Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing synthetic extracellular vesicles comprising a lipid bilayer including at least two lipids, one or more extracellular vesicle associated proteins, and optionally one or more nucleic acid molecules. The inventive synthetic extracellular vesicles are formed by emulsification using a mechanic emulsifier in the form of polymer shell stabilized synthetic extracellular vesicles. The inventive method allows producing synthetic extracellular vesicles miming the composition and function of natural extracellular vesicles. Therefore, synthetic extracellular vesicles with specific protein and nucleic acids compositions are also disclosed herein, as well as their therapeutic uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation of monodisperse cell-targeting giant unilamellar vesicles based on symmetrically division of a parent polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle into smaller polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicles with a diameter between 1 ?m and 10 ?m using a microfluidic splitting device. The inventive method allows preparation of differently charged giant unilamellar vesicles as well as bioligand- and PEG-conjugated giant unilamellar vesicles, which are useful for targeted cellular delivery at high efficiency and specificity. A further advantage of the present invention is that the giant unilamellar vesicles can deliver huge cargos such as drug releasing porous microparticles, high amounts of in vivo imaging probes, viruses, or up-and-coming DNA origami robots.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for conjugating/attaching target molecules such as proteins to a label and/or carrier. Specifically, the present invention provides a complex comprising a metal cation coordinating (i) nitrate as a metal cation ligand and (ii) a metal cation chelating domain comprising a chelating ligand and a label and/or carrier. This complex can be used for attaching a label and/or a carrier to a target molecule, preferably a protein. The attachment of the label or carrier via the complex of the invention involves the replacement of the metal cation ligand with a coordinating group of the target molecule so that a product complex with the target molecule as primary ligand in the coordination sphere of the metal cation is formed. Accordingly, the present invention also provides for uses and methods involving the attachment of a label and/or carrier to a target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for conjugating/attaching target molecules such as proteins to a label and/or carrier. Specifically, the present invention provides a complex comprising a metal cation coordinating (i) a metal cation ligand being a carbonate selected from CO32? and HCO3— and (ii) a metal cation chelating domain comprising a chelating ligand and a label and/or carrier. This complex can be used for attaching a label and/or a carrier to a target molecule, preferably a protein. The attachment of the label or carrier via the complex of the invention involves the replacement of the metal cation ligand with a coordinating group of the target molecule so that a product complex with the target molecule as primary ligand in the coordination sphere of the metal cation is formed. Accordingly, the present invention also provides for uses and methods involving the attachment of a label and/or carrier to a target molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a protocell in form of a giant unilamellar vesicle, which comprises the following steps: a) providing a water-based droplet encapsulated by an outer polymer shell, which borders the inner space of the droplet, wherein the droplet has a maximum dimension of 0.5 ?m to 1,000 ?m, wherein the inner space of the droplet contains at least one lipid, b) transforming the lipid content of the droplet into a lipid bilayer which is arranged at and covers the inner surface of the polymer shell and oil phase in order to form a polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle, c) optionally incorporating one or more proteins and/or nuclei into the polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle provided in step b) and d) optionally removing the polymer shell and oil phase from the polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle and optionally transferring it from the oil to the water phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing elongate metal strands or fibres with a crucible, the method comprising the steps of; directing molten metal through a nozzle having a nozzle direction in a deposition direction at a regulated pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the crucible; depositing said molten metal from said nozzle on a rotating planar surface having an axis of rotation; entraining said molten metal in one plane via said rotating planar surface to form elongate metal strands, wherein said rotating surface is aligned at an alignment angle, to the deposition direction during the entraining of the molten metal; cooling said elongate metal strands to form solidified metal strands; and guiding said metal strands to collecting means to collect the solidified metal strands formed on the rotating planar surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surfactant-stabilized fluid interface, comprising a layer of surfactant and a first compound containing a hydrophobic part covalently linked to a molecular recognition site, wherein the surfactant-stabilized fluid interface has a first fluid on one side and a second fluid on the other side, wherein the surfactant stabilizes the fluid interface, wherein the hydrophobic part of the first compound is interacting with the layer of surfactant by secondary non-covalent interactions and the molecular recognition site of the first compound extends from the layer of surfactant, and wherein the surfactant is a block-copolymer having at least one hydrophilic block and at least one hydrophobic block. The present invention further relates to a dispersion comprising one or more droplets having a surfactant stabilized fluid interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a network of metal fibers, comprising a plurality of metal fibers fixed to one another; wherein at least some of the plurality of metal fibers have a length of 1.0 mm or more, a width of 100 ?m or less and a thickness of 50 ?m or less. The invention further relates to a method comprising step 1 of producing a plurality of metal fibers (2) by melt spinning; step 2 of providing a loose network of metal fibers (2) produced in step 1; and step 3 of fixating the plurality of metal fibers to one another by one of the following processes c1 to c4.