Abstract: A porous silicon implant impregnated with a beneficial substance, such as a micromineral required for healthy physiology, is implanted subcutaneously and is entirely corroded away over the following months/year to release the micromineral in a controlled manner. In a second embodiment the implant may have a large number of holes which contain beneficial substance and which are closed by bio-errordable doors of different thickness so as to stagger the release of the beneficial substance over time as the doors are breached.

Abstract: Dermatological methods of cosmetic, therapeutic, prophylactic, and/or diagnostic treatment by topically applying compositions comprising a multiplicity of particles, at least one of the particles comprising porous and/or polycrystalline silicon. Included are methods and compositions for sun protection applications. The use of porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and porous silicon oxide mirrors is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of cancer. In particular the invention relates to an internal therapeutic product comprising: (i) an anti-cancer component selected from one or both of: a radionucleotide, a cytotoxic drug; and (ii) a silicon component selected from one or more of: resorbable silicon, biocompatible silicon, bioactive silicon, porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and bulk crystalline silicon, the internal therapeutic product being for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A porous silicon implant impregnated with a beneficial substance, such as a micromineral required for healthy physiology, is implanted subcutaneously and is entirely corroded away over the following months/year to release the micromineral in a controlled manner. In a second embodiment the implant may have a large number of holes which contain beneficial substance and which are closed by bio-errordable doors of different thickness so as to stagger the release of the beneficial substance over time as the doors are breached.

Abstract: A porous silicon implant (42; 60) impregnated with a beneficial substance, such as a micromineral required for healthy physiology, is implanted subcutaneously and is entirely corroded away over the following months/year to release the micromineral in a controlled manner. In a second embodiment the implant (62) may have a large number of holes (72) which contain beneficial substance and which are closed by bio-errodable doors (76, 78) of different thickness so as to stagger the release of the beneficial substance over time as the doors are breached.

Abstract: Porous and/or polycrystalline silicon are used in the delivery of substances into cells. The porous and/or polycrystalline silicon can be formed into micropiercers, microneedles and biolistic bullets for penetration of the cell. The control of the pore size and porosity of the porous and/or polycrystalline silicon allows tuning of the bioactivity of the porous silicon. The porous and/or polycrystalline silicon is also resorbable and is therefore resorbed from the cells without leaving any particles or being seen as a foreign body. Methods of manufacturing the porous silicon micropiercers, microneedles, microelectrodes, biolistic bullets, and precipitation of calcium phosphate on a bioactive substrate, and their advantages over known methods of delivering materials into cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to orthopaedic implant materials and devices comprising porous and or polycrystalline silicon. Such materials and devices may be used in the treatment of one or more of the following conditions: hip fracture, arthrosis of the hip and knee, vertebral fracture, spinal fusion, long bone fracture, soft tissue repair, and osteoporosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to attachable body fluid collection devices, each comprising at least one storage structure for, when in use, storing a body fluid sample secreted by a body fluid secreting surface. The or at least one of the storage structure comprises silicon. Particular emphasis is placed on sweat patches and techniques for analyzing sweat.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of fabricating a bonded product comprising at least two components that are bonded together, the method comprising the steps of: a) bringing the components together; and b) heating the components; wherein at least one of the components comprises a nanomaterial and wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in such a manner that the components are bonded together by heating at least part of the nanomaterial. The method allows the components to be welded together at lower temperatures than for prior art methods. The method also provides a more reliable form of bonding and improves the strength of the bond formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate product comprising at least one microprojectile; characterized in that the or at least one of the microprojectiles comprises silicon. The invention also relates to devices and components used in the microprojectile implantation of the particulate product to a target of cells or target tissue.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of fabricating a bonded product comprising at least two components that are bonded together, the method comprising the steps of: a) bringing the components together; and b) heating the components; wherein at least one of the components comprises a nanomaterial and wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in such a manner that the components are bonded together by heating at least part of the nanomaterial. The method allows the components to be welded together at lower temperatures than for prior art methods. The method also provides a more reliable form of bonding and improves the strength of the bond formed.

Abstract: A method of providing a microprojection (180) on the surface of a first material, the microprojection having a base portion adjacent the first material and a remote, or a tip portion, and a duct (182) at least in a region of the tip portion and the method comprising micro-machining the first material to provide the micro-projection duct. Various uses of the microprojection are also disclosed including light guides and cuvettes from micro-analytical systems, microneedles for transdermal fluid delivery or the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to attachable body fluid collection devices, each comprising at least one storage means for, when in use, storing a body fluid sample secreted by a body fluid secreting surface, characterised in that the or at least one of the storage means comprises silicon. Particular emphasis is placed on sweat patches and techniques for analysing sweat.

Abstract: The use of microparticles of silicon and particularly resorbable and/or photoluminescent silicon in the preparation of a medicament for nasal or pulmonary delivery. Aerosol formulations and their preparation are also described and claimed. These formulations may be used for example as carriers for pharmaceutical compounds as well as having diagnostic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of porous silicon in the delivery of substances into cells. The porous silicon can be formed into micropiercers, microneedles and biolistic bullets for peenetration of the cell. The control of the pore size and porosity of the porous silicon allows tuning of the bioactivity of the porous silicon. The porous silicon is also resorbable and is therefore resorbed from the cells without leaving any particles or being seen as a foreign body. The present invention also relates to the methods of manufacturing the porous silicon micropiercers, microneedles, microelectrodes, biolistic bullets, and precipitation of calcium phosphate on a bioactive substrate, and their advantages over known methods of delivering materials into cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of cancer. In particular the invention relates to an internal therapeutic product comprising: (i) an anti-cancer component selected from one or both of: a radionucleotide, a cytotoxic drug; and (ii) a silicon component selected from one or more of: resorbable silicon, biocompatible silicon, bioactive silicon, porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and bulk crystalline silicon, the internal therapeutic product being for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to orthopaedic implant materials and devices comprising porous and or polycrystalline silicon. Such materials and devices may be used in the treatment of one or more of the following conditions: hip fracture, arthrosis of the hip and knee, vertebral fracture, spinal fusion, long bone fracture, soft tissue repair, and osteoporosis.

Abstract: Biomaterial, for example bioactive silicon, may be fabricated by anodizing a silicon wafer to produce a wafer having a porous silicon region. In vitro experiments have shown that certain types of porous silicon cause the deposition of apatite deposits both on the porous silicon and neighboring areas of bulk silicon when immersed in a simulated body fluid solution. This deposition of apatite provides an indication that porous silicon of appropriate form is bioactive, and therefore also biocompatible. A form of porous silicon is dissolved in the simulated body fluid solution and this is an indication of a resorbable biomaterial characteristic. In addition to porous silicon, certain types of polycrystalline silicon exhibit bioactive characteristics. Bioactive silicon may be used in the fabrication of biosensors for in vitro or in vivo applications. The bioactivity of the bioactive silicon may be controlled by the application of an electrical potential thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to dermatological compositions comprising a multiplicity of particles, at least one of the particles comprising porous and/or polycrystalline silicon. The dermatological compositions covered by the invention include compositions for sun protection applications. The use of porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and porous silicon oxide mirrors is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate product comprising at least one microprojectile; characterised in that the or at least one of the microprojectiles comprises silicon. The invention also relates to devices and components used in the microprojectile implantation of the particulate product to a target of cells or target tissue.