Abstract: The spray dried plasma by the nature of its characteristics and the process by which it is made allows for a dried plasma with reduced pathogens. It has at least three aspects of pathogen reduction that results in a plasma product with reduced or no pathogens. The first aspect relates to a spray drying disposable and machine that eliminates or minimizes the introduction of pathogens into the spray drying process and is referred to as the anti-contamination process. The second aspect of pathogen reduction relates to the spray drying process and parameters that reduces pathogens that may be present in the donor plasma, and/or inhibit pathogen growth and/or pathogen proliferation introduced by the donor plasma. The third aspect results in reduced pathogens occurring during storage of the dried plasma wherein the manufacturing and storage conditions are such that pathogens are reduced, and/or pathogen growth and/or pathogen proliferation are inhibited.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spray dried plasma composition having one or more of the following characteristics: when reconstituted, largely amorphous and has no cholesterol crystals; when reconstituted, the mean size of large particulates is reduced; has low residual moisture; reconstitutes rapidly in under four minutes; highly stable when stored under refrigeration, at room temperature or at elevated temperatures and allows for storage for longer periods of time; when reconstituted, exhibits recovery of the most fragile of proteins, including von Willebrand's factor; when reconstituted with Sterile Water for Injection (SWFI), reconstituted plasma is at a pH that is near normal plasma pH, and does so without treatment or storage in CO2 or other pH adjustment.

Abstract: A microparticle comprised of dried cellulose nanocrystals agglomerated together and forming said microparticle is provided, wherein the CNCs are surfaced-reduced carboxylated CNCs, and wherein the microparticle is nanoredispersible into its constituting cellulose nanocrystals in both aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. A method for producing nanoredispersible microparticles comprised of dried CNCs is also provided.

Abstract: Proteinaceous cellulose microparticles are provided. These microparticles comprise cellulose nanocrystals and one or more peptide, one or more protein, or a mixture thereof, wherein the nanocrystals and the peptide(s) and/or protein(s) are aggregated together to form the microparticles. In embodiments, the microparticles comprise silk fibroin and advantageously are hydrophobic and lipophilic. There are also provided cosmetic preparations comprising these microparticles. In advantageous embodiments, these cosmetic preparations comprise a water-in-oil emulsion or a lipophilic medium. Finally, there are also provided methods of producing the microparticles.

Abstract: Porous cellulose microparticles and their use in, inter alias, cosmetic and pharmaceutic preparations are provided. These microparticles comprise cellulose I nanocrystals aggregated together, thus forming the microparticles, and arranged around cavities in the microparticles, thus defining pores in the microparticles. A method of for producing these microparticles is also provided. It involves mixing a suspension of cellulose I nanocrystals with an emulsion of a porogen to produce a mixture comprising a continuous liquid phase in which droplets of the porogen are dispersed and in which the nanocrystals of cellulose I are suspended; spray-drying the mixture to produce microparticles; and if the porogen has not sufficiently evaporated during spray-drying to form pores in the microparticles, evaporating the porogen or leaching the porogen out of the microparticles to form pores in the microparticles.

Abstract: A microparticle comprised of dried cellulose nanocrystals agglomerated together and forming said microparticle is provided, wherein the CNCs are surfaced-reduced carboxylated CNCs, and wherein the microparticle is nanoredispersible into its constituting cellulose nanocrystals in both aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. A method for producing nanoredispersible microparticles comprised of dried CNCs is also provided.

Abstract: Microparticles comprising carboxylated, sulfated, or phosphated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and pigment nanoparticles are provided. In these particles, the cellulose nanocrystals and the pigment nanoparticles are agglomerated together thereby forming said microparticle, and wherein the pigment nanoparticles are bound to the surface of the cellulose nanocrystals. Cosmetic preparations comprising these microparticles are also provided. Finally, a method for producing the microparticles is provided. The method comprises the steps of a) producing an aqueous suspension of carboxylated, sulfated, or phosphated CNCs with pigment nanoparticles bound thereto; and b) drying said aqueous suspension to produce the microparticles.

Abstract: A method for producing functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing cellulose, mixing said cellulose with a peroxide, thereby producing a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture, and/or exposing the reaction mixture to UV radiation is provided. Functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose produced by this method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing cellulose, mixing said cellulose with a peroxide, thereby producing a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture, and/or exposing the reaction mixture to UV radiation is provided. Functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose produced by this method is also provided.

Abstract: A pigment comprising dyed crystalline cellulose particles comprising a crystalline cellulose core having a surface charge, optionally one or more polyelectrolyte layers with alternating charges adsorbed on top of each other on the crystalline cellulose core, the polyelectrolyte layer closest to the core having a charge opposite the surface charge of the core, and at least one organic dye having a charge is provided.

Abstract: A pigment comprising dyed crystalline cellulose particles comprising a crystalline cellulose core having a surface charge, optionally one or more polyelectrolyte layers with alternating charges adsorbed on top of each other on the crystalline cellulose core, the polyelectrolyte layer closest to the core having a charge opposite the surface charge of the core, and at least one organic dye having a charge is provided.

Abstract: A method for producing functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing cellulose, mixing said cellulose with a peroxide, thereby producing a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture, and/or exposing the reaction mixture to UV radiation is provided. Functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose produced by this method is also provided.

Abstract: A waveguide device having a tailored thermal response includes a solvent-resistant substrate including a surface, the substrate having a thermal