Abstract: This invention relates to novel calcium phosphate coated implantable medical devices, and electrophoretic deposition processes for making same. A process of coating an implantable medical device with a calcium phosphate coating comprising: (a) pretreating a substrate with an alkaline solution; (b) preparing a slurry comprising a solvent and a defined size range of calcium phosphate particles; (c) immersing the pretreated substrate in the slurry; and (d) coating the calcium phosphate particles onto the pretreated substrate by electrophoretic deposition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrogen generating microporous metals, methods for preparing microporous metals, and methods for producing hydrogen from water using the metals and systems of the invention. In particular, microporous metals selected from the group comprising aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), capable of producing hydrogen upon reaction of the metal with water having a neutral pH are provided. Methods for preparing microporous metals comprising the steps of selecting a metal that is sufficiently electropositive (i.e. water reactive); and introducing microporosity in the selected metal by means of mechanical deformation, or metallurgical techniques, in order to generate the microporous metal are also provided, as is a method for producing hydrogen comprising reacting a microporous metal powder with water at a pH of between 4 and 10.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, compositions and systems for producing hydrogen from water involving reacting metal particles with water in the presence of an effective amount of catalyst. In particular the invention pertains to methods, compositions and systems for producing hydrogen upon reaction of metal particles selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) with water, in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a water-soluble inorganic salt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating hydrogen by hydrolytic reaction and supplying the hydrogen to a user device, such as a fuel cell. Water is selectively supplied to a reactor vessel containing supply of an aluminum composite reactive material to produce the hydrolytic reaction. Hydrogen from the reaction vessel is supplied to at least one metal hydride buffer vessel at a relatively high pressure, and is released from the buffer vessel to the user device at a relatively low pressure. In the case of fuel cells, the relatively low pressure is less than the maximum allowable supply pressure of the cell, obviating potential damage thereto. The hydrogen flow may be switched alternately between a plurality of buffer vessels, so that one vessel is being charged at the relatively higher pressure while the other is releasing hydrogen to the fuel cell at the relatively low pressure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel polymer-ceramic matrix composites and processes for making same. The composites can be used in biomedical applications, in particular, coatings of implants and other medical devices, where both the ceramic phase and the polymer phase are bio-compatible. The composites combine a reinforcing polymer phase with a continuous ceramic matrix to create materials with properties that are new and superior to polymer or ceramic phases alone. The composites can incorporate a bioactive agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel calcium phosphate-coated implantable medical devices and processes of making same. The calcium-phosphate coatings are designed to minimize the immune response to the implant (e.g. restenosis in stenting procedures) and can be used to store and release a medicinally active agent in a controlled manner. Such coatings can be applied to any implantable medical devices and are useful for a number of medical procedures including (but not limited to) balloon angioplasty in cardiovascular stenting, ureteral stenting and catheterisation. The calcium phosphate coatings can be applied to a substrate as one or more coatings by a sol-gel deposition process, an aerosol-gel deposition process, a biomimetic deposition process, a calcium phosphate cement deposition process, an electro-phoretic deposition process or an electrochemical deposition process. The coating can contain and elude a drug in an engineered manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, compositions and systems for producing hydrogen from water involving reacting metal particles with water in the presence of an effective amount of catalyst. In particular the invention pertains to methods, compositions and systems for producing hydrogen upon reaction of metal particles selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) with water, in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a water-soluble inorganic salt.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel process of preparing chemically bonded composite hydroxide ceramics by exposing a thermally treated hydroxide ceramic to phosphate reagent and subsequent heat treating the resulting system to initiate a rapid chemical bonding reaction. Such combined hydroxide/chemical bonding process can be used to fabricate ceramics or ceramic coatings for a variety of high and low temperature applications, including corrosion protection, wear resistance, dielectric properties, metal reinforced ceramics, ceramic membranes, non-sticky surfaces, bio-active ceramics, thermal barrier ceramics, non-wetted surfaces, and others.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel room-temperature process for obtaining calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite, coatings and microspheres that encapsulate drugs, proteins, genes, DNA for therapeutical use. The coatings and microspheres are designed to perform a defined biological function related to drug delivery, such as gene therapy through gene delivery. A novel method for encapsulation, and subsequent controlled release of therapeutically active agents from such biofunctional coatings and microspheres is disclosed. Such coatings and microspheres are useful for side-effects free, long-term, targeted, controlled release and delivery of drugs, proteins, DNA, and other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel room-temperature process for obtaining calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite, coatings and microspheres that encapsulate drugs, proteins, genes, DNA for therapeutical use. The coatings and microspheres are designed to perform a defined biological function related to drug delivery, such as gene therapy through gene delivery. A novel method for encapsulation, and subsequent controlled release of therapeutically active agents from such biofunctional coatings and microspheres is disclosed. Such coatings and microspheres are useful for side-effects free, long-term, targeted, controlled release and delivery of drugs, proteins, DNA, and other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel process of preparing chemically bonded composite hydroxide ceramics by exposing a thermally treated hydroxide ceramic to phosphate reagent and subsequent heat treating the resulting system to initiate a rapid chemical bonding reaction. Such combined hydroxide/chemical bonding process can be used to fabricate ceramics or ceramic coatings for a variety of high and low temperature applications, including corrosion protection, wear resistance, dielectric properties, metal reinforced ceramics, ceramic membranes, non-sticky surfaces, bio-active ceramics, thermal barrier ceramics, non-wetted surfaces, and others.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel sol-gel calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite ceramic coatings and processes of making same at low temperature. Such coatings are useful, inter alia, for dental implants and bone-metal contact appliances. A sol-gel process for preparing a crystallized hydroxyapatite which comprises: (a) hydrolysing a phosphor precursor in a water based medium; (b) adding a calcium salt precursor to the medium after the phosphite has been hydrolysed to obtain a hydroxyapatite gel; and (c) calcining the crystallized hydroxyapatite at a suitable elevated temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel method of decreasing porosity of ceramics produced by sol-gel processing. The process of preparing chemically bonded sol-gel ceramics comprises phosphating a sol-gel derived oxide or hydrated oxide and polymerizing the phosphated product with heat treatment. Such combined sol-gel/chemical bonding process can be used to fabricate dense, thick ceramics or ceramic coatings for a variety of applications, including high temperature corrosion protection, wear resistance, dielectric properties, non-sticky surfaces, bio-active ceramics, thermal barrier ceramics, non-wetted surfaces, and others.