Abstract: The disclosure provides hemostatic compositions useful to promote hemostasis at active bleeding wound sites. The hemostatic compositions include an article containing cellulose, e.g., cotton gauze, and a cross-linked polysaccharide ionically linked to the cellulose. Methods of making and using the hemostatic compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides hemostatic compositions useful to promote hemostasis at active bleeding wound sites. The hemostatic compositions typically include an article containing cellulose, e.g., cotton gauze, and a polysaccharide covalently linked to the cellulose, or a polysaccharide ionically cross-linked and in association with the article. Methods of making and using the hemostatic compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides hemostatic compositions useful to promote hemostasis at active bleeding wound sites. The hemostatic compositions typically include an article containing cellulose, e.g., cotton gauze, and a polysaccharide covalently linked to the cellulose, or a polysaccharide ionically cross-linked and in association with the article. Methods of making and using the hemostatic compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a novel hemostatic polymer composition comprising a substance containing uncharged organic hydroxyl groups and a substance containing at least one of a halogen atom and an epoxy group, which is characterized as inducing rapid blood coagulation and hemostasis at a wound or bleeding site. Methods of use of the novel polymer composition are also provided.

Abstract: An encapsulating apparatus comprising a spinning cup adjustably rotatable about its central axis for forming droplets and projecting them radially outward, and one or more collection basins surrounding the bead forming spinning cup independently rotatable and positioned to collect the beads projected from the cup. The method for forming tissue microcapsules using the spin disk encapsulation apparatus wherein a supply mixture is introduced into a mixing chamber of the cup from a single, multiple or concentric needles. As the cup spins, the coated particles are propelled upward by the centrifugal force from the mixing chamber along the inner surface of the cup, projected radially outward, as beads, into the gelling solution in one of the selected basins.

Abstract: A biological tissue transplant coated with a stabilized multilayer alginate coating and a method for preparation of the stabilized multilayer coating. Coating has three primary layers of the alginate with a polyamino acid barrier emplaced between a primary and a secondary layer. The secondary "halo" layer of soft gel is formed by a gel gradient created between weakly bound cross-linking gelling divalent cations of an alginate used for the primary layer of the coating and non-gelling counter ions of a non-ionic alginate of the secondary layer of the coating.

Abstract: Autologous fibrinogen and chitosan containing hemostatic adhesive agents having strong hemostatic properties when applied to a bleeding wound or vessel. Fibrinogen is isolated and purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation in slow incremental portions.

Abstract: A transplant with a core of a viable, physiologically active, cell(s) and a non-fibrogenic coating of alkaline earth metal alginate having a high mannuronate to guluronate molar ratio and free from fibrogenic amounts of fucose, sulfate, phloroglucinol and protein moieties. The coating has a permeability sufficiently low and a thickness sufficiently large to protect the tissue cells from host immunological agents after transplantation, the coating also being sufficiently permeable and thin to permit the diffusion of cell sufficient nutrients and cell products through the coating required for cell viability. The alginate coating can be reacted with polylysine to form a polylysine-alginate complex on the outer surface thereof. The complex can then be reacted with polyaspartic acid to provide a physiologically acceptable negative surface charge.

Abstract: An electrostatic process is used for coating a biological material with a uniform, continuous polymer layer by discharging a suspension of the biological material in a gelable coating polymer solution in a continuous stream through an orifice into an electrostatic field. The stream is attenuated to form droplets by maintaining an electrostatic voltage between the needle and the gelling solution which is sufficient to maintain an attraction of at least 1.times.10.sup.-6 newtons on the stream of liquid leaving the needle, and the droplets are collected in a gelling solution. A preferred product is pancreatic islets having a continuous, smooth coating of high polymannuronate non-fibrogenic alginate having a thickness less than 200 .mu.m such as about 20-200 .mu.m. The alginate preferably contains less than 1 wt. % fucose, less than 0.5 wt. % sulfate and less than 0.01 wt. % phloroglucinol, is free of fibrinoogenic concentration of protein, and has a mannuronate to guluronate ratio of from 1.2 to 6.

Abstract: A coating apparatus includes a rotary cup for forming beads and projecting them radially outwardly, and one or more collection basins surrounding the bead forming cup. The cup is adjustably rotatable about its central axis, and the collection basins are independently rotatable and positioned to collect the beads projected from the cup. The coating apparatus further includes an elevation adjustment system for axially adjusting the alignment of the cup with respect to the selected collection basins. The rotational speeds of the cup and the collection basins are selected so as to minimize the impact of the beads against a gelling solution in the collection basins. In use, a supply mixture is introduced into a mixing chamber of the cup. As the cup spins, the coated particles are propelled upwardly by the centrifugal force from the mixing chamber along the inner surface of the cup, and are projected radially outwardly, as beads, into the gelling solution in one of the selected basins.

