A biocompatible, covalently cross-linked, polymer that is obtained by reacting an electrophilically activated polyoxazoline (EL-PDX) with a nucleophilic cross-linking agent is disclosed. The EL-PDX comprises m electrophilic groups; and the nucleophilic cross-linking agent comprises n nucleophilic groups, wherein the m electrophilic groups are capable of reacting with the n nucleophilic groups to form covalent bonds; wherein m≧2, n≧2 and m+n≧5; wherein at least one of the m electrophilic groups is a pendant electrophilic group and/or wherein m≧3; and wherein the EL-PDX comprises an excess amount of electrophilic groups relative to the amount of nucleophilic groups contained in the nucleophilic cross-linking agent. Biocompatible medical products and kits comprising the cross-linked PDX-polymers are also disclosed.

The invention concerns methods and compositions for modifying a surface of a material by anchoring a surface modifying additive to a polymer matrix using an anchor molecule, wherein the surface modifying additive and the anchor molecule are both added to a melt phase of the polymer matrix.

Disclosed herein are crosslinked polycarbonates, composition thereof and methods thereof. The crosslinked polycarbonates can be prepared from allyl or epoxy polycarbonates. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a protein cage which comprises: a 1.sup.st step of preparing an amphiphilic polymer comprising a 1.sup.st hydrophobic polymer and a 1.sup.st hydrophilic functional group; a 2.sup.nd step of preparing a hydrophilic protein comprising a 2.sup.nd functional group binding to the 1.sup.st functional group; a 3.sup.rd step of forming an amphiphilic polymer-protein hybrid by the binding of the 1.sup.st functional group and the 2.sup.nd functional group, and forming core-shell structured particles comprising a protein shell and an amphiphilic polymer core by the self-assembly of the amphiphilic polymer in a hydrophilic solvent; and a fourth step of removing some or all of the hydrophobic polymer of the core part from the core-shell structured particles.

Hydrogels are based on the reaction of thiols with electron-deficient heteroaromatics. This reaction can take place under physiological conditions and is thus suitable for the encapsulation of cells.

Methods and compositions for improving performance of flocculants in an industrial production process. Methods include pH triggered cross-linking reaction between a flocculating agent, such as dextran, and a composition comprising a boronic acid-containing polymer. The pH trigger can be provided by a fluid having a pH of 8 or more. The production process can be a Bayer Process and the fluid is caustic liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the Bayer, wherein the reaction time is reduced over conventional methods and the cross-linked dextran composition effectuates improved flocculation of the trihydrate particles.

The present invention relates to methods for the welding of foam particles, by electromagnetic waves, wherein foam particles with a surface modification are welded in a molding tool by electromagnetic waves, wherein the surface modification is produced by contacting the foam particles with a solution containing polymers which are capable of forming intra- or inter-molecular covalent bonds, under the conditions required for this purpose.

The present application provides polymer materials having the desired properties for implantation into a human or animal body, in particular, biocompatibility, biodegradability, radiopacity and mechanical properties. Methods of making such polymer materials, compositions or devices comprising such polymer materials, and uses of such polymer materials, compositions and devices are also disclosed.

To provide a method for producing crosslinked rubber excellent in hardness and transparency.

The method for producing crosslinked rubber of the present invention is a method for producing crosslinked rubber, which comprises crosslinking a fluorinated copolymer in a composition comprising the fluorinated copolymer, a crosslinking agent and a crosslinking co-agent, wherein the fluorinated copolymer is a copolymer having units based on tetrafluoroethylene and units based on a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), the content of the units based on tetrafluoroethylene is from 65 to 90 mol % to all units of the fluorinated copolymer, in the composition, the content of the crosslinking agent is from 0.03 to 0.7 part by mass to 100 parts by mass of the fluorinated copolymer, the content of the crosslinking co-agent is from 0.1 to 2.5 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass of the fluorinated copolymer, and the hardness is from 65 to 100.

Artificial cartilage materials for repair and replacement of cartilage (e.g., load-bearing, articular cartilage). The artificial cartilage materials described herein include triple-network hydrogels including a cross-linked fiber network (e.g., a bacterial cellulose nanofiber network) and a double-network hydrogel (e.g., a double-network hydrogel including polfacrylamide-methyl propyl sulfonic acid). The artificial cartilage may be coated onto or formed into an implant (e.g., plug). The artificial cartilage may include a surface macroporosity, e.g., 0.1-300 micrometers diameter. Also described herein are methods of forming and methods of using the triple-network hydrogel artificial cartilage materials.