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing elongate strands of metal comprises a rotatable wheel having a circumferential surface, at least one nozzle for directing a molten metal onto the circumferential surface and a collection means for collecting solidified strands of metal formed. The solidified strands are formed on the circumferential surface from the molten metal and are separated from the circumferential surface by centrifugal force generated by rotation of the wheel. The circumferential surface has a circumferentially extending structure having circumferentially extending edges and recesses formed between or bounded by the edges, and by an apparatus for controlling a gas pressure applied to the liquid metal which moves the liquid metal through the nozzle opening and delivers it to the circumferential surface of the rotatable wheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ocular device for regulating intraocular fluid pressure comprising or consisting of a tubular body wherein the inner surface of the tubular body or the inner and outer surface is/are coated with covalently immobilized hyaluronic acid (HA). In more specific embodiments, the tubular body comprises or consists of a biocompatible material selected from the group comprising a biocompatible metal such as titanium, ceramics, glass, polymers and composites thereof, and the immobilized hyaluronic acid molecules are linked with further HA molecules to form a HA hydrogel. The ocular device is a stent free from mechanical valves or other mechanical means for actively regulating the flow of intraocular fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a protocell in form of a giant unilamellar vesicle, which comprises the following steps: a) providing a water-based droplet encapsulated by an outer polymer shell, which borders the inner space of the droplet, wherein the droplet has a maximum dimension of 0.5 ?m to 1,000 ?m, wherein the inner space of the droplet contains at least one lipid, b) transforming the lipid content of the droplet into a lipid bilayer which is arranged at and covers the inner surface of the polymer shell and oil phase in order to form a polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle, c) optionally incorporating one or more proteins and/or nuclei into the polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle provided in step b) and d) optionally removing the polymer shell and oil phase from the polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle and optionally transferring it from the oil to the water phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a nanostructured substrate comprising an array of protruding nanostructures, which method comprises at least the following steps: a) providing a primary substrate; b) depositing at least one layer of a material capable to be removed by means of reactive ion etching (RIE) onto said primary substrate which layer comprises a predetermined gradient of its thickness; c) depositing a nanostructured etching mask onto the graded layer deposited in step b); d) generating protruding structures, in particular nanopillars, in the graded layer deposited in step b) by means of reactive ion etching (RIE), wherein simultaneously at least 2, preferably 3, predetermined continuous gradients of geometric parameters of the protruding structures are generated on the same substrate—More specifically, the geometric parameters are selected from the group comprising the height, diameter and spacing—of the protruding nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ocular device for regulating intraocular fluid pressure comprising or consisting of a tubular body wherein the inner surface of the tubular body or the inner and outer surface is/are coated with covalently immobilized hyaluronic acid (HA). In more specific embodiments, the tubular body comprises or consists of a biocompatible material selected from the group comprising a biocompatible metal such as titanium, ceramics, glass, polymers and composites thereof, and the immobilized hyaluronic acid molecules are linked with further HA molecules to form a HA hydrogel. The ocular device is a stent free from mechanical valves or other mechanical means for actively regulating the flow of intraocular fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for creating nanostructures in and on organic or inorganic substrates comprising at least the following steps: a) providing a primary substrate having a predetermined refractive index; b) coating the primary substrate with one or more mediating layers each having a predetermined refractive index different from that of the primary substrate, wherein the sequence of the layers is arranged so that a predetermined gradient of the refractive index is generated between the primary substrate and the uppermost layer of the one or more mediating layers; c) optionally coating the uppermost layer of the one or more mediating layers with an additional top layer; d) depositing a nanostructured etching mask onto the uppermost layer of the composite substrate obtained after steps a)-b) or a)-c); e) generating protruding structures, in particular conical or pillar structures, or recessed structures, in particular holes, in at least the uppermost layer of the composite substrate by me

Abstract: The invention provides a method for increasing the order of an array of polymeric micelles or of nanoparticles on a substrate surface comprising a) providing an ordered array of micelles or nanoparticles coated with a polymer shell on a substrate surface and b) annealing the array of micelles or nanoparticles by ultrasonication in a liquid medium which is selected from the group comprising H2O, a polar organic solvent and a mixture of H2O and a polar organic solvent. In a related aspect, the invention provides the highly ordered arrays of micelles or nanoparticles obtainable by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing elongate strands of metal comprises a rotatable wheel having a circumferential surface, at least one nozzle for directing a molten metal onto the circumferential surface and a collection means for collecting solidified strands of metal formed. The solidified strands are formed on the circumferential surface from the molten metal and are separated from the circumferential surface by centrifugal force generated by rotation of the wheel. The circumferential surface has a circumferentially extending structure having circumferentially extending edges and recesses formed between or bounded by the edges, and by an apparatus for controlling a gas pressure applied to the liquid metal which moves the liquid metal through the nozzle opening and delivers it to the circumferential surface of the rotatable wheel.

Abstract: The invention relates to conical structures on substrate surfaces, in particular optical elements, to methods for the production thereof and to the use thereof, in particular in optical devices, solar cells and sensors. The conical nanostructures according to the invention are suitable in particular for providing substrate surfaces having very low light reflection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a substrate surface structured with thermally stable metal alloy nanoparticles, which method comprises—providing a micellar solution of amphiphilic molecules such as organic diblock or multiblock copolymers in a suitable solvent; —loading the micelles of said micellar solution with metal ions of a first metal salt; —loading the micelles of said micellar solution with metal ions of at least one second metal salt; —depositing the metal ion-loaded micellar solution onto a substrate surface to form a (polymer) film comprising an ordered array of (polymer) domains; co-reducing the metal ions contained in the deposited domains of the (polymer) film by means of a plasma treatment to form an ordered array of nanoparticles consisting of an alloy of the metals used for loading the micelles on the substrate surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a solution of micelles in an organic medium, which micelles comprise nanoparticles stabilized by a shell of at least one polymer having a terminal anchoring group which exhibits a high affinity to the surface of the nanoparticles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for spatially resolving the enlargement and fine adjustment of precious metal nanoparticles according to size on a substrate surface and to the nanoparticle arrangements and nanostructured substrate surfaces thereby produced and to the use thereof.