The present invention relates in part to the unexpected discovery of novel hybrid organic-inorganic aerogel materials with one-dimensionally aligned pores.

Doubly-crosslinked hydrogel polyHIPEs (DC-PHs), which exhibit rapid water absorption, enhanced mechanical properties, and shape memory behavior, are provided herein, as well as processes of producing the same and uses thereof. DC-PHs comprise a continuous HIPE-templated doubly-crosslinked hydrogel, formed from hydrogel-forming monomers, ligand-bearing monomers, and crosslinking monomers.

To provide a collagen sponge excellent in mechanical strength and a production method for the collagen sponge. A collagen sponge including a porous construct having a pore structure, the collagen sponge having a tensile strength of 1 N or more and 5 N or less in every direction including a length direction and a width direction. The collagen sponge may be produced by a production method including the following steps: (1) a step of subjecting a collagen solution obtained by mixing collagen and a solvent to stirring and deaeration treatment; (2) a step of subjecting the collagen solution to freeze-dry treatment; and (3) a step of subjecting a dried collagen product after the freeze-dry treatment to insoluble treatment.

Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials are generally described. In certain cases, the methods do not require supercritical drying as part of the manufacturing process. In some cases, certain combinations of materials, solvents, and/or processing steps may be synergistically employed so as to enable manufacture of large (e.g., meter-scale), substantially crack free, and/or mechanically strong aerogel materials.

The present invention discloses a versatile, macroporous, omniphilic polymeric sponges for absorption of organic liquids of varying polarity as well as water. Particularly, disclosed herein is an ice-templated macroporous omniphilic polymeric sponge as inexpensive versatile absorbents.

Aerogel compositions, methods for preparing the aerogel compositions, articles of manufacture that include or are made from the aerogel compositions are described and uses thereof. The aerogels include a branched polyimide matrix with little to no crosslinked polymers.

An aerogel that includes an open-cell structure and a polymer matrix is disclosed. The polymer matrix can include a branched polyimide polymer having a degree of branching of at least 0.5. The polymer matrix can contain less than 5% by weight of crosslinked polymers.

Aerogel compositions, methods for preparing the aerogel compositions, articles of manufacture that include or are made from the aerogel compositions are described and uses thereof. The aerogels include a branched polyimide matrix with little to no crosslinked polymers.

The present invention provides a nanocomposite hydrogel and a preparation method thereof, and relates to the field of nanocomposite materials. The nanocomposite hydrogel is prepared by mixing completely gelatinized short amylose with an aqueous gelatin solution having a mass concentration of 8%-14%, and then cooling. The present invention utilizes the nanoparticles formed by in-situ self-assembly of the short amylose in the aqueous gelatin solution as a reinforcing agent, and the nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in the hydrogel to form a stable crystallization system, such that the prepared nanocomposite hydrogel exhibits optimal mechanical properties in terms of viscoelasticity, hardness, compressive stress, etc. The preparation process of the present invention is green and environmentally friendly, simple and efficient, and can be widely applied to the fields of food, cosmetics and medicine.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous layer of biocompatible polymer, having a uniform density and porosity, comprising the following steps: a) a quantity Qp of solution of the said polymer, having a viscosity Vp, is poured into a mold in order to form a first sublayer, the surface of the first sublayer being left to the open air; b) a quantity Qs of solvent, having a viscosity Vs, lower than Vp, is spread uniformly over the surface of the first sublayer so as to form a second sublayer; c) the first and second sublayers are subjected to a step of lyophilization, in which the said polymer is a polysaccharide chosen from hyaluronic acid, alginic acid and chitosan, salts thereof and mixtures thereof.