Abstract: An electrostatic process for coating a biological material with a uniform, continuous polymer layer by discharging a suspension of the biological material in a gellable coating polymer solution in a continuous stream through an orifice. The stream is attenuated to form droplets by maintaining an electrostatic voltage between the needle and the gelling solution which is sufficient to maintain an attraction of at least 1.times.10.sup.6 newtons on the stream of liquid leaving the needle, and the droplets are collected in a gelling solution. A preferred product is pancreatic islets having a continuous, smooth coating of high polymannuronate non-fibrogenic alginate having a thickness of at least 10 .mu.m.

Abstract: Angiographic vascular occlusion agents comprising a biopolymer alone or in combination with platelet-rich plasma. A liquid biopolymer gels in situ in contact with divalent cations. Biopolymer agent achieves permanent occlusion, biopolymer combined with the platelet-rich plasma achieves temporary or semi-permanent occlusion. The plasma is obtained from the patient's own blood to avoid undesirable immunogenic reactions. The occlusion agents have strong occlusive properties when injected into a bleeding vessel.

Abstract: A method for multiple layer coating of biological tissue and cells for transplantation. The cell or tissue transplants are coated with multiple coatings of purified alginate. The method includes applying the first coat of sodium alginate gelled with divalent cations followed by optional treatment with strontium, barium or other divalent cation, resuspending the single coated droplets in sodium alginate and forming the halo layer around the first coating via exchange or diffusion of divalent cations from the single coating to the surrounding soluble alginate, removing the excess coating and gelling the remaining thin layer of soluble alginate with divalent cations. The coated transplants have distinct structure where biological tissue or cell core is covered with the first alginate coat, which is surrounded by an intermediate halo layer which is covered by the outer coating.

Abstract: Cell or tissue transplant coated with an insoluble immunological barrier comprising a noncytotoxic first layer of a gellable organic polymer and a cationic polymer and a second noncytotoxic, water-soluble, semi-permeable layer chemically bonded to the first layer. A method for coating the cell or tissue with the insoluble immunologically inert barrier.

Abstract: Spherical microcapsules containing biological material such as tissue or living cells are formed with a diameter of less than 300 .mu.m using a microcapsule generating system containing an air knife. The air knife is formed by an air sleeve positioned eccentrically around a needle. An encapsulating material such as an alginate solution containing the biological material to be encapsulated is forced through the needle, while pressurized air is introduced into the air sleeve and flows out an end opening of the sleeve in which the needle is positioned. The pressurized air breaks up the alginate being discharged from the needle. The resultant alginate droplets fall into a collecting tank where they contact a gelling medium, such as CaCl.sub.2, so that the outer surface of these droplets harden and microcapsules are formed. In addition to being eccentrically positioned to facilitate very small droplet formation, the needle preferably has a beveled, pointed discharge end surface to enhance droplet size reduction.

Abstract: A method for in situ dissolution of an alginate coating from transplants containing biological tissue cores by administering to a transplant's recipient a physiologically acceptable chelating agent in an amount sufficient to dissolve the alginate coating. The method allows in situ removal of the coating and deactivation of the transplant by rejection of its core by the host immune system without the necessity to perform a surgery.

Abstract: Autologous platelet-rich plasma and a biocompatible polymer containing hemostatic adhesive agents. The agents have strong hemostatic properties when applied to a bleeding wound or vessel.

Abstract: Transplants are coated with an insoluble immunological barrier membrane. The membrane can comprise a non-cytotoxic first layer of agarose and cationic amino acid polymer and a non-cytotoxic second layer chemically bonded to said first layer, the second layer comprising an anionic amino acid polymer. The molecular weight of the anionic amino acid polymer is preferably in the range of 2000 to 500,000 daltons, and the thickness if the total membrane coating is within the range of 1 and 100 microns. Alternatively, the membrane can comprise a non-cytotoxic first layer of a cationic amino acid polymer. A non-cytotoxic second layer chemically bonded to the first layer comprises agarose and an anionic amino acid polymer. A non-cytotoxic optional third layer chemically bonded to said second layer comprises a cationic amino acid polymer.

Abstract: A transplant comprising a core of a viable, physiologically active cells coated with a non-fibrogenic alkaline earth metal alginate free from fibrogenic amounts of fucose, sulfate, phloroglucinol and protein moieties, having a mannuronate to guluronate molar ratio of from 1.2 to 6. The coating protects the core from host immunological destruction after transplantation. The coating is sufficiently permeable to permit the diffusion of nutrients and cell products through the coating.A process for coating the transplant core comprising coating the core with alginate substantially free from fibrogenic compounds and reacting the alginate coating with alkaline earth metal cations comprising calcium ions or magnesium ions or mixture thereof to form an alkaline earth metal alginate coating.

Abstract: Antigenic parasites are encapsulated in semipermeable polymeric envelope membranes to prepare implant capsules for immunizing an animal against parasitic infection. An animal may be immunized against parasitic infection by implanting into the animal the implant capsule at a location in the animal sufficient to stimulate a protective immune response in the animal to the parasite antigen.