Abstract: A hydrogel biomaterial that can be utilized as a nucleus pulposus replacement material is described. The hydrogel biomaterial can is an elastin-glycosaminoglycan-collagen composite hydrogel biomaterial that can mimic the biochemical and functional characteristics of the human nucleus pulposus. Methods for forming the hydrogel biomaterial are also described as are methods for use of the hydrogel biomaterial, one of which is as an in vivo nucleus pulposus replacement material, another of which is a scaffolding material for use in nucleus pulposus tissue engineering applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical device treated with a phenolic compound and a process for treating a device with the phenolic compound. For example, a collagen or elastin-based scaffold can be treated with pentagalloyl glucose (PGG). The treated scaffold can become resistant to glycoxidative stress associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that are present in a hyperglycemic environments associated with diabetes mellitus. The treated scaffold can exhibit a reduced increase in stiffness as compared to an untreated scaffold. The treated scaffold can also exhibit reduced inflammation without negatively affecting the ability of the scaffold to remodel in vivo.

Abstract: Surgical adhesives that include a blend of two different thermoreversible gelling polymers and a crosslinking agent are described. The first thermoreversible gelling polymer is partially or fully acrylated and the second thermoreversible gelling polymer includes dual functionality including acrylate functionality and amine-reactive functionality. The adhesives can provide gelling and covalent crosslinking within the polymers of the adhesive as well as crosslinking with surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image guided surgery are disclosed herein. An example method can include: receiving a plurality of 2D projection images of an object at a plurality of projection angles during a first period of time; and receiving a position of an instrument relative to a tracking coordinate system during the first period of time. The method can also include registering the plurality of 2D projection images relative to the tracking coordinate system to obtain a transformation function that defines a relationship between a coordinate system of the plurality of 2D projection images and the tracking coordinate system; receiving an adjusted position of the instrument relative to the tracking coordinate system during a second period of time that is subsequent to the first period of time; and estimating an adjusted position of the instrument relative to the plurality of 2D projection images using the transformation function.

Abstract: Strain gauges that can provide information with regard to the state of implantable devices are described. The strain gauges can exhibit luminescence that is detectable through living tissue, and the detectable luminescent emission can vary according to the strain applied to the gauge. A change in residual strain of the device can signify a loss of mechanical integrity and/or loosening of the implant, and this can be non-invasively detected either by simple visual detection of the luminescent emission or through examination of the emission with a detector such as a spectrometer or a camera.

Abstract: Photonic bandgap fibers are described that can be solid across the core and clad and have a large core diameter with little loss in the fundamental mode. In addition, the mode loss of the higher order modes can be much greater than that of the fundamental mode, providing high power fibers with high effective mode area. Excellent single mode output can be obtained from the fibers in length scale close to what is required for fiber laser and amplifiers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber formed from a preform that includes a clad component and a core component. The core component includes one or more precursor core materials. The precursor core materials and the clad materials are selected such that that the photoelastic constants of at least one precursor core material and the clad material are of opposite sign resulting in a final glass optical fiber of tailored Brillouin performance. The clad material may include an oxide glass having a positive photoelastic constant and the core component may include a precursor core material that has a negative photoelastic constant. During formation, the precursor core material can melt and interact with clad material that precipitates into the core to form a glass of at least one tailored Brillouin property, such as very low Brillouin gain.

Abstract: Disclosed are open-framework solids that possess superior ion-transport properties pertinent to the electrochemical performance of next-generation electrode materials for battery devices. Disclosed compounds including compositions and architectures relevant to electrical energy storage device applications have been developed through integrated solid-state and soft (solution) chemistry studies. The solids can adopt a general formula of AxMy(XO4)z, where A=mono- or divalent electropositive cations (e.g., Li+), M—trivalent transition metal cations (e.g., Fe3+, Mn3+), and X?Si, P, As, or V. Also disclosed are oxo analogs of these materials having the general formulae AaMbOc(PO4)d (a?b), and more specifically, AnMnO3x(PO4)n-2x, where A=mono- or divalent electropositive cations (e.g., Li+), M is either Fe or Mn, and x is between 0 and n/2.

Abstract: Total knee replacements for hinged knee implants include a tibial member, a femoral member, a hinge assembly having a laterally extending axle configured to hingedly attach the femoral member to the tibial member, and a lock mechanism in communication with the hinge assembly. The lock mechanism is configured to (i) lock the femoral member in alignment with the tibial member for a full extension or other defined stabile walking configuration to thereby allow an arthrodesis or stiff knee gait and (ii) unlock to allow the femoral and tibial members to pivot relative to each other for flexion or bending when not ambulating.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions and methods related to viral inhibition. In some forms, the compounds, compositions and methods are related to binding RNA.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber formed from a preform that includes a clad material and a core material. The clad material includes an oxide glass and the core material includes as a primary component a semiconductor material that melts at a temperature below where the cladding glass draws into fiber. In addition, the core material includes a scavenger for oxide precipitates that can precipitate into the core from the adjacent clad material during the fiber formation process. During formation, the scavenger reduces oxide precipitate to form the core primary component, or a phase compatible with it, and volatile products. The volatile products evolve out of the system. The primary material of the core can melt during the fiber formation process and crystallize upon cooling leaving the formed optical fiber with a crystalline core and little or no impurities due to precipitation of oxide into the core.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric pressure plasma jet device for use in a variety of applications. The disclosed system can include a conduit tubing array that includes multiple individual tubes configured in a honeycomb structure. By altering the linear velocity of the system's gas source, the system can produce multiple non-thermal atmospheric plasma jets that can interact in such a way as to create a single plasma jet as opposed to multiple collimated plasma jets. The single jet formed by the interaction of the multiple conduits can exhibit an increased optical intensity and energy compared to either a plasma jet emitted from a single conduit or well-collimated plasma jets emitted from multiple conduits.

