Abstract: This application relates to nanoparticles, including nanoparticles derived from a plasma, and their use in the formation of conjugates. The nanoparticles can be stably conjugated to a wide variety of second species, forming conjugates which can be used, for example, in therapeutic, diagnostic and experimental methods.

Abstract: This application relates to nanoparticles, including nanoparticles derived from a plasma, and their use in the formation of conjugates. The nanoparticles can be stably conjugated to a wide variety of second species, forming conjugates which can be used, for example, in therapeutic, diagnostic and experimental methods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for covalent immobilization of molecular compounds on a substrate surface, comprising the steps: Providing a substrate surface; Treating the substrate surface with a plasma at atmospheric pressure, thereby generating an activated surface site; Exposing at least the activated surface site, or some fraction of the activated surface site, to molecular compounds, thereby establishing a covalent bond between the molecular compounds and the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for plasma ion processing is described, including flowing a gas into porous material; and exposing the gas to a pulsed electric field whilst the gas is in the pores. The pulsed electric field ionises the gas to generate a plasma. The method may additionally include exposing the porous material to a gas so as to generate functionality. The method may additionally include exposing the functionalised porous material to a functional species so as to covalently attach said functional species to the surfaces of the pores.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a propulsion system comprising: a solid conductive or semiconductive cathode (130); an anode (110) having a potential difference relative to said cathode (130), said potential difference creating an electric field between said anode (110) and said cathode (130); and an insulated trigger (150) adapted to trigger an arc discharge from a point on a upper surface of said cathode (130) in pulses, when said trigger (150) and cathode (130) are substantially in a vacuum, said trigger being bounded within the cathode so that the point at which the arc is triggered is located on the upper surface of said cathode.

Abstract: This application relates to nanoparticles, including nanoparticles derived from a plasma, and their use in the formation of conjugates. The nanoparticles can be stably conjugated to a wide variety of second species, forming conjugates which can be used, for example, in therapeutic, diagnostic and experimental methods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a propulsion system comprising: a solid conductive or semiconductive cathode (130); an anode (110) having a potential difference relative to said cathode (130), said potential difference creating an electric field between said anode (110) and said cathode (130); and an insulated trigger (150) adapted to trigger an arc discharge from a point on a upper surface of said cathode (130) in pulses, when said trigger (150) and cathode (130) are substantially in a vacuum, said trigger being bounded within the cathode so that the point at which the arc is triggered is located on the upper surface of said cathode.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of controlling orientation of direct covalent binding of a peptide to a polymer substrate surface, to surfaces with peptides directly covalently bound thereto in a manner where the orientation of binding is controlled as well as to devices comprising such substrates. In particular the invention relates to A method of controlling predominant orientation of direct covalent binding of one or more peptides to a polymer substrate surface comprising: (a) exposing the surface to energetic ion treatment to generate a plurality of activated sites comprising reactive radical species; (b) incubating the surface with one or more peptide/s that exhibit or can be induced to exhibit a dipole moment and manipulating the electric field environment and/or charge of said surface and/or of said peptide/s during said incubating; wherein predominant orientation of direct covalent binding of said peptide/s to said surface is thereby controlled.

Abstract: The invention relates to an activated metallic, semiconductor, polymer, composite and/or ceramic substrate, the substrate being bound through a mixed or graded interface to a hydrophilic polymer surface that is activated to enable direct covalent binding to a functional biological molecule, the polymer surface comprising a sub-surface that includes a plurality of cross-linked regions, as well as to such activated substrates that have been functionalised with a biological molecule and to devices comprising such functionalised substrates. Such substrates can be produced by a method comprising steps of: a.

Abstract: The invention relates to structures for the immobilisation and protection of organic molecules, in particular, functional biological molecules. In one aspect the invention provides a structure comprising a substrate having a nanostructured spacer on a surface thereof; and an organic molecule immobilised on the surface of the substrate. Structures of the invention have a variety of potential utilities, including in protection of catalysts used in continuous flow, in medical devices and in protection of ligands for the binding of analytes in biosensors and diagnostic devices.

Abstract: A deformable implantable medical device such as a stent comprising metallic, polymer and/or composite substrate having a columnar structured plasma polymer surface capable of binding functional biological molecules. The polymer surface can be bound to the substrate through a mixed or graded interface formed by a co-deposition process where a substrate material is deposited with carbon containing species while gradually reducing the substrate material proportion and increasing the carbon containing species proportion. The device is able to undergo deformation without substantial delamination of the plasma polymer surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an activated metallic, semiconductor, polymer, composite and/or ceramic substrate, the substrate being bound through a mixed or graded interface to a hydrophilic polymer surface that is activated to enable direct covalent binding to a functional biological molecule, the polymer surface comprising a sub-surface that includes a plurality of cross-linked regions, as well as to such activated substrates that have been functionalised with a biological molecule and to devices comprising such functionalised substrates. Such substrates can be produced by a method comprising steps of: a.

Abstract: The present invention relates to activated polymer substrates capable of binding functional biological molecules, to polymer substrates comprising bound and functional biological molecules, to devices comprising such substrates and to methods of producing them.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (10) for plasma treatment of a substrate surface (16). The apparatus comprises a plasma source (12) for generating a plasma and a plasma-control electrode (14). The apparatus further comprises a drive means for effecting a relative movement between the plasma-control electrode (14) and the plasma source (12) or of the plasma-control electrode (14) and the plasma source (12) relative to the substrate (16). The plasma-control electrode (14) is located adjacent the substrate (16) to facilitate treatment of the substrate surface (16) in a controlled manner.