Abstract: The present invention relates to biocompatible non-woven fibrous materials having a nano-micro topography and methods for producing such materials. The materials may be used to cover implantable medical devices and to fabricate a three-dimensional drug-eluting fibrous matrix featuring accurate spatial positioning of the drug particles within the matrix.

Abstract: Articles of clothing treated with bacteria adapted to metabolize a component selected from the group consisting of ammonia, ammonium salts, or urea into any of nitric oxide, nitric oxide precursors, and combinations thereof are provided.

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: A process for producing fatty acids, which comprises supplying an oil phase substrate and a water phase substrate to an enzyme column packed with an immobilized enzyme, concurrently flowing them in the same direction, and hydrolyzing a fat and/or oil, wherein the oil phase substrate and the water phase substrate are alternately supplied to the enzyme column.

Abstract: Reactive surfaces, substrates and methods of producing and using such substrates and surfaces are provided. The substrates and surfaces provide low density reactive groups preferably on an otherwise non-reactive surface for use in different applications including single molecule analyses.

Abstract: A material includes a surface and a reactive agent that is located at the surface of the material, covalently attached to a backbone of the material, and/or located within the material. The reactive agent has nitrite reductase activity, nitrate reductase activity, and/or nitrosothiol reductase activity. The reactive agent also converts at least one of nitrites, nitrates and nitrosothiols to nitric oxide when in contact with blood. A reproducible nitrosothiol sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a membrane comprising a gel reinforced by a support. The membrane has opposing surfaces and a thickness between said surfaces. The gel communicates between the opposing surfaces and allows diffusion of a nutrient solution through the membrane. A bioreactor is also provided, comprising a membrane-supporting structure, and a membrane according to the invention supported on the membrane-supporting structure.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising one or more isolated LDH-deficient mutans streptococcus strains and one or more isolated S. oralis strains and/or one or more isolated S. uberis strains. Compositions of the invention are useful to maintain oral health, by for example treating and/or preventing one or more symptoms of dental caries, periodontitis and/or other oral cavity diseases or wounds.

Abstract: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from which pyrogen has been removed are provided for use in numerous biomedical applications. PHAs which have been chemically modified to enhance physical and/or chemical properties, for targeting or to modify biodegradability or clearance by the reticuloendothelial system (RES), are described. Methods for depyrogenating PHA polymers prepared by bacterial fermentation processes are also provided, wherein pyrogens are removed from the polymers without adversely impacting the polymers' inherent chemical structures and physical properties. PHAs with advantageous processing characteristics, including low melting points and/or solubility in non-toxic solvents, are also described. PHAs are provided which are suitable for use in vivo applications such as in tissue coatings, stents, sutures, tubing, bone and other prostheses, bone or tissue cements, tissue regeneration devices, wound dressings, drug delivery, and for diagnostic and prophylactic uses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are two Lactobacillus isolates having anti-inflammatory activities and beneficial probiotic properties, i.e., Lactobacillus sakei GMNL-76 and Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-89, which were deposited in the Biosource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) of the Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) under accession numbers BCRC 910355 and BCRC 910340 and in the China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) under accession numbers CCTCC M 207153 and CCTCC M 207154, respectively. The two Lactobacillus isolates and their sub-cultured offspring can be used in the preparation of a variety of food products, and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for treating and/or alleviating diseases associated with inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: A method for collecting bacterial cells includes feeding water containing ammonium and nitrite to an anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel to denitrify ammonium and nitrite by anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria provided in the anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel to form denitrified water containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria and a sludge containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria; and feeding the denitrified water containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria and the sludge containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria to a precipitation vessel, in which an acclimatization container is stored, to cause the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria in the denitrified water to be attached to an immobilizing material in the acclimatization container, so that the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria in the denitrified water are collected, and, at the same time, to collect the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria of the sludg

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material made of non-metallic inorganic grains and plastics particles. The composite material is particularly suitable as a carrier material for bacteria for use in sewage treatment plants. It is characterized by a large surface suitable for the colonization of bacteria and also by a density which allows the composite material to be suspended in the medium present in the sewage treatment plant. A further advantage of the composite material according to the invention is the property that due to the surface structure of the composite material adhering sludge and saturated bacteria can fall off its surface, and this thus allows regeneration of the material.

Abstract: Effective activation of a biological material such as an enzyme has been demanded. The present invention provides a process for activating a biological material which includes providing a porous material having mesopores; immobilizing a biological material on the pore wall which forms the mesopores; and enhancing the relative activity of the biological material by heating the porous material on which the biological material is immobilized at the optimal temperature and above of the biological material and an apparatus therefor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a scaffold consisting of a biodegradable polymeric material with a composition gradient of calcium phosphate that is capable of effectively regenerating the hard/soft tissue interface and an implant for hard/soft tissue filling with the utilization of such scaffold.

Abstract: A magnetic particle and fabrication method thereof. The magnetic particle comprises a polymer core, a magnetic material layer covering the polymer core, and a silicon containing layer covering the magnetic material layer. In addition, the magnetic particle may further comprise a coupling agent on the silicon containing layer, and an active molecule connected to the coupling agent. The magnetic particles provide controllable size, uniform diameter distribution, high magnetization, improved storage stability, and modified surface for targeting biomolecules for biomaterial separation and environmental analysis.

Abstract: A protein system is described in which a protein is bound within a matrix material that has pores that are sized to achieve excellent properties such as: activity, protein density, and stability. In a preferred embodiment, the pore sizes range from 50 to 400 ?. One protein that has demonstrated surprisingly good results in this system is OPH. This protein is known to degrade organophosphorus compounds such as are found in chemical weapons and pesticides. Novel methods of forming the protein system and methods of making OPH are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate for cell culture capable of controlling at least one function selected from adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, survival, maintenance of undifferentiated state, and apoptosis of a cell. The substrate comprises an immobilization area of controlling substances involved in at least one of the functions of adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, survival, maintenance of undifferentiated state and apoptosis of cells, for example: and the areas are formed by supplying a liquid containing the controlling substances to the substrate by small microdroplet ejection means and immobilizing the controlling substance on the substrate.

Abstract: Entrapping immobilization pellets in which microorganisms are entrapped and immobilized, the entrapping immobilization pellets comprising entrapped and immobilized purified water sludge containing nitrifying bacteria.

Abstract: An implant for articular cartilage repair includes (1) a three-dimensional body formed of cancellous bone having a demineralized section that contains bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP's) that are released by the demineralization but retained in the body, and (2) a cartilage layer formed on a surface of the demineralized section. The cartilage layer is formed by a method including the steps of (a) isolating chondrocytes from articular cartilage of a donor; (b) cultivating the isolated chondrocytes in a medium; (c) suspending the cultivated chondrocytes in agarose; (d) adding the cultivated chondrocytes to the demineralized section of the body, whereby the cultivated chondrocytes are stimulated by the BMP's retained in the body; and (e) incubating the cultivated chondrocytes to form a plurality of layers of chondrocytes on the demineralized section, wherein the plurality of layers of chondrocytes forms the cartilage layer.

Abstract: A process for storing entrapping immobilization pellets in which microorganisms are entrapped and immobilized in an immobilizing material until the entrapping immobilization pellets are used in a treatment tank, the process comprising: storing a large pellet block in water at 15° C. or less or in air at a relative humidity of 90% or more and a temperature of 15° C. or less until the pellet block is cut into the entrapping immobilization pellets and used.