The invention relates to polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings and, methods for their preparation and application to substrates to enhance the bioactivity and corrosion protection of the substrates' surface. The invention is particularly suitable for coating substrates employed for medical applications, such as but not limited to medical implant devices for drug and/or biologics delivery in a patient. The substrate has a positive or negative charge. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings include at least a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer. The first polymer and second polymer have opposite charges. Each of the polymer layers is individually applied using a layer-by-layer such that an alternating charge multilayer coating is formed.

The invention relates to polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings and, methods for their preparation and application to substrates to enhance the bioactivity and corrosion protection of the substrates' surface. The invention is particularly suitable for coating substrates employed for medical applications, such as but not limited to medical implant devices for drug and/or biologics delivery in a patient. The substrate has a positive or negative charge. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings include at least a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer. The first polymer and second polymer have opposite charges. Each of the polymer layers is individually applied using a layer-by-layer such that an alternating charge multilayer coating is formed.

A method of encapsulating content with calcium alginate membrane to form a capsule. The method includes embedding sodium alginate into a traditional gelatin ribbon used in gelatin encapsulation, adding calcium to a fill material, encapsulating the fill material, and then denaturing the gelatin in the shell. An exemplary use of this method is to form throwable paintballs; however, other products could be formed using this process. A paintball formed by this process is also disclosed.

A method of encapsulating content with calcium alginate membrane to form a capsule. The method includes embedding sodium alginate into a traditional gelatin ribbon used in gelatin encapsulation, adding calcium to a fill material, encapsulating the fill material, and then denaturing the gelatin in the shell. An exemplary use of this method is to form throwable paintballs; however, other products could be formed using this process. A paintball formed by this process is also disclosed.

Provided is a coating-fixing agent for transplanting a cell or a tissue onto the surface of an organ, intestinal membrane, peritoneal membrane, etc. Provided are: a formulation for coating and fixing a graft, the formulation comprising alginate; a formulation kit for coating and fixing a graft, comprising a formulation containing alginate and a divalent or higher valent metal salt in combination; and a method for transplanting a graft, comprising: transplanting the graft to a transplant site of a human or a non-human animal, and coating the graft with alginate.

Provided is a coating-fixing agent for transplanting a cell or a tissue onto the surface of an organ, intestinal membrane, peritoneal membrane, etc. Provided are: a formulation for coating and fixing a graft, the formulation comprising alginate; a formulation kit for coating and fixing a graft, comprising a formulation containing alginate and a divalent or higher valent metal salt in combination; and a method for transplanting a graft, comprising: transplanting the graft to a transplant site of a human or a non-human animal, and coating the graft with alginate.

A seed or seedling is coated with underivatized guar, cationic hydroxypropyl guar, polyacrylamide, poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), polyacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol), polyethyleneoxide, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyglycerol, polytetrahydrofuran, polyamide, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, underivatized starch, cationic starch, corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum, waxy sarghum, sago, dextrin, chitin, chitosan, xanthan gum, carageenan gum, gum karaya, gum arabic, pectin, cellulose, hydroxycellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, or hydroxypropyl cellulose, the coated seed or seedling having a shelf-life at room temperature in ambient conditions in an unsealed container to at least two months.

A seed or seedling is coated with underivatized guar, cationic hydroxypropyl guar, polyacrylamide, poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), polyacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol), polyethyleneoxide, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyglycerol, polytetrahydrofuran, polyamide, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, underivatized starch, cationic starch, corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum, waxy sarghum, sago, dextrin, chitin, chitosan, xanthan gum, carageenan gum, gum karaya, gum arabic, pectin, cellulose, hydroxycellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, or hydroxypropyl cellulose, the coated seed or seedling having a shelf-life at room temperature in ambient conditions in an unsealed container to at least two months.

Provided is an agent for dispersing an electrically conductive carbon material, in which the agent consists of a polymer which has an oxazoline group in a side chain and which is obtained by using an oxazoline group-containing monomer such as that represented by formula (1) for example, and in which the agent exhibits excellent dispersion of an electrically conductive carbon material and produces a thin film that exhibits excellent adhesion to a current collection substrate when formed into a thin film together with the electrically conductive carbon material. ##STR00001## (In the formula, X denotes a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group, and R.sup.1-R.sup.4 each independently denote a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group optionally having a branched structure having 1-5 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7-20 carbon atoms.)

Provided is an agent for dispersing an electrically conductive carbon material, in which the agent consists of a polymer which has an oxazoline group in a side chain and which is obtained by using an oxazoline group-containing monomer such as that represented by formula (1) for example, and in which the agent exhibits excellent dispersion of an electrically conductive carbon material and produces a thin film that exhibits excellent adhesion to a current collection substrate when formed into a thin film together with the electrically conductive carbon material. ##STR00001## (In the formula, X denotes a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group, and R.sup.1-R.sup.4 each independently denote a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group optionally having a branched structure having 1-5 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7-20 carbon atoms.)