Abstract: A composite membrane for use in flow batteries is contemplated. The membrane comprises a hydrogel, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), applied to a polymeric microporous film substrate. This composite is interposed between two half cells of a flow battery. The resulting membrane and system, as well as corresponding methods for making the membrane and making and operating the system itself, provide unexpectedly good performance at a significant cost advantage over currently known systems.

Abstract: A composite membrane for use in flow batteries is contemplated. The membrane comprises a hydrogel, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), applied to a polymeric microporous film substrate. This composite is interposed between two half cells of a flow battery. The resulting membrane and system, as well as corresponding methods for making the membrane and making and operating the system itself, provide unexpectedly good performance at a significant cost advantage over currently known systems.

Abstract: A composite membrane for use in flow batteries is contemplated. The membrane comprises a hydrogel, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), applied to a polymeric microporous film substrate. This composite is interposed between two half cells of a flow battery. The resulting membrane and system, as well as corresponding methods for making the membrane and making and operating the system itself, provide unexpectedly good performance at a significant cost advantage over currently known systems.

Abstract: A multilayered polymer composite film includes a water-soluble polymer matrix and a plurality of fibers embedded within the water soluble polymer matrix. The fibers include a water insoluble polymer material and at least one of a non-polymeric hydrophobic therapeutic agent or a non-polymeric hydrophobic cosmetic agent incorporated in the water insoluble polymer material. The fibers have a rectangular cross-section, and extend the entire length of the multilayered polymer composite film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel materials and methods of forming those novel materials. The materials are synthesized from Poly(acrylic acid), a crosslinker; and a salt. The material can be further synthesized from sodium hydroxide. The crosslinker can be a covalent crosslinking agent such as N,N?-methylenebisacrylamide. Examples of applicable salts are calcium chloride, lithium chloride, zinc chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, barium chloride, cesium chloride, magnesium chloride, cobalt chloride, lithium bromide. In example, the Poly(acrylic acid) can be about 3 moles of Poly(acrylic acid), the crosslinker can be about 0.005 moles of N,N?-methylenebisacrylamide, and the salt can be formed by the addition of about 0.003 moles of potassium persulfate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are biomaterials that include a plurality of fibers embedded in a matrix of hydrogel material. The plurality of fibers and hydrogel material are formed during one process step. In one embodiment, the plurality of fibers and hydrogel materials are formed using a multilayer coextrusion process step. Additional process steps can be performed to form a tissue engineering scaffold. Such a scaffold can be used to grow biological matter. In one embodiment, stem cells are applied to the scaffold to grow biological material. Process steps can be controlled to determine certain mechanical properties of the resulting biomaterial. In one embodiment, the process steps are controlled to determine the stiffness of the resulting biomaterial. In such an embodiment, the stiffness of the resulting biological material determines physical properties of the biological material grown on the scaffold.

Abstract: A composite membrane for use in flow batteries is contemplated. The membrane comprises a hydrogel, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), applied to a polymeric microporous film substrate. This composite is interposed between two half cells of a flow battery. The resulting membrane and system, as well as corresponding methods for making the membrane and making and operating the system itself, provide unexpectedly good performance at a significant cost advantage over currently known systems.

Abstract: Certain configurations of adhesive materials are described which comprise a crosslinked derivatized atelocollagen. In some configurations, the crosslinked, derivatized atelocollagen is cured to provide a burst strength of at least 55 kPa or 60 kPa (or more) as tested by ASTM F2392-04. In some instances, the crosslinked derivatized atelocollagen comprises a methylated atelocollagen that is crosslinked using one or more functionalized crosslinking agents.

Abstract: A multilayered polymer composite film includes a water-soluble polymer matrix and a plurality of fibers embedded within the water soluble polymer matrix. The fibers include a water insoluble polymer material and at least one of a non-polymeric hydrophobic therapeutic agent or a non-polymeric hydrophobic cosmetic agent incorporated in the water insoluble polymer material. The fibers have a rectangular cross-section, and extend the entire length of the multilayered polymer composite film.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to cohesive materials comprising treated, derivatized collagen molecules. In some embodiments, the cohesive material can function as a putty or defect filler that can be used in a tissue repair. Methods of using the cohesive materials are also described.

