Abstract: A method and apparatus for plasma treatment and deposition of ionized molecules on a surface of an object in a vacuum. The apparatus has a plasma treatment system including a plasma reactor chamber, an ion deposition system including an ion deposition chamber that is connected to the plasma reactor chamber, and a vacuum system for maintaining a vacuum in the chambers. The ion deposition system may include an ion guide chamber for guiding ionized molecule towards the target surface. A target guiding system moves the target surface between the plasma reactor chamber and the ion deposition chamber within the vacuum system through a gate, such that the target surface may be alternately subjected to plasma treatment and to deposition of ionized molecules without leaving the vacuum system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrogen production for the generation of energy. The invention describes methods, devices and assemblies involving hydrogen production including reacting hydrogen producing compounds, such as organothiol compounds, with a reactive metal substrate to produce hydrogen gas and utilizing the hydrogen gas to generate energy. The present invention further describes regenerating spent compound to a form suitable for hydrogen production by reacting the spent compound with hydrogen. Hydrogen storage and production, as described herein, is useful for producing hydrogen for energy production in hydrogen consuming devices, such as combustible engines and fuel cells, for example, as located on a hydrogen powered vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for use in delivering a drug into the body of a mammal, wherein the composition comprises silicone elastomer, an adjuvant polymer, and the drug. This composition may be part of an implantable medical device, such as a stent or a vascular or other graft or sheath, among other configurations. When the compositions are used as coating, the coating may further include a topcoat of silicone or silicone and adjuvant polymer mixture.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides hydrogels comprising polymer molecules and bridging molecules, wherein substantially all the polymer molecules are cross-linked by hydrogen bonds between polymer molecules and bridging molecules, wherein each bridging molecule is linked to at least two polymer molecules, and wherein there are substantially no covalent linkages between the polymer molecules. In some embodiments, the polymer molecules are poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and the bridging molecules are amino acids. Some embodiments of the invention provide devices comprising hydrogels, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising biologically active molecules within hydrogels. Another aspect provides methods for forming hydrogels of the invention.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides methods for forming a photopatterned hydrogel. In some embodiments, the methods comprise the step of exposing a solution comprising a monomer, a crosslinking agent, and a photoinitiator to a pattern of light comprising a first and a second light intensity for a period of time and under suitable conditions for the first light intensity to induce essentially complete conversion of polymerizable groups on the monomer and the crosslinking agent to form a patterned hydrogel, and for the second light intensity to induce partial conversion of the polymerizable groups on the monomer and the crosslinking agent to form partially polymerized polymers that remain soluble. In some embodiments, the first light intensity is lower than the second light intensity. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for forming porous, photopatterned hydrogels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrogen production for the generation of energy. The invention describes methods, devices and assemblies involving hydrogen production including reacting hydrogen producing compounds, such as organothiol compounds, with a reactive metal substrate to produce hydrogen gas and utilizing the hydrogen gas to generate energy. The present invention further describes regenerating spent compound to a form suitable for hydrogen production by reacting the spent compound with hydrogen. Hydrogen storage and production, as described herein, is useful for producing hydrogen for energy production in hydrogen consuming devices, such as combustible engines and fuel cells, for example, as located on a hydrogen powered vehicle.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides methods of modulating the amount and/or biological activity of thrombospondin 2 or osteopontin in an animal. The methods comprise the step of introducing into the animal an amount of osteopontin, and/or a thrombospondin 2 antagonist, effective to modulate the amount or biological activity of thrombospondin 2 or osteopontin in the animal. In another aspect, the invention provides medical devices comprising (a) a device body; and (b) a surface layer attached to the device body, the surface layer including an amount of an agonist or antagonist of a matricellular protein sufficient to reduce the foreign body response against the medical device, wherein the medical device is adapted to be affixed to, or implanted within, the soft tissue of an animal.