises (i) a phycocolloid including agar, alginate, carrageenan, and/or unprocessed seaweed, (ii) a polymer comprising thermoplastic starch (TPS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyesteramide (PEA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), and (iii) an additive, wherein the phycocolloid comprises no more than 90 wt % of the seaweed-based composition, the biopolymer comprises no more than 80 wt % of the seaweed-based composition, and the additive comprises no more than 50 wt % of the seaweed-based composition.