Abstract: Certain configurations of adhesive materials are described which comprise a crosslinked derivatized atelocollagen that can be cured with a sequestered curing agent. In some configurations, the crosslinked, derivatized atelocollagen is used to provide an adhesive that can be used to hold two or more tissues to each other for some period and permit a tissue repair process to occur.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a polymer composite comprises a filler and a matrix. The filler comprises an electrospun polymer mat. The matrix comprises a polymer film. The filler is arranged to respond to stimuli by altering its mechanical properties. In one example, the mat can be electrospun from poly(vinyl alcohol), and the matrix can be formed from ethylene oxide-epichlorohydrin 1:1 copolymer. The filler can be arranged so that the tensile storage modulus of the polymer composite changes in response to the filler being exposed to a stimulus. In another example, the filler is about four percent by weight of the polymer composite.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a photocurable polymer system. The method includes providing a polymer, providing a diaryl iodonium salt, blending said polymer and diaryl iodonium salt, applying the blend to a substrate; and crosslinking the blend. The polymer can be a silicone-based polymer, such as PDMS-ECHE. The polymer can also be ETBN. The blend can be crosslinked by exposing the blend to ultraviolet light, and the crosslinking can be cationic crosslinking. In one example, the wavelength of the ultraviolet light is 254 nm. The blend can be exposed to ultraviolet light for between about 10 seconds and 90 seconds. In one example, the blend is two percent by weight of the diaryl iodonium salt to the polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel materials and methods of forming those novel materials. The materials are synthesized from Poly(acrylic acid), a crosslinker; and a salt. The material can be further synthesized from sodium hydroxide. The crosslinker can be a covalent crosslinking agent such as N,N?-methylenebisacrylamide. Examples of applicable salts are calcium chloride, lithium chloride, zinc chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, barium chloride, cesium chloride, magnesium chloride, cobalt chloride, lithium bromide. In example, the Poly(acrylic acid) can be about 3 moles of Poly(acrylic acid), the crosslinker can be about 0.005 moles of N,N?-methylenebisacrylamide, and the salt can be formed by the addition of about 0.003 moles of potassium persulfate.

Abstract: A method of forming a cross-linked protein structures includes preparing a solution of protein dissolved in a benign solvent and forming an intermediate protein structure from the solution. The intermediate protein structure can be cross-linked by providing for a specific ratio of chemical cross-linking agents to form the cross-linked protein structure. The solution can be prepared by adding a cross-linker of N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) at a ratio of two-to-one of NHS to EDC to alcohol. PBS buffer (20×) can be added to the solution until the volume ratio of PBS buffer (20×) to alcohol is about one-to-one. About 16 percent by weight of protein can be dissolved in the solution. The solution can be electrospun to form an intermediate protein structure. After a period of time, the protein structure can be cross-linked to form the cross-linked protein structure.

Abstract: Certain configurations of adhesive materials are described which comprise a crosslinked derivatized atelocollagen. In some configurations, the crosslinked, derivatized atelocollagen is cured to provide a burst strength of at least 55 kPa or 60 kPa (or more) as tested by ASTM F2392-04. In some instances, the crosslinked derivatized atelocollagen comprises a methylated atelocollagen that is crosslinked using one or more functionalized crosslinking agents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are biomaterials that include a plurality of fibers embedded in a matrix of hydrogel material. The plurality of fibers and hydrogel material are formed during one process step. In one embodiment, the plurality of fibers and hydrogel materials are formed using a multilayer coextrusion process step. Additional process steps can be performed to form a tissue engineering scaffold. Such a scaffold can be used to grow biological matter. In one embodiment, stem cells are applied to the scaffold to grow biological material. Process steps can be controlled to determine certain mechanical properties of the resulting biomaterial. In one embodiment, the process steps are controlled to determine the stiffness of the resulting biomaterial. In such an embodiment, the stiffness of the resulting biological material determines physical properties of the biological material grown on the scaffold.

Abstract: In one embodiment, PAA is immobilized on dry, solid, fibrous media, such as cellulose fiber paper (“PAA-CF”) to yield a robust, flexible material with substantial wicking and fluid uptake capabilities. PAA-CF materials demonstrate the ability for use as collection and storage devices for applications such as dried blood spot analysis, protein and DNA preservation and analysis, enzymatic assays, biomarker identification, and other processes used for biological materials. PAA-CF materials can readily take up whole blood, plasma, proteins, and solutions of molecules that can then be easily extracted and analyzed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to cohesive materials comprising treated, derivatized collagen molecules. In some embodiments, the cohesive material can function as a putty or defect filler that can be used in a tissue repair. Methods of using the cohesive materials are also described.

Abstract: Gels and films can be formed from protein dissolved into a benign solvent that comprises alcohol, water, and salt. In one example, the protein can be collagen. In one example, the benign solvent can include a water to alcohol ratio of between ninety-nine-to-one and one-to-ninety-nine by volume, a salt concentration between zero moles per liter and the maximum salt concentration soluble in water, and a protein amount of between near zero percent and about 25 percent by weight as compared to the mixture of water and alcohol. Once the protein is dissolved in the benign solvent, secondary processing steps can be conducted to form protein based bioadhesives, gels, and films with desirable physical properties. Additional process steps can include washings that improve the properties of the protein structures.