Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for papermaking. In embodiments, the systems include a first population of fibers dispersed in an aqueous solution and complexed with an activator, and a second population of composite additive particles bearing a tethering material, wherein the addition of the second population to the first population attaches the composite additive particles to the fibers by the interaction of the activator and the tethering material. Methods for forming a fibrous web are also disclosed, in addition to paper products formed from such fibrous webs.

Abstract: The invention relates to formulations and methods for coating a fibrous web, comprising an emulsion capable of deposition on the fibrous web, the emulsion comprising an aqueous continuous phase and a discontinuous internal phase comprising a surface-modifying agent. The fibrous web may comprise a population of fibers that are pretreated with a pretreatment polymer, such as a polycationic polymer. The fibrous web may contain cellulose fibers, or two populations of dissimilar fibers. The surface-modifying agent may contain a polymeric system that forms a coating polymer on fibers of the fibrous web following evaporation of the aqueous continuous phase of the emulsion.

Abstract: Formulations and methods for papermaking use one or more volatile debonders, where the volatile debonder forms a solution or an emulsion with water in a paper precursor, and where the volatile debonder is evaporable from the paper precursor before the paper precursor is completely dried to form a paper sheet during papermaking. Two volatile debonders having different boiling points can be used, where they are miscible in water and in each other, and where one volatile debonder has a higher molecular weight and the other volatile debonder has a lower boiling point.

Abstract: The present invention provides seed coating systems and methods for their use, where a seed coating system comprises encapsulated active ingredient particles that comprise an active ingredient and an encapsulation layer with a preselected release profile, and a polymeric seed coating, wherein the polymeric seed coating releasably affixes the encapsulated active ingredient particle in proximity to a surface of a seed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of producing an optically-enhanced paper-based material are disclosed. The composition can include an optical brightening agent and an additive having an aromatic portion, where the aromatic portion is associated with an optical brightening agent. The paper-based material can exhibit a higher capacity for the optical brightening agent relative to a paper-based material that lacks the additive. Techniques for increasing optical brightening agent retention in a paper-based material are also disclosed. The techniques include using an additive having an aromatic portion, where the aromatic portion associates with an optical brightening agent so that the retention of the optical brightening agent is improved.

Abstract: Formulations and methods for papermaking are disclosed herein using one or more volatile debonders, where the volatile debonder forms a solution or an emulsion with water in a paper precursor, and where the volatile debonder is evaporable from the paper precursor before the paper precursor is completely dried to form a paper sheet during papermaking. Two volatile debonders having different boiling points can be used, where they are miscible in water and in each other, and where one volatile debonder has a higher molecular weight and the other volatile debonder has a lower boiling point.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of producing an optically-enhanced paper-based material are disclosed. The composition can include an optical brightening agent and an additive having an aromatic portion, where the aromatic portion is associated with an optical brightening agent. The paper-based material can exhibit a higher capacity for the optical brightening agent relative to a paper-based material that lacks the additive. Techniques for increasing optical brightening agent retention in a paper-based material are also disclosed. The techniques include using an additive having an aromatic portion, where the aromatic portion associates with an optical brightening agent so that the retention of the optical brightening agent is improved.

Abstract: Formulations and methods for papermaking are disclosed herein using one or more volatile debonders, where the volatile debonder forms a solution or an emulsion with water in a paper precursor, and where the volatile debonder is evaporable from the paper precursor before the paper precursor is completely dried to form a paper sheet during papermaking. Two volatile debonders having different boiling points can be used, where they are miscible in water and in each other, and where one volatile debonder has a higher molecular weight and the other volatile debonder has a lower boiling point.

Abstract: The invention encompasses formulations for increased attachment and retention systems of biologically active organic compounds and methods for the preparation and use thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for attaching particulate additives to a population of cellulose fibers dispersed in an aqueous solution. The cellulose fibers are treated with an activator that forms complexes with them. The particulate additive is attached to a tether that is capable of interacting with the activator, thereby forming a tether-bearing particulate additive. The tether-bearing particulate additive can be added to the activated suspension of cellulose fibers. The resulting interaction between the tether and the activator forms durable complexes that attach the particulate additive to the cellulose fibers. Using these systems and methods, useful additives like starches can be attached to cellulose fibers, imparting advantageous properties such as increased strength to paper products formed thereby. These systems and methods are particularly useful for papermaking involving virgin pulp fibers, recycled fibers, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Debonding compositions and methods are disclosed for use in fibrous compositions such as paper-based products. In some instances, debonding agents can be combined with fibers (e.g., cellulose-based fibers) to produce a material having substantial wicking properties while decreasing fiber-fiber interactions that can require substantial energy to overcome in materials processing. In some instances, the debonding agent can act to create a paper-based product exhibiting a transition temperature in which the agent has a higher affinity for the fibers at temperatures above the transition temperature, and the product exhibiting enhanced wicking properties at temperatures below the transition temperature. As an example, a debonding agents can include polymers or other material exhibiting a lower critical solution temperature. The disclosed debonding agents can provide benefits over existing debonding agent formulations such as ammonium salts.

Abstract: A device for simultaneously dispensing a solution containing a sample to a test device and aspirating the sample from the device. In one embodiment the device is hand-held and includes a control mechanism, e.g., button for activating the dispensing and aspiration of the sample. The testing device may take the form of a multi-well plate with a plurality of wells arranged in rows and columns, with the bottom of the wells formed as a photonic crystal biosensor. The device can be configured with dispense and aspirate manifolds and associated dispense and aspirate ports which are positioned in all the wells along a row or column of wells so as to simultaneously aspirate and dispense solution to all the wells in a row or column of the multi-well plate.

