Patents by Inventor Elisa Mele
Elisa Mele has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10188999Abstract: Globular microstructures comprising a liquid core and a solid shell that envelops the core comprising polymeric micro- or nanofibers, preferably obtained by electrospinning, comprising a hydrophobic polymer or a mixture of hydrophobic polymer with polymers derived from cellulose or with polyacrylates; the microstructures may have a further coating of nanoparticles or polymeric coating. The microstructures have applications similar to those of “liquid marbles” with improved mechanical properties.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TechnologiaInventors: Elisa Mele, Ilker S. Bayer, Pier Paolo Pompa, Gabriele Maiorano, Athanasia Athanasiou, Roberto Cingolani
-
Patent number: 10087311Abstract: Process for producing a hydrophobic composite bioelastomer, comprising a cross-linked bioelastomer matrix in which an organic phase is dispersed, comprising the reaction of cross-linking of a hydroxyl-terminated polysiloxane with a silane coupling agent, comprising an acetoxysilane, to obtain a cross-linked polysiloxane with release of acetic acid. The reaction of cross-linking is carried out in the presence of starch to cause at least partial in situ acetylation by the acetic acid released from said starch that is incorporated in the cross-linked bioelastomer matrix.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECHNOLOGIAInventors: Ilker S. Bayer, Elisa Mele, Despina Fragouli, Roberto Cingolani, Athanasia Athanasiou
-
Patent number: 10071173Abstract: Composition in the form of a shaped device, for use as a fiducial marker in tissues in the animal body, in radiotherapy and/or radiosurgery, characterized in that it comprises:—a core consisting of a colloidal dispersion of metal nanoparticles and/or oxides or metal salts having X-ray-contrast properties, where said nanoparticles are stabilized with surfactants, polymers or capping agents in a liquid vehicle, and—a polymeric casing that encapsulates the core, said device having a minimum size of not less than 500 microns and a maximum size not greater than 3000 microns.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECHNOLOGIAInventors: Gabriele Maiorano, Elisa Mele, Athanasia Athanasiou, Pier Paolo Pompa
-
Publication number: 20180110884Abstract: Composition in the form of a shaped device, for use as a fiducial marker in tissues in the animal body, in radiotherapy and/or radiosurgery, characterized in that it comprises: —a core consisting of a colloidal dispersion of metal nanoparticles and/or oxides or metal salts having X-ray-contrast properties, where said nanoparticles are stabilized with surfactants, polymers or capping agents in a liquid vehicle, and —a polymeric casing that encapsulates the core, said device having a minimum size of not less than 500 microns and a maximum size not greater than 3000 microns.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: GABRIELE MAIORANO, ELISA MELE, ATHANASIA ATHANASIOU, PEIR PAOLO POMPA
-
Patent number: 9758643Abstract: Methods for the production of a biodegradable plastics material obtained from plant waste materials are provided which include the steps of dissolving plant waste material in an anhydrous solvent which includes anhydrous trifluoroacetic acid in order to dissolve a cellulose fraction of the material, the waste material being at least partly dehydrated in such a way that its water content is not likely to cause hydrolysis of the cellulose fraction, and removing the solvent from the solution containing the non-hydrolyzed cellulose fraction.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TENOLOGIAInventors: Ilker S. Bayer, Elisa Mele, Despina Fragouli, Roberto Cingolani, Athanasia Athanasiou
-
Patent number: 9676914Abstract: Process for the production of a polymer foam with use of hydrogel pearls as porosity generating template, comprising the steps of:—providing a matrix of polymer or prepolymer in viscous state including, as a dispersed phase, hydrogel pearls, where said pearls are dispersed in said matrix so as to generate intercommunicating cells,—causing the solidification of the matrix of polymer or prepolymer to obtain said polymer foam including said hydrogel pearls, characterised in that it comprises the operation of subjecting the thus obtained foam to conditions which cause the dehydration of said hydrogel pearls so as to obtain a reduction of volume of said pearls and—removing the dehydrated pearls by immersion in water of the polymer foam or by exposure of the foam to a flow of pressurized gas or water.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIAInventors: Despina Fragouli, Elisa Mele, Athanasia Athanasiou
