An aqueous suspension of polymer bodies is made by coalescing polymer from a flowing aqueous solution. These suspended bodies may be fibrous in appearance. However, the coalescence of the polymer bodies may be controlled to produce shapes. The coalesced polymer bodies are used for treating a downhole location within or accessed by a borehole. The bodies may be formed by coalescence at the surface and then pumped downhole or may be formed by coalescence downhole. Coalescence of polymer may result from crosslinking, complexing with material of opposite charge, or change in the polymer solution temperature, pH, solute concentration or solvent. The coalesced polymer bodies are maintained in aqueous solution after coalescence, and are not removed from solution for strengthening.

Disclosed herein compositions of polysaccharides chemically cross-linked by aromatic dialdehydes. The compositions may be in form of polymeric sheets for a variety of applications. Disclosed also nano-sized particles comprising the polysaccharide chemically cross-linked by aromatic dialdehydes. The nano-sized particles may further comprise lipids and surfactants. Intranasal delivery of the nano-sized particles enables delivery of biologically active agents into the brain. Topical and transdermal delivery of the nano-sized particles enables delivery of biologically active agents for treatment of systemic or dermatological disorders. Methods of manufacturing and uses of the compositions are also disclosed.

A biocompatible membrane comprised of alginate and hyaluronate. The membrane may be used to prevent unwanted scarring after surgery. The tissue adherence and the rate of bioresorption of the membrane may be modified through an external stimulus comprising a sequestering agent and a viscosity modifier.

The present invention relates to functionalized hydrogel networks grafted with at least one moiety for use in numerous fields, from cosmetics to surgery and medicine.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous scaffold for tissue engineering. It is another object of the present invention to provide a porous scaffold obtainable by the method as above described, and its use for tissue engineering, cell culture and cell delivery. The method of the invention comprises the steps consisting of: a) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising an amount of at least one polysaccharide, an amount of a cross-linking agent and an amount of a porogen agent b) transforming the solution into a hydrogel by placing said solution at a temperature from about 4° C. to about 80° C. for a sufficient time to allow the cross-linking of said amount of polysaccharide and c) submerging said hydrogel into an aqueous solution d) washing the porous scaffold obtained at step c).

A low cost, sandwich-structured thin film composite (TFC) anion exchange membrane for redox flow batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, and other electrochemical reaction applications is described. The sandwich-structured TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane, a first hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous substrate layer, a cross-linked protonated polyamine anion exchange polymer coating layer on top of the first hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer, and a second hydrophilic ionomeric polymer protective layer on top of the cross-linked protonated polyamine anion exchange polymer coating layer. Methods of making the TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane and redox flow battery system incorporating the TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane are also described.

Provided are novel alginic acid derivatives and a novel crosslinked alginic acid. The alginic acid derivatives are represented by formula (I) and formula (II). The novel crosslinked alginic acid obtained by Huisgen reaction using an alginic acid derivative of formula (I) and an alginic acid derivative of formula (II).

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Disclosed herein compositions of polysaccharides chemically cross-linked by aromatic dialdehydes. The compositions may be in form of polymeric sheets for a variety of applications. Disclosed also nano-sized particles comprising the polysaccharide chemically cross-linked by aromatic dialdehydes. The nano-sized particles may further comprise lipids and surfactants. Intranasal delivery of the nano-sized particles enables delivery of biologically active agents into the brain. Topical and transdermal delivery of the nano-sized particles enables delivery of biologically active agents for treatment of systemic or dermatological disorders. Methods of manufacturing and uses of the compositions are also disclosed.

A composition that is self-foaming in an acid medium, and includes: at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one compound capable of crosslinking the hydrophilic polymer by forming ionic bonds, at least one foaming agent, and at least one foam stabilizer agent; and to the use thereof as a drug, particularly for preventing and/or treating obesity.

A method for preparing a hydrogel includes forming a pre-gel comprising polymer and metal salt particles, unidirectionally-shrinking and dehydrating the pre-gel, and impregnating the unidirectionally shrunk and dehydrated pre-gel with an ion solution to crosslink and rehydrate the unidirectionally shrunk and dehydrated pre-gel to produce the hydrogel.