A rubber composition includes an elastomer having an elongation at break (Eb) of about 50% or more according to ASTM-D 412 at 25 C., a water-insoluble keratin, and a reinforcing filler. A tire component including the composition and a method for making the composition are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are tissue augmentation compositions comprising a hydrogel modified with methacrylic anhydride. The hydrogel may be composed of albumin, collagen, silk, or keratin. The composition may be used to modulate an immune response for tissue augmentation and/or as a dermal filler. The composition is non-immunogenic, non-toxic, and may be used for various biomedical applications, including passivation coatings for biomedical devices, depots, and inserts.

Disclosed herein are tissue augmentation compositions comprising a hydrogel modified with methacrylic anhydride. The hydrogel may be composed of albumin, collagen, silk, or keratin. The composition may be used to modulate an immune response for tissue augmentation and/or as a dermal filler. The composition is non-immunogenic, non-toxic, and may be used for various biomedical applications, including passivation coatings for biomedical devices, depots, and inserts.

Disclosed is a method of crosslinking hair or other keratin fibers by (i) providing a crosslinking agent comprising an oxidized sugar having at least two aldehyde groups; and (ii) infiltrating a plurality of non-crosslinked hair or other keratin fibers with the crosslinking agent under conditions effective to cause protein molecules contained in the non-crosslinked hair or other keratin fibers to become crosslinked, thereby yielding a population of crosslinked hair or other keratin fibers. The protein molecules include amine groups that react with the aldehyde groups of the oxidized sugar to yield the crosslinked hair or other keratin fibers. Also disclosed are formulations for crosslinking hair or other keratin fibers and methods of using the formulations to treat human hair to maintain a desired three dimensional structure. This formulation includes a crosslinking agent having a plurality of oxidized sugars having at least two aldehyde groups or mixture thereof.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a membrane for use in the repair of the middle ear including perforations and damage to the tympanic membrane. More particularly, the invention provides for compositions and methods for preparing silk fibroin biocompatible polyurethane membranes using a solvent, which have improved biodegradation, mechanical and vibroacoustic properties.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a membrane for use in the repair of the middle ear including perforations and damage to the tympanic membrane. More particularly, the invention provides for compositions and methods for preparing silk fibroin biocompatible polyurethane membranes using a solvent, which have improved biodegradation, mechanical and vibroacoustic properties.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a membrane for use in the repair of the middle ear including perforations and damage to the tympanic membrane. More particularly, the invention provides for compositions and methods for preparing silk fibroin biocompatible polyurethane membranes using a solvent, which have improved biodegradation, mechanical and vibroacoustic properties.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a membrane for use in the repair of the middle ear including perforations and damage to the tympanic membrane. More particularly, the invention provides for compositions and methods for preparing silk fibroin biocompatible polyurethane membranes using a solvent, which have improved biodegradation, mechanical and vibroacoustic properties.

The present invention provides extracellular vesicle compositions. Also provided are methods of making an extracellular vesicle loaded scaffold using the extracellular vesicle compositions to increase revascularization. Methods of using the extracellular vesicle compositions and the extracellular vesicle loaded scaffold are provided. The scaffold may increase blood flow and oxygenation of the tissue thereby aiding in treatment of disease and injury.

The present invention provides extracellular vesicle compositions. Also provided are methods of making an extracellular vesicle loaded scaffold using the extracellular vesicle compositions to increase revascularization. Methods of using the extracellular vesicle compositions and the extracellular vesicle loaded scaffold are provided. The scaffold may increase blood flow and oxygenation of the tissue thereby aiding in treatment of disease and injury.