Abstract: A process for the production of granules or pellets containing filamentous fungi is described comprising the steps of selecting and growing filamentous fungi in a suitable culture medium for a predetermined amount of time, adding a gelling agent and at least one carrier to said culture medium, so as to obtain a mixture, subjecting said mixture to gelling through contact, drop by drop, with a solution containing a calcium salt thus obtaining gelled pellets or granules containing said filamentous fungi and drying said gelled pellets or granules to a moisture content of 13-18%.

Abstract: Materials for culturing cardiovascular tissues wherein a sponge made of a bioabsorbable material is reinforced with a reinforcement made of a bioabsorbable material.

Abstract: In on aspect, the invention includes a microcarrier bead having a porous three-dimensional core having (a) a polymeric porous three-dimensional body having porosity of about 15 to about 90% such that at least 99% of pores are interconnected and have diameters of at most 200 microns, (b) an outer protective layer and optionally (c) a filler. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of making an artificial scaffold wherein a scaffolding material is extruded into a coolant and thereby creating a porous material having a porosity of between 15-90% such that at least 99% of pores are interconnected and have diameters of at most 200 microns.

Abstract: A photobioreactor assembly, including a first generally horizontal manifold, a second generally horizontal manifold positioned below the first generally horizontal manifold, an array of generally parallel, generally transparent tubes extending between the manifolds, an air supply operationally connected to at least one manifold, a water filter, a water purifier, a water supply operationally connected to the water purifier, a pH sensor positioned to measure the pH in the array, and an electronic controller operationally connected to the pH sensor, the air supply, the water purifier, and the water supply. Each respective tube is connected in fluidic communication with the first horizontal manifold, and each respective tube is connected in fluidic communication with the second horizontal manifold.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogel network comprised of a physically cross-linked polymer and a chemically cross-linked polymer or physically entangled copolymer containing living cells, such as chondrocytes, encapsulated therein. In a preferred aspect, the physically cross-linked polymer is selected from the group consisting of thermally gelling polysaccharides and proteins, such as agarose or gelatin, and the chemically cross-linked or physically entangled polymer is synthesized from a water-soluble vinyl monomer, either as a homopolymer or copolymer, such as polyethylene glycol diacrylate (“PEG-DA”) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”).

Abstract: The present invention provides cellular screening substrata which can be formed in simple processing steps. The cellular screening substrata can be formed which are characterized in that plural cellular screening substances are positioned and immobilized at predetermined positions on a base by micro-droplet discharging means, and plural areas having different cellular screening functions are formed thereon.

Abstract: A process for the modification of a substrate comprising passing the substrate through a packed bed column of a specific volume of immobilized enzyme wherein the substrate enters the column at or near one end of the column (the ‘inlet end’) and the modified substrate exits at or near the opposite end of the column (the ‘outlet end’), a portion of the volume of immobilized enzyme is periodically removed at or near to the inlet end of the column, and an equivalent portion of immobilized enzyme is periodically added at or near to the outlet end of the column.

Abstract: A polymer matrix that may coated on an electrode is created by co-crosslinking (1) an adduct of a polyaniline formed by templated oxidative polymerization on a polymer acid; (2) a water-soluble crosslinker; and (3) a redox enzyme. The polymer matrix may be hydrated, and the absorbed water may make it permeable to, for example, glucose. The polyaniline may be polyaniline itself or a substituted polyaniline; the water-soluble crosslinker may be poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether, and the redox enzyme may be glucose oxidase. The polymer matrix may be produced by co-crosslinking (1) an adduct of an electrically conductive polymer and a polymer acid; (2) a water-soluble crosslinker; and (3) a redox enzyme in a single step at an about neutral pH, curing by drying. After hydration, the crosslinked polymer matrix may form a 3-dimensional glucose-permeable bioelectrocatalyst, catalyzing the electrooxidation of glucose.

Abstract: An osteochondral plug includes a first scaffold and a second scaffold. The first scaffold may be a solid scaffold containing one or more pendant reactive functional groups. The second scaffold capable of reacting with the one or more pendant reactive functional groups of the first scaffold.

Abstract: The present inventions in various aspects provide elastic biodegradable polymers. In various embodiments, the polymers are formed by the reaction of a multifunctional alcohol or ether and a difunctional or higher order acid to form a pre-polymer, which is cross-linked to form the elastic biodegradable polymer. In preferred embodiments, the cross-linking is performed by functionalization of one or more OR groups on the pre-polymer backbone with vinyl, followed by photopolymerization to form the elastic biodegradable polymer composition or material. Preferably, acrylate is used to add one or more vinyls to the backbone of the pre-polymer to form an acrylated pre-polymer. In various embodiments, acrylated pre-polymers are co-polymerized with one or more acrylated co-polymers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and method to prevent migration of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) from a delivery site while allowing communication between the stem cells and native cardiomyocytes. The device is characterized by scaffold pore size, fiber diameter and biomaterial selection. The invention includes a two part polyurethane scaffold that prevents migration of stem cells, allows gap junction formation through pores and is packaged for minimally invasive delivery.

