Abstract: This document provides polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings. For example, methods and materials related to polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings as well as methods and materials for making and using such compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings are provided.

Abstract: This document provides polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings. For example, methods and materials related to polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings as well as methods and materials for making and using such compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings are provided.

Abstract: A composite material is formed by combining an expandable polymer having a charge with another polymer having an opposite charge to produce.

Abstract: An insoluble foam composite material is formed by a mixture combining an anionic polysaccharide, a cationic polysaccharide, a solvent, and a plasticizer. In particular, the composite material can be prepared by heating, freezing and lyophilizing the mixture to produce, for example, insoluble porous foam-like composites.

Abstract: This document provides polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings. For example, methods and materials related to polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings as well as methods and materials for making and using such compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings are provided.

Abstract: Multi-surfactant systems where two or more surfactant molecules are coupled to control the spatial distribution of polar groups of the combined surfactant molecules are disclosed. The system can be implemented by an aqueous medium including an associate charge constant surfactant and charge variable surfactant. The charge variable surfactant has at least one neutral end group at one pH value of the medium and at least one either an anionic polar group or a cationic polar group at a different pH value of the medium. The charge constant surfactant has at least one, and preferably two or more groups that does not change charge at the one or different pH values of the aqueous medium. The multi-surfactant system can be coupled or connected to the surface of a substrate where the arrangement of the two or more coupled surfactant molecules control the polarity of the substrate surface.

Abstract: This document provides polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings. For example, methods and materials related to polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings as well as methods and materials for making and using such compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings are provided.

Abstract: This document provides polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings. For example, methods and materials related to polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings as well as methods and materials for making and using such compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings are provided.

Abstract: This document provides polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings. For example, methods and materials related to polymer compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings as well as methods and materials for making and using such compositions (e.g., biopolymer compositions) and coatings are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to composites or coatings containing polypeptides attached to polysaccharides and/or molecules. For example, methods and materials related to composites or coatings containing polypeptides (e.g., casein polypeptides) attached to polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose) and/or molecules (e.g., calcium containing molecules such as calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate and/or polyesters such as polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate) are provided. A coating provided herein can include both cationic and ionic polymers, polypeptides, or polysaccharides.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to composites or coatings containing polypeptides attached to polysaccharides and/or molecules. For example, methods and materials related to composites or coatings containing polypeptides (e.g., casein polypeptides) attached to polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose) and/or molecules (e.g., calcium containing molecules such as calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate and/or polyesters such as polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate) are provided. A coating provided herein can include both cationic and ionic polymers, polypeptides, or polysaccharides.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to degradable biomolecule compositions. For example, methods and materials related to compositions having one or more biomolecules and one or more biomolecule degrading enzymes having activity to degrade the one or more biomolecules of the composition are provided. In some cases, the degradable biomolecule compositions provided herein can be used as wound dressings to facilitate wound healing, as tissue scaffolds or tissue matrices to promote tissue growth or tissue regeneration, as bulking agents to provide bulk to tissue in a temporary manner, and as non-medical devices to provide compositions that are degradable.

Abstract: A multi-layer resist process is used to define a sacrificial host structure used to produce a molecular ruler useful for defining structures via a lift-off type process. By using this process, the removal of the host structure is significantly simplified, and a structure is formed which is perfect for achieving a reproducible high yield lift-off. Moreover, the processes disclosed are completely compatible with volume IC manufacturing processes, and uses a minimum of the organic material which, in a high volume production application, will dramatically reduce solution depletion.

Abstract: A microstructure includes a catalyst region, and a non-catalyst region proximate to the catalyst region. The catalyst region induces a chemical reaction of a fluid component when the microstructure is located within a fluid medium containing the fluid component. The chemical reaction induces relative motion between the fluid medium and the microstructure, which can be used to provide, for example, autonomous directional movement, rotation of microgears, microfluidic devices, and novel sensor configurations. In one example, a palladium catalyst is used, and the fluid medium is an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a pattern on a surface of a substrate includes applying at least one non-molecular lithographic technique with at least one molecular lithographic technique to simultaneously define a size and shape of at least one of the features of the pattern. The pattern includes a nanoscale gap between features, the gap having a width defined by the thickness of one or more molecular layers used in one of the molecular lithographic techniques.

Abstract: Using polymeric dielectric materials (preferably materials derived from bisbenzocyclobutene monomers) and an electron beam lithography process for patterning this material, we have developed a process for fabricating optical waveguides with complex integrated devices such as gratings. Such gratings are not limited to one-dimensional type gratings but can include 2 dimensional gratings such as curved gratings or photonic crystals. Due to the properties of BCB, this process could also be implemented using optical photolithography depending upon the waveguide dimensions desired and the grating dimensions desired. Alternatively, the optical waveguide could be patterned using optical lithography and the grating can be patterned using electron beam lithography. In addition, the general process described below can be applied to the fabrication of complex lightwave circuits containing, for example, multiple optical waveguides, couplers/splitters, grating based filters and even more complex devices and structures.

Abstract: The integration, packaging and assembly of optical components, optoelectronic components and submounts using features pressed into ceramic elements. The submounts may be composed of a ceramic material and contain optical and optoelectronic components. The submounts can be movable to change the optical characteristics of modules created through the integration of optical or optoelectronic components. Such modules can have functions including optical detection, optical signal generation, optical signal branching or processing, optical switching, optical multiplexing or de-multiplexing, optical modulation or optical transmission. The disclosure also provides an example, which is not meant to be limiting, of an optical module including two or more optical components and a packaging, integration and assembly platform.

Abstract: A method of patterning a layer of e-beam sensitive dielectric material, such as bisbenzocyclobutene monomers, using electron beam lithography.

Abstract: Using polymeric dielectric materials (preferably materials derived from bisbenzocyclobutene monomers) and an electron beam lithography process for patterning this material, we have developed a process for fabricating optical waveguides with complex integrated devices such as gratings. Such gratings are not limited to one-dimensional type gratings but can include 2 dimensional gratings such as curved gratings or photonic crystals. Due to the properties of BCB, this process could also be implemented using optical photolithography depending upon the waveguide dimensions desired and the grating dimensions desired. Alternatively, the optical waveguide could be patterned using optical lithography and the grating can be patterned using electron beam lithography. Gratings with much more dimensional precision can be fabricated using electron beam lithography.

Abstract: Benzocyclobutenes have been found to be an ideal material for growing and cultivating biological materials such as biological cells. This property makes benzocyclobutenes suitable for use in devices for analyzing biological materials. A commercially available benzocyclobutene, namely, B-staged divinylsiloxane-bis-benzocyclobutene (BCB) is a spin-on dielectric material produced in several forms by Dow Chemical. This spin-on dielectric may be used in place of other conventional materials requiring use of a more complicated vacuum based deposition process. The applicant has found BCB to be an excellent dielectric material for fabricating microelectrode arrays.