Abstract: Plasma systems for depositing biomolecules, pharmaceutical agents, and other therapeutic active agents onto surfaces are described. The systems may include a plasma device having one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. A particulate delivery system may be used to introduce the active agent(s) as a dry powder into or downstream of the plasma, and to deposit the plasma-treated active agent(s) to produce a coating on a surface. The coating may retain the activity of the active agent(s).

Abstract: A new insight on the lubrication of artificial joint components is presented. Addition of small amounts of nanoscale diamond particles to an artificial joint promotes a substantial improvement in friction and wear behavior of the artificial joint surfaces. Artificial joint implants are made from a variety of materials ranging from metal alloys to polymers. Suitable methods of applying nanoscale diamond particles to an artificial joint include (i) coating an effective amount of nanoscale diamond particles onto the artificial joint prior to implants; (ii) applying a composition to the artificial joint during an artificial joint implanting surgery, wherein said composition comprises a biocompatible carrier fluid and an effective amount of nanoscale diamond particles dispersed in the biocompatible carrier fluid; (iii) injecting the composition for lubricating the artificial joint into the artificial joint.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of improving the reliability of coating an implantable medical device, such as a stent, with bioactive material in the absence of a carrier material such as a matrix or polymer layer. The method involves cleaning volatile components from the exposed surfaces of the medical device, removing carbon deposits and then applying a uniform carbon layer in a controlled environment. The deliberately applied carbon layer masks impurities of the underlying native oxide layer and leads to more uniform bioactive material coating not only a over the surfaces of a single medical device but also from device to device within a batch and between batches of devices. This improves production as well as optimising the amount and release of drug on the medical device without the need for a carrier material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coating apparatus for producing an electrode, which has a reduced defect rate in the coating process. The coating apparatus includes a die unit having an inlet through which the electrode slurry is introduced and an inner space for accommodating the introduced electrode slurry; a shim unit mounted in the die unit and configured to form an outlet together with the die unit so that the electrode slurry is discharged therethrough; and a cover member configured to surround an outer surface of the die unit and the shim unit so that the electrode slurry is not leaked at the outer surface, except for the outlet.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for use in activating surface of polymers.

Abstract: A multilayer vehicle exterior coating is both durable and easy to install and conforms FAA standards. This vehicle sheet coating has no film or substrate resulting in a finished coating sheet that is about 6 mils thick (0.006?). The multilayer protective sheet material is suitable for application to vehicle exterior surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to protective, anti-bacterial coatings for medical implants and methods of making the same. Also disclosed herein are methods for improving the anti-bacterial properties of a medical device coated with silicon carbide (SiC) or titanium nitride (TiN). Further disclosed herein are medical devices including an anti-microbial layer prepared by the disclosed methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing an ion-selective sensor element for a potentiometric sensor, the sensor element having a sensor element body and at least one glass layer arranged on the sensor element body, the method comprising applying the at least one glass layer to the sensor element body by means of a thermal spraying method, in which a powder of glass particles is sprayed onto the sensor element body.

Abstract: A method of impregnating voids of a sintered metal body having a porous structure with resin, the method comprising preparing a resin material that contains a defoamer containing hydrophilic or hydrophobic particles, defoaming the prepared resin material by reducing pressure of the resin material, applying the defoamed resin material onto a surface of the sintered metal body, impregnating the voids with the resin material by reducing pressure of the sintered metal body and the resin material applied to the surface of the sintered metal body so as to expel gas from the voids; and curing the resin material by heating.

Abstract: A medical device such as a stent or medical balloon is functionalised prior to coating with a bioactive material, specifically by carboxylic acidification of the contact surface or surfaces of the medical device. The preferred process involves washing a stent or other medical device in a washing solution which may be sodium hydroxide, soaking in a carboxylic acid solution, rinsing in water to remove excess carboxylic acid, allowing to dry before applying a bioactive agent layer. It has been found that washing after functionalisation removes excess carboxylic acid and enhances the retention of bioactive agent on the contact surface or surfaces of the medical device leading to a more uniform and consistent layer of bioactive agent.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to ceramic coatings containing particles for use in smelting devices and to methods of making ceramic coatings containing particles for use in smelting devices. More particularly, the disclosure relates to ceramic coatings comprising particles for improved heat reflection and durability of the ceramic coating.