-
Patent number: 9624397Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of poly(cyanoacrylate) micro- or nanofibers which include mixing the cyanoacrylate monomer with a dipolar aprotic solvent to form a poly(cyanoacrylate) gel, dissolving the gel in a solvent for acrylates to form a solution suitable for electrospinning, and submitting the solution thus obtained to electrospinning to form said micro- or nanofibers. The micro- or nanofibers thus obtained can be used to form coatings that adhere to a substrate as a result of thermal treatment.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIAInventors: Ilker S. Bayer, Elisa Mele, Roberto Cingolani, Athanasia Athanasiou
-
Publication number: 20160325258Abstract: Globular microstructures comprising a liquid core and a solid shell that envelops the core comprising polymeric micro- or nanofibres, preferably obtained by electrospinning, comprising a hydrophobic polymer or a mixture of hydrophobic polymer with polymers derived from cellulose or with polyacrylates; the microstructures may have a further coating of nanoparticles or polymeric coating. The microstructures have applications similar to those of “liquid marbles” with improved mechanical properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaInventors: Elisa Mele, Ilker S. Bayer, Pier Paolo Pompa, Gabriele Maiorano, Athanasia Athanasiou, Roberto Cingolani
-
Publication number: 20160251501Abstract: Methods for the production of a biodegradable plastics material obtained from plant waste materials are provided which include the steps of dissolving plant waste material in an anhydrous solvent which includes anhydrous trifluoroacetic acid in order to dissolve a cellulose fraction of the material, the waste material being at least partly dehydrated in such a way that its water content is not likely to cause hydrolysis of the cellulose fraction, and removing the solvent from the solution containing the non-hydrolysed cellulose fraction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2014Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECHNOLOGIAInventors: Ilker S. BAYER, Elisa MELE, Despina FRAGOULI, Roberto CINGOLANI, Athanasia ATHANASIOU
-
Publication number: 20160160011Abstract: Process for producing a hydrophobic composite bioelastomer, comprising a cross-linked bioelastomer matrix in which an organic phase is dispersed, comprising the reaction of cross-linking of a hydroxyl-terminated polysiloxane with a silane coupling agent, comprising an acetoxysilane, to obtain a cross-linked polysiloxane with release of acetic acid. The reaction of cross-linking is carried out in the presence of starch to cause at least partial in situ acetylation by the acetic acid released from said starch that is incorporated in the cross-linked bioelastomer matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2014Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Ilker S. BAYER, Elisa MELE, Despina FRAGOULI, Roberto CINGOLANI, Athanasia THANASIOU
-
Publication number: 20160115339Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of poly(cyanoacrylate) micro- or nanofibers which include mixing the cyanoacrylate monomer with a dipolar aprotic solvent to form a poly(cyanoacrylate) gel, dissolving the gel in a solvent for acrylates to form a solution suitable for electrospinning, and submitting the solution thus obtained to electrospinning to form said micro- or nanofibers. The micro- or nanofibers thus obtained can be used to form coatings that adhere to a substrate as a result of thermal treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2014Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Ilker S. BAYER, Elisa MELE, Roberto CINGOLANI, Athanasia ATHANASIOU
-
Publication number: 20150315353Abstract: Process for the production of a polymer foam with use of hydrogel pearls as porosity generating template, comprising the steps of:—providing a matrix of polymer or prepolymer in viscous state including, as a dispersed phase, hydrogel pearls, where said pearls are dispersed in said matrix so as to generate intercommunicating cells,—causing the solidification of the matrix of polymer or prepolymer to obtain said polymer foam including said hydrogel pearls, characterised in that it comprises the operation of subjecting the thus obtained foam to conditions which cause the dehydration of said hydrogel pearls so as to obtain a reduction of volume of said pearls and—removing the dehydrated pearls by immersion in water of the polymer foam or by exposure of the foam to a flow of pressurized gas or water.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DE TECNOLOGIAInventors: Despina Fragouli, Elisa Mele, Athanasia Athanasiou