Abstract: Processes for preparation of macroporous membranes having unusually high equilibrium protein binding capacities are described. Membranes include a self-supporting porous membrane substrate and a grafted polymeric film on the pore surfaces of the substrate. A polymeric film may be grafted to the porous membrane substrate using surface-initiated polymerization. The grafted polymer chains within the polymeric film can act as molecular ‘brushes’ or ‘tentacles’ in solution and can contain one or more capture chemistries for biomolecules. Membranes can be used in the separation and purification of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, virus or virus-like particles, endotoxins, and the like.

Abstract: Provided are antibacterial and antimicrobial surface coatings and dental materials by utilizing the antimicrobial properties of copper chalcogenide and/or copper halide (CuQ, where Q=chalcogens including oxygen, or halogens, or nothing). An antimicrobial barrier is created by incorporation of CuQ nanoparticles of an appropriate size and at a concentration necessary and sufficient to create a unique bioelectrical environment. The unique bioelectrical environment results in biocidal effectiveness through a multi-factorial mechanism comprising a combination of the intrinsic quantum flux of copper (Cu0, Cu1+, Cu2+) ions and the high surface-to-volume electron sink facilitated by the nanoparticle. The result is the constant quantum flux of copper which manifests and establishes the antimicrobial environment preventing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Abstract: Disclosed are heterogeneous crystals for use in a laser cavity and methods of forming the crystals. A crystal can be a monolithic crystal containing regions that are based upon the same host material but differ from one another according to some material feature such that they can perform various functions related to lasing. Disclosed methods include hydrothermal growth techniques for the growth of differing epitaxial layers on a host. A host material can be doped in one region with a suitable active lasing ion and can be formed with another region that is undoped and can act as an endcap, a waveguide cladding layer, or a substrate to provide strength and/or contact to a heat sink. Regions can be formed with controlled thickness in conjunction. Following formation, a heterogeneous crystal can be cut, polished and coated with mirror films at each end for use in a laser cavity.

Abstract: A nucleus pulposus replacement is described that includes a containment balloon that can sequester synthetic and/or tissue engineered fill material(s) in the nucleus pulposus region of the IVD thus mitigating migration and expulsion of the fill materials. The containment balloon can be formed of a biocompatible material that includes the structural proteins elastin and collagen. The containment balloon is joined to a closure device that can be used to deliver a fill material, e.g., a hydrogel, to the interior of the containment balloon following implantation of the replacement device in the intervertebral disc area.

Abstract: Disclosed are photoluminescent particles. The particles include a core nano-sized particle of carbon and a passivation agent bound to the surface of the nanoparticle. The passivation agent can be, for instance, a polymeric material. The passivation agent can also be derivatized for particular applications. For example, the photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles can be derivatized to recognize and bind to a target material, for instance a biologically active material, a pollutant, or a surface receptor on a tissue or cell surface, such as in a tagging or staining protocol.

Abstract: Composites that include a metal injection molded component bonded to a support substrate and methods for forming the composites are described. Methods include forming a metal injection molded green part that includes microstructures on a surface of the green part. The metal injection molded component is located adjacent to a support substrate with the microstructure ends contacting the support substrate at a contact surface. During sintering the metal injection molded component is bonded to the support substrate at the ends of the microstructures. The presence of the microstructures can allow for relative motion between the metal injection molded component and the support substrate during sintering. The large bonding surface area provided by the multiple points of contact between the ends of the microstructures and the support substrate can provide excellent bonding force between the metal injection molded component and the support substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-chambered cell co-culture systems. The systems can be utilized to encourage the growth and development of isolated cells in a dynamic three-dimensional in vitro environment. The cell chambers (10) of the system can be in biochemical communication with adjacent chambers containing cells of different types, but the different cell types are maintained physically separated from one another. In addition, the local environment of each cell chamber can be independently controlled. For example, fluid flow characteristics through a single cell chamber can be independently controlled and maintained for each separate chamber of the system.

Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the invention are nanostructured surfaces that include a substrate; and an array of metallic nanopillar islands on the substrate, wherein each metallic nanopillar island includes a metal base layer on the substrate and a plurality of metallic nanopillars on the metal base layer, and wherein portions of the substrate between adjacent metallic nanopillar islands are free of the metal base layer. Also provided according to some embodiments of the invention are nanostructured surfaces that include a non-conductive substrate; and at least one nanoelectrode defined within the non-conductive substrate, wherein the at least one nanoelectrode is sized and/or shaped to immobilize an analyte or a probe molecule. Also provided are apparatuses and methods for SERS and detection of analytes or biological binding by EDL capacitance.