Abstract: A method of increasing a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal of a compound is provided. The method includes dissolving the compound in water to form a solution, adding a substrate at least partially coated with gold nanoparticles to the solution to form a mixture, removing the substrate from the mixture and washing with water to form a SERS sample having at least a portion of molecules of the compound adsorbed to the gold nanoparticles on the substrate, and recording a SERS spectrum of the SERS sample. The gold nanoparticles are in a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer assembly on the substrate and are 10-250 nm in size. The SERS signal of the SERS spectrum is higher than a SERS signal of a SERS spectrum of the compound on the substrate without the gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: Medical devices, systems, and methods for treating conditions using antithrombin-heparin conjugates are disclosed. For example, medical devices can be coated with antithrombin-heparin (ATH) resulting in reduced thrombogenicity. Various conditions can likewise be treated with ATH.

Abstract: Thick, inorganic coatings can be deposited on a polarizer by chemical vapor deposition. In one embodiment, the method can comprise activating a surface of the polarizer with an oxygen plasma in an oven; injecting a solution including tetrakis(dimethylamino)silane dissolved in cyclohexane and water into the oven; and vapor depositing silicon dioxide onto the polarizer. These three steps can be repeated multiple times until desired thickness is attained.

Abstract: A method of making an antimicrobial textile comprising TiO2 nanoparticles is described. The TiO2 nanoparticles are immobilized by first treating a textile with a base, and then contacting with TiO2 nanoparticles in a solution of an alcohol and acid. The textile may be subsequently irradiated with UV light prior to use. The antimicrobial textile shows high effectiveness against the growth and proliferation of microorganisms transmitted within indoor environments.

Abstract: A process for making an ultra-conformal microprint by ultra-conformal microprint transferring includes: disposing a transfer moiety arranged in a microstructure on a transfer substrate; disposing a glassy transfer layer on the transfer moiety; forming a glassy composite; removing the glassy composite from the transfer substrate while maintaining the microstructure of the transfer moiety in the glassy transfer layer; disposing the glassy composite on a microprint substrate; ultra-conformally covering the microprint substrate with the glassy composite by heating the glassy composite so that it flows while maintaining the microstructure of the transfer moiety in the glassy transfer layer so that the microstructure is disposed on the microprint substrate; and removing the glassy transfer layer while leaving the transfer moiety disposed in the microstructure on the microprint substrate to form the ultra-conformal microprint including the transfer moiety arranged in the microstructure on the microprint substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure discusses a method of separating a sample (e.g., small organic acid metabolite) including coating a flow path of a chromatographic system. The coating along the flow path is vapor deposited and prevents or severely decreases metal interactions between the metallic chromatographic system and the sample.

Abstract: Introduced here are pressure-mitigation apparatuses for mitigating the pressure applied to a human body by the support surface of an object. The pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers that can be individually controlled to vary the pressure therein. By varying the chamber pressure, the main point of pressure applied by the support surface to the human body may be moved across the surface of the human body. An attachment apparatus may be used to securely adhere the pressure-mitigation apparatus to the support surface.

Abstract: Methods for improving the antibacterial characteristics of biomedical implants and related implants manufactured according to such methods. In some implementations, a biomedical implant comprising a silicon nitride ceramic material may be subjected to a surface roughening treatment so as to increase a surface roughness of at least a portion of the biomedical implant to a roughness profile having an arithmetic average of at least about 500 nm Ra. In some implementations, a coating may be applied to a biomedical implant. Such a coating may comprise a silicon nitride ceramic material, and may be applied instead of, or in addition to, the surface roughening treatment process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adherent resorbable matrix for use in surgical applications. The adherent resorbable matrix includes a biocompatible adherent material including chitosan.