Abstract: A composition of matter having oxygen scavenging properties comprises a blend of a base polymer, a butadiene polymer, and titanium dioxide in an amount sufficient to catalyze reaction of oxygen with the butadiene polymer. In further aspects, methods for making the compositions herein and packaging film structures comprising the compositions herein, and packaging articles formed of the same, are also provided.

Abstract: A composition of matter having oxygen scavenging properties comprises a blend of a base polymer, a butadiene polymer, and titanium dioxide in an amount sufficient to catalyze reaction of oxygen with the butadiene polymer. In further aspects, methods for making the compositions herein and packaging film structures comprising the compositions herein, and packaging articles formed of the same, are also provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system comprising: a solid porous polymeric support, preferably comprising a biocompatible polymer; a first type of cells bound to the solid porous polymeric support; and a biocompatible hydrogel comprising a second type of cells, wherein biocompatible hydrogel is in physical contact with the solid porous polymeric support, is described. Methods for preparing this 3D cell culture system, as well as uses of this system for example for anticancer drug screening, are also described.

Abstract: The present application relates to polymer compositions that provide barrier properties to oxygen, water vapor and/or hydrocarbons, to polymer film or sheet comprising the polymer composition and to their use in the manufacture or preparation of plastic material and/or plastic packaging. The present application also relates to a method of reducing oxygen water vapor and/or hydrocarbons permeability in plastic material and/or plastic packaging.

Abstract: An assay device is provided for use in determining the presence of a target analyte in a sample. The assay device comprises a solid platform comprising a fibrous mat, the solid platform impregnated with a first FRET chromophore. An antibody-FRET chromophore conjugate is immobilized on a surface of the solid platform, wherein the antibody-FRET chromophore conjugate comprises an antibody affixed to a second FRET chromophore. The first FRET chromophore and the second FRET chromophore are selected to provide an energy transfer from one to another when located within a Förster distance with respect to each other, thereby forming a FRET donor-acceptor chromophore pair. In a further aspect, a method of detecting a target analyte in a sample is provided. In yet a further aspect, packaging sheet materials and packaging articles employing the assay device under certain conditions are provided.

Abstract: A composition of matter having oxygen scavenging properties comprises a blend of a base polymer, a butadiene polymer, and titanium dioxide in an amount sufficient to catalyze reaction of oxygen with the butadiene polymer. In further aspects, methods for making the compositions herein and packaging film structures comprising the compositions herein, and packaging articles formed of the same, are also provided.

Abstract: An assay device is provided for use in determining the presence of a target analyte in a sample. The assay device comprises a solid platform comprising a fibrous mat, the solid platform impregnated with a first FRET chromophore. An antibody-FRET chromophore conjugate is immobilized on a surface of the solid platform, wherein the antibody-FRET chromophore conjugate comprises an antibody affixed to a second FRET chromophore. The first FRET chromophore and the second FRET chromophore are selected to provide an energy transfer from one to another when located within a Förster distance with respect to each other, thereby forming a FRET donor-acceptor chromophore pair. In a further aspect, a method of detecting a target analyte in a sample is provided. In yet a further aspect, packaging sheet materials and packaging articles employing the assay device under certain conditions are provided.

Abstract: A mat having a highly uniform porosity distribution is produced by consolidating 15 or more layers of melt blown webs (or the like) having different orientations. Control over the porosity is provided by using webs that exhibit a narrow, unimodal distribution of fiber diameters over the bulk of its distribution, such as in the top 80%. A compliance of the mats can be chosen by selecting a number and orientation of the webs. It is thus possible to produce mats that are good candidates for vascular grafts, for example. The uniformity of the porosity within the range of 6 ?m to 30 ?m permits seeding of the vascular graft with endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The mats have the demonstrated ability to retain, and support growth of, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling the morphology of a cast film. The method comprises extruding a cast film by controlling a cooling rate of the cast film by applying on the film a gas at a gas cooling rate of at least about 0.4 cm3/s per kg/hr in accordance with the extrudate flow rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a neuroimplant. The neuroimplant comprises biocompatible polymer fibres; the polymer fibres are grouped in a parallel arrangement, and the group of fibres is flexible. The present invention also relates to the use of the neuroimplant to facilitate the repair of damaged brain tissue.

Abstract: A mat having a highly uniform porosity distribution is produced by consolidating 15 or more layers of melt blown webs (or the like) having different orientations. Control over the porosity is provided by using webs that exhibit a narrow, unimodal distribution of fiber diameters over the bulk of its distribution, such as in the top 80%. A compliance of the mats can be chosen by selecting a number and orientation of the webs. It is thus possible to produce mats that are good candidates for vascular grafts, for example. The uniformity of the porosity within the range of 6 ?m to 30 ?m permits seeding of the vascular graft with endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The mats have the demonstrated ability to retain, and support growth of, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for the measurement of absolute biaxial birefringence of plastic materials is described. The materials which must be at least partially transparent can be constituted of one or several similar or dissimilar layers. In the latter case, the birefringence of each material can be determined. The technique uses a multiwavelength white light source that provides at least two beams projected at different angles of incidence on the sample. The beams pass through first polarizers before they are incident on the sample and through second polarizers after they have passed through the sample. The beams are then directed to a detector for measuring each beam intensity or transmittance as a function of wavelength for the incident angles at different times, and are analyzed using nonlinear regressions to determine retardation. By the knowledge of the thickness of the material, the absolute biaxial birefringences are calculated for any specific wavelength.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous solid state forming of semicrystalline polymers using roll-drawing is disclosed. The output of an extruded thick polymer profile is stabilized by a gear pump. The profile is passed through a die for the desired geometry and a cooling calibrator. The profile is heat conditioned in heating tunnels to a temperature below the melting point prior to deformation between sets of rolls. A plurality, e.g. four pairs of rolls apply both compression and tension to the polymer profile. The tension applied on the profile, the roll gap, the linear speed of the profile and its temperature are monitored and controlled for the amount of polymer deformation and relaxation allowed. High tensile modulus and strength, both in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the polymeric strip, can be achieved.