An ear plug includes an elongated body sized and shaped to be partially inserted into an ear canal of a wearer, in which the body includes a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) polymer foam material having a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and −1. A mouth guard includes an arc-shaped element sized to be received into a mouth of a wearer. The arc-shaped element has an outer wall, an inner wall, and a biting wall connecting the outer wall and the inner wall. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the biting wall define a channel that is sized to receive upper teeth of the wearer or lower teeth of the wearer. The outer wall, the biting wall, or both includes a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) material having a Poisson's ratio between 0 and −1.

A thermoplastic elastomer compound includes a polyolefin elastomer blend of at least two different polyolefin elastomers, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer, and plasticizer. The compound has a Melt Flow Rate (230° C., 2.16 kg) of no less than about 5 g/10 min and a Melt Flow Rate (190° C., 2.16 kg) of no less than about 1 g/10 min. Elastomeric films formed from the compound can be used in place of elastomeric films based on styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) block copolymers to make components of disposable hygiene articles.

Disclosed magnetic shape-memory compositions that comprise a polymer matrix and a population of hard-magnetic particles dispersed within the polymer matrix. In some embodiments, the magnetic shape-memory compositions can further comprise a population of auxiliary magnetic particles (e.g., ferrite particles) dispersed within the polymer matrix. The compositions can exhibit 1) reversible, fast, and controllable transforming deformation, 2) shape-locking, and 3) reprogramming capabilities.

There are provided self-healing elastomeric materials and compositions and skin-like materials for use in a wide range of applications, particularly medical training simulators and mannequins. The self-healing elastomeric material comprises polysiloxane or poly ether soft segments connected via carbonate, urethane and/or urea bonds. The self-healing elastomeric material is intrinsically and/or thermally self- healing. Reusable devices, apparatuses and articles comprising the elastomeric materials as skin-like materials are disclosed.

A composite material is formed by combining an expandable polymer having a charge with another polymer having an opposite charge to produce. In particular, the composite material can be prepared by combining the polymers with a medium such as and water, and expanding the mixture using a treatment that expands the mixture to produce, for example, insoluble porous foam-like composites.

The present invention relates to an interdigitated microelectrode biosensor using the reaction between receptors and target biomaterials, the interdigitated microelectrode biosensor comprising: an insulating layer formed so as to cover all of the sensor formation area of a substrate; a first interdigitated microelectrode formed such that a plurality of first protruding electrodes are arranged in a comb shape on the insulating layer of the substrate; a second interdigitated microelectrode, facing the first interdigitated microelectrode and formed such that a plurality of second protruding electrodes are arranged in a comb shape on the insulating layer of the substrate such that the plurality of second protruding electrodes are arranged to respectively interdigitate with the plurality of first protruding electrodes formed at the first interdigitated microelectrode; and a plurality of receptors arranged in the space between the first and second interdigitated microelectrodes, which are arranged to interdigitate with each other, so as to specifically react with the target biomaterial, thereby increasing an impedance detection width and detection limit, and improving detection accuracy according to the characteristics of each monomer and each polymer.

Polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicating monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

A PEGylated polymer is disclosed according to Formula 1 wherein n is any integer from 4 to 200 monomers, and R is a polymer chain comprising a 4 to 200-monomer moiety.

A system for administering biologically active substances produced by foaming techniques using compressed gases or supercritical fluids relates to a porous system containing biologically active substances. The system includes a polymer matrix of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) or a polymer mixture containing poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) of an intrinsic viscosity of less than 0.5 dL/g with other biodegradable synthetic or semisynthetic polyesters, a release-regulating component (starch and derivatives), and at least one biologically active substance. The matrix is biodegradable with a solid or semisolid consistency and a homogeneous appearance. A method for producing these systems using foaming with compressed fluids, and the use for the production of implants and scaffolds having this system are also disclosed. Optionally, a porogenic agent can be used for the formation of macropores by thermal decomposition.

Film-forming gel compositions, useful in creating conformable and flexible gel bandages, can be formulate from a film-forming polymer, an amine-rich adhesion promoter, and a volatile solvent. The gel compositions form relatively thick films when dried on tissue, and can exhibit enhanced breathability to promote wound healing.