Abstract: The invention provides formulations for facilitating the removal of oil from a surface using a chisel composition, wherein the chisel composition includes a polymer having one or more binding points with a high affinity for the surface, and one or more hydrophilic segments that form a hydrophilic coating on the surface, rendering the surface water-wet and thereby facilitating the removal of oil from the surface. The invention also provides for methods of use of such formulations.

Abstract: Fibrous materials made from multiple populations of fibers, and compositions related to preparing such, are disclosed. In some instances, fiber populations can have different native surfaces, in which at least one of the populations can be surface modified, for example by the use of a polycation (e.g., a polyamine), secondary polymers, complementary polymers, and/or other agents. These populations can be combined to form a fibrous composition, where the surface treatments can enhance properties of the end product. Populations of fibers can also have other physically varying characteristics (e.g., shapes and sizes). Such compositions can be utilized in a variety of applications such as paper products, filters, fire-retardant fibrous products, protein adsorbing fibrous materials, and fibrous sheets having conducting properties. Methods of preparing portions or the entirety of such fibrous materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A grating-based sensor is disclosed that has a grating structure constructed and designed for both evanescent resonance (ER) fluorescence detection and label-free detection applications. Some embodiments are disclosed which are optimized for ER detection in an air mode, in which the sample is dry. Other embodiments are optimized for ER detection in liquid mode, in which the sample is suspended in liquid medium such as water. One and two-dimensional gratings are also disclosed, including gratings characterized by unit cells with central posts, central holes, and two-level, two-dimensional gratings. A readout system for such sensors is also disclosed. One embodiment includes a first light source optimized for collecting label-free detection data, a second light source optimized for collecting ER fluorescence amplification data, and at least one detector. In one embodiment, the detector is an imaging system and includes a CCD camera for collecting both ER and label-free data.

Abstract: A grating-based sensor is disclosed that has a grating structure constructed and designed for both evanescent resonance (ER) fluorescence detection and label-free detection applications. Some embodiments are disclosed which are optimized for ER detection in an air mode, in which the sample is dry. Other embodiments are optimized for ER detection in liquid mode, in which the sample is suspended in liquid medium such as water. One and two-dimensional gratings are also disclosed, including gratings characterized by unit cells with central posts, central holes, and two-level, two-dimensional gratings. A readout system for such sensors is also disclosed. One embodiment includes a first light source optimized for collecting label-free detection data, a second light source optimized for collecting ER fluorescence amplification data, and at least one detector. In one embodiment, the detector is an imaging system and includes a CCD camera for collecting both ER and label-free data.

Abstract: A grating-based sensor is disclosed that has a grating structure constructed and designed for both evanescent resonance (ER) fluorescence detection and label-free detection applications. Some embodiments are disclosed which are optimized for ER detection in an air mode, in which the sample is dry. Other embodiments are optimized for ER detection in liquid mode, in which the sample is suspended in liquid medium such as water. One and two-dimensional gratings are also disclosed, including gratings characterized by unit cells with central posts, central holes, and two-level, two-dimensional gratings. A readout system for such sensors is also disclosed. One embodiment includes a first light source optimized for collecting label-free detection data, a second light source optimized for collecting ER fluorescence amplification data, and at least one detector. In one embodiment, the detector is in the form of an imaging system and includes a CCD camera for collecting both ER and label-free data.

Abstract: A method of making a measurement of binding affinity of a sample comprises the steps of: introducing the sample into a well having a bottom formed as a photonic crystal biosensor, wherein a portion of the sample becomes bound to the biosensor; making a measurement of the change in the shift in peak wavelength value as a function of time (kon) from the well as the sample is introduced into the well; simultaneously dispensing the sample to the well and aspirating the sample from the well and measuring the change in the shift in peak wavelength value as a function of time (koff) during the simultaneous dispensing and aspirating, and calculating an equilibrium association constant or an equilibrium dissociation constant for the sample from the values of kon and koff.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of producing an optically-enhanced paper-based material are disclosed. The composition can include an optical brightening agent and an additive having an aromatic portion, where the aromatic portion is associated with an optical brightening agent. The paper-based material can exhibit a higher capacity for the optical brightening agent relative to a paper-based material that lacks the additive. Techniques for increasing optical brightening agent retention in a paper-based material are also disclosed. The techniques include using an additive having an aromatic portion, where the aromatic portion associates with an optical brightening agent so that the retention of the optical brightening agent is improved.

Abstract: A grating-based sensor is disclosed that has a grating structure constructed and designed for both evanescent resonance (ER) fluorescence detection and label-free detection applications. Some embodiments are disclosed which are optimized for ER detection in an air mode, in which the sample is dry. Other embodiments are optimized for ER detection in liquid mode, in which the sample is suspended in liquid medium such as water. One and two-dimensional gratings are also disclosed, including gratings characterized by unit cells with central posts, central holes, and two-level, two-dimensional gratings. A readout system for such sensors is also disclosed. One embodiment includes a first light source optimized for collecting label-free detection data, a second light source optimized for collecting ER fluorescence amplification data, and at least one detector. In one embodiment, the detector is an imaging system and includes a CCD camera for collecting both ER and label-free data.