Abstract: Silk is purified to eliminate immunogenic components (particularly sericin) and is used to form fabric that is used to form tissue-supporting prosthetic devices for implantation. The fabrics can carry functional groups, drugs, and other biological reagents. Applications include hernia repair, tissue wall reconstruction, and organ support, such as bladder slings. The silk fibers are arranged in parallel and, optionally, intertwined (e.g., twisted) to form a construct; sericin may be extracted at any point during the formation of the fabric, leaving a construct of silk fibroin fibers having excellent tensile strength and other mechanical properties.

Abstract: Protein-polymer composite materials are provided according to embodiments of the present invention that include an admixture of a polymer resin, a surfactant and a non-aqueous organic solvent. An aqueous solution containing bioactive proteins is mixed with the admixture. The emulsion is mixed with a crosslinker to produce a curable composition. The curable composition is cured, thereby producing the protein-polymer composite material that is useful for facilitating removal of bioorganic stains.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for fabricating aerogels, a method for fabricating surface-modified aerogels, and a method for fabricating biocomposites. Take the fabricating method of biocomposites for example, first, a precursor solution is provided and the precursor solution comprises a hydrophilic ionic liquid, a catalyzed hydrolysis and/or condensation reagent, at least one biomolecule. Next, a curing process is performed for the precursor solution to hydrolyze and polymerize the at least one alkoxide monomer and/or aryloxide monomer to wrap at least one biomolecule and thus form biocomposite. Afterwards, an extracting process is performed by a solvent for the biocomposite to substitute the ionic liquid in the biocomposite. Finally, a drying process for the biocomposite is carried out after the extracting process so as to remove the solvent in the biocomposite. Therefore, the biocomposite is formed.

Abstract: Methods can prepare tissue engineering scaffolds that include a plurality of biocompatible microspheres linked together to form a three-dimensional matrix. The matrix can include a plurality of pores for growing cells. The biocompatible microspheres can include first and second sets of microspheres. The first set of microspheres can have a first characteristic, and a first predetermined spatial distribution with respect to the three-dimensional matrix. The second set of microspheres can have a second characteristic that is different from the first characteristic, and a second predetermined spatial distribution that is different from the first predetermined spatial distribution with respect to the three-dimensional matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite material that comprises a support member that has a plurality of pores extending through the support member and, located in the pores of the support member, and filling the pores of the support member, a macroporous cross-linked gel. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the composite material described above, and to its use. The composite material is suitable, for example, for separation of substances, for example by filtration or adsorption, including chromatography, for use as a support in synthesis or for use as a support for cell growth.

Abstract: Crosslinking reagents and methods for using the same for analysis of protein-protein interactions, are provided. The crosslinking reagents include a trifunctional scaffold that links two protein linking groups to each other and branches to link an affinity tag, where the protein linking groups can be fragmented from the scaffold. The distance between the two protein linking groups can be selected to crosslink two proteins of a protein complex via accessible amino acid residues. Also provided are crosslinked polypeptide compounds and kits that include crosslinking reagents. These reagents and methods find use in a variety of applications in which crosslinking of proteins in desired.

Abstract: Silk is purified to eliminate immunogenic components (particularly sericin) and is used to form fabric that is used to form tissue-supporting prosthetic devices for implantation. The fabrics can carry functional groups, drugs, and other biological reagents. Applications include hernia repair, tissue wall reconstruction, and organ support, such as bladder slings. The silk fibers are arranged in parallel and, optionally, intertwined (e.g., twisted) to form a construct; sericin may be extracted at any point during the formation of the fabric, leaving a construct of silk fibroin fibers having excellent tensile strength and other mechanical properties.

Abstract: Silk is purified to eliminate immunogenic components (particularly sericin) and is used to form fabric that is used to form tissue-supporting prosthetic devices for implantation. The fabrics can carry functional groups, drugs, and other biological reagents. Applications include hernia repair, tissue wall reconstruction, and organ support, such as bladder slings. The silk fibers are arranged in parallel and, optionally, intertwined (e.g., twisted) to form a construct; sericin may be extracted at any point during the formation of the fabric, leaving a construct of silk fibroin fibers having excellent tensile strength and other mechanical properties.

Abstract: Silk is purified to eliminate immunogenic components (particularly sericin) and is used to form fabric that is used to form tissue-supporting prosthetic devices for implantation. The fabrics can carry functional groups, drugs, and other biological reagents. Applications include hernia repair, tissue wall reconstruction, and organ support, such as bladder slings. The silk fibers are arranged in parallel and, optionally, intertwined (e.g., twisted) to form a construct; sericin may be extracted at any point during the formation of the fabric, leaving a construct of silk fibroin fibers having excellent tensile strength and other mechanical properties.