Materials and methods for immobilizing bioactive molecules, stem and other precursor cells, and other agents of therapeutic value in surgical sutures and other tissue scaffold devices are described herein. Broadly drawn to the integration and incorporation of bioactive materials into suture constructs, tissue scaffolds and medical devices, the present invention has particular utility in the development of novel systems that enable medical personnel performing surgical and other medical procedures to utilize and subsequently reintroduce bioactive materials extracted from a patient (or their allogenic equivalents) to a wound or target surgical site.

Materials and methods for immobilizing bioactive molecules, stem and other precursor cells, and other agents of therapeutic value in surgical sutures and other tissue scaffold devices are described herein. Broadly drawn to the integration and incorporation of bioactive materials into suture constructs, tissue scaffolds and medical devices, the present invention has particular utility in the development of novel systems that enable medical personnel performing surgical and other medical procedures to utilize and subsequently reintroduce bioactive materials extracted from a patient (or their allogenic equivalents) to a wound or target surgical site.

A method is provided for coating a fibrous web, in particular a fibrous web comprising nanocellulose fibres. The method includes steps of applying a coating agent to a textured surface region of a textured substrate, applying a fibre furnish or a wet fibrous web onto the coated textured surface region of the textured substrate, optionally dewatering to provide a wet fibrous web, and drying said wet fibrous web such that at least a portion of said coating agent is transferred to said fibrous web. The method provides a coated fibrous web with improved barrier properties.

A method is provided for coating a fibrous web, in particular a fibrous web comprising nanocellulose fibres. The method includes steps of applying a coating agent to a textured surface region of a textured substrate, applying a fibre furnish or a wet fibrous web onto the coated textured surface region of the textured substrate, optionally dewatering to provide a wet fibrous web, and drying said wet fibrous web such that at least a portion of said coating agent is transferred to said fibrous web. The method provides a coated fibrous web with improved barrier properties.

A spray device and a method of using the spray device are provided. The spray device facilitates the application of a liquid such as a pretreatment liquid to an area of a fabric material. The spray device can be positioned on or adjacent portions of the fabric material and/or a substrate supporting the fabric material. The spray device can be activated to spray the pretreatment liquid and move the spray device on portions of the fabric material and/or the substrate supporting the fabric material.

A spray device and a method of using the spray device are provided. The spray device facilitates the application of a liquid such as a pretreatment liquid to an area of a fabric material. The spray device can be positioned on or adjacent portions of the fabric material and/or a substrate supporting the fabric material. The spray device can be activated to spray the pretreatment liquid and move the spray device on portions of the fabric material and/or the substrate supporting the fabric material.

A dispersion device configured to disperse a coloring material to a cloth substrate, comprising a hollow housing that contains the coloring material therein, the hollow housing being configured to fracture upon application of a force to the housing and disperse the coloring material to the cloth substrate to color the cloth substrate.

A dispersion device configured to disperse a coloring material to a cloth substrate, comprising a hollow housing that contains the coloring material therein, the hollow housing being configured to fracture upon application of a force to the housing and disperse the coloring material to the cloth substrate to color the cloth substrate.

Methods to increase structural performance, strength, and durability of textile-reinforced composite materials are provided. The textile reinforcement may be knitted, for example, in a flat bed weft knitting machine. The method may include pre-stressing a textile reinforcement preform by applying tension. A polymeric precursor may be introduced to the pre-stressed textile reinforcement preform. The polymeric precursor may then be cured or consolidated, followed by releasing of the applied tension to form the composite article comprising polymer and the pre-stressed textile reinforcement. In other aspects, a composite article is provided that has a pre-stressed textile reinforcement structure and a cured polymer. The textile reinforcement may be a knitted, lightweight, seamless, unitary structure. The knitted reinforcement structure may have distinct first and second knitted regions with different levels of pre-stress, thus providing enhanced control over strength, rigidity, and flexibility of the composite article.

Methods to increase structural performance, strength, and durability of textile-reinforced composite materials are provided. The textile reinforcement may be knitted, for example, in a flat bed weft knitting machine. The method may include pre-stressing a textile reinforcement preform by applying tension. A polymeric precursor may be introduced to the pre-stressed textile reinforcement preform. The polymeric precursor may then be cured or consolidated, followed by releasing of the applied tension to form the composite article comprising polymer and the pre-stressed textile reinforcement. In other aspects, a composite article is provided that has a pre-stressed textile reinforcement structure and a cured polymer. The textile reinforcement may be a knitted, lightweight, seamless, unitary structure. The knitted reinforcement structure may have distinct first and second knitted regions with different levels of pre-stress, thus providing enhanced control over strength, rigidity, and flexibility of the composite article.