Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a liquid entrapping device having the capacity to absorb liquids. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a liquid entrapping device comprising an absorbent component, hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component in fluid communication therewith, and optionally an adhesive component. The present invention is also directed to a liquid entrapping device having the capacity to absorb liquids while maintaining a suitable degree of mechanical strength. Furthermore, the present invention is generally directed to methods for making and using the foregoing devices and materials.

Abstract: A non-woven fiber assembly comprises one or more fibers containing an adhesive component, an elastomeric component, and a hydrophilic component. A method of making a non-woven fiber assembly comprises the steps of providing one or more fiber-forming materials comprising an adhesive component, an elastomeric component, and a hydrophilic component, and forming said one or more fiber-forming materials into at least one fiber. A method of treating a patient comprises applying a medical dressing comprising the fiber assembly of the present invention to a patient. An apparatus (10) for forming a non-woven fiber assembly comprises a plurality of reservoirs (12, 16, 20) for containing more than one type of fiber-forming material, a plurality of valves (14, 18, 22), each independently in communication with a reservoir, and a fiber-forming device (28) selected from the group consisting of a spinnerette, a NGJ nozzle, and an electrospinning device, in communication with the valves.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for producing polymer nanostructures, the method comprising the steps of: forming at least one nanostructure substrate, web, membrane or mat; exposing the at least one nanostructure substrate, web, membrane or mat to at least one monomer composition, where the at least one monomer composition is in a vapor phase and the at least one monomer composition is deposited on the surface of and/or within the at least one nanostructure substrate, web, membrane or mat; and subjecting the at least one exposed nanostructure substrate, web, membrane or mat to conditions suitable to polymerize the at least one monomer composition, thereby yielding polymer nanostructures where the polymer nanostructures are formed on and/or in the nanostructure substrate, web, membrane or mat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fibrous protein-immobilization system composition comprising a fiber comprising fiber-forming material, and a protein attached to the fiber-forming material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fibrous catalyst-immobilization system that can be employed for immobilizing catalysts that are subject to fluid flow within a chemical production process. The fibrous systems can be synthesized using electrospinning and the catalysts are secured in the fibers during the electrospinning process.

Abstract: A method for removing a liquid from a gas, comprises passing the gas and the liquid through a network of fibers containing at least one fiber in which a temperature gradient has been induced along at least a portion of the length of the fiber, thereby permitting droplets of the liquid to be captured by the at least one fiber, and wherein the temperature gradient causes migration of the droplets. A method of preventing the fouling of a coalescence filter is also disclosed. The method comprises inducing a temperature gradient along at least a portion of a length of at least one fiber within the filter, wherein the temperature gradient causes migration of liquid droplets captured by the fiber. A coalescence filter medium comprising at least one fiber in which a temperature gradient has been induced along at least a portion of the length of the fiber is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fibrous catalyst-immobilization system that can be employed for immobilizing catalysts that are subject to fluid flow within a chemical production process. The fibrous systems can be synthesized using electrospinning and the catalysts are secured in the fibers during the electrospinning process.

Abstract: A method of mixing including providing a slurry (26, 126) having a first fiber (14, 114) into a container (20, 120), introducing an agitation fluid (31, 138) into the slurry to cause a mixing motion (38, 138) within the slurry, and delivering a second fiber (16, 116) into the slurry, whereby the mixing motion mixes the first and second fibers to create a fiber mixture.