The present invention relates to a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel having an asymmetric pore size. the pore size of the upper surface of the polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel is 1-30 ?m, the pore size of lower surface thereof is 50-300 ?m, and the pore size of the hydrogel gradually increases from the upper surface to the lower surface. The polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel in the present invention has excellent biocompatibility, and has functions of blocking bacteria, anti-adhesion, the absorption of exudate, promoting wound healing, observing in situ of wound healing process and the like.

The invention relates to a formaldehyde-free binder composition for mineral fibres comprising at least one phenol and/or quinone containing compound, and at least one protein.

The invention relates to a method of bonding together surfaces of two or more elements, whereby at least one of the two or more elements is a mineral wool element, said mineral wool element(s) being bound by a mineral wool binder, the method comprising the steps of providing two or more elements; applying an adhesive to one or more of the surfaces to be bonded together before, during or after contacting the surfaces to be bonded together with each other; curing the adhesive, wherein the adhesive comprises at least one protein; at least one phenol and/or quinone containing compound, and/or at least one enzyme.

A surgical simulator for electrosurgical training and simulation is provided. The surgical simulator includes one or more simulated tissue structures made substantially of a hydrogel comprising a dual interpenetrating network of ionically cross-linked alginate and covalently cross-linked acrylamide. Combinations of different simulated tissue structures define procedural-based models for the practice of various electrosurgical procedures including laparoscopic total mesorectal excision, transanal total mesorectal excision, cholecystectomy and transanal minimally invasive surgery. Methods of making the simulated tissue structures are also provided.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing a double-network hydrogel tube with a complex structure. Iron wires of different sizes are mechanically polished, arranged in different manners, and then immersed into a monomer prepolymer solution, or a monomer prepolymer is poured into a container containing iron wires of different arranged shapes to conduct a polymerization reaction, such that a uniform primary-crosslinked single-network hydrogel film can be rapidly grown on the surface of each iron wire. The hydrogel film is then immersed in a secondary-crosslinking solution for secondary crosslinking to build a double-network hydrogel film. After immersion processing, the wires are drawn out to obtain high-strength hollow double-network hydrogel tubes of different shapes. The hydrogel tube has a diameter of 10 micrometers to a few millimeters, the shape of the tube inner structure is highly controllable, and the tensile strength of the hydrogel tube can be up to 2 MPa.

The invention relates to a method of bonding together surfaces of two or more elements, whereby at least one of the two or more elements is a mineral wool element, said mineral wool element(s) being bound by a mineral wool binder, the method comprising the steps of providing two or more elements; applying an adhesive to one or more of the surfaces to be bonded together before, during or after contacting the surfaces to be bonded together with each other; curing the adhesive, wherein the adhesive comprises at least one protein; at least one phenol and/or quinone containing compound, and/or at least one enzyme.

The present invention relates to an aqueous barrier coating composition comprising: 20-80% by weight of a dissolved first polysaccharide having a first degree of polymerization (DP1) of at least 150, based on the total solids content of the aqueous barrier coating composition; and 20-80% by weight of a dissolved second polysaccharide having a second degree of polymerization (DP2) of 100 or less, based on the total solids content of the aqueous barrier coating composition; wherein the ratio of DP1:DP2 is at least 10:1; and wherein the aqueous barrier coating composition has a total solids content in the range of 10-90% by weight.

A substrate includes a double-network polymer system including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, partially ionicly-bonded polymer, wherein the substrate has a moisture level less than or equal to 15 percent of the total weight of the substrate, and wherein the substrate includes a latent retractive force. A method for manufacturing a substrate includes producing a double-network hydrogel including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, ionicly-bonded polymer; elongating by force the double-network hydrogel in at least one direction; dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel to form a substantially-dehydrated double-network polymer system; and releasing the force to produce the substrate.

Provided is a transplantation device comprising a hydrogel in which insulin-secreting cells or pancreatic islets are enclosed, wherein the hydrogel is prepared by gelatinizing an alginic acid derivative by a chemical crosslinking. Accordingly, a novel transplantation device is provided.

A surgical simulator for electrosurgical training and simulation is provided. The surgical simulator includes one or more simulated tissue structures made substantially of a hydrogel comprising a dual interpenetrating network of ionically cross-linked alginate and covalently cross-linked acrylamide. Combinations of different simulated tissue structures define procedural-based models for the practice of various electrosurgical procedures including laparoscopic total mesorectal excision, transanal total mesorectal excision, cholecystectomy and transanal minimally invasive surgery. Methods of making the simulated tissue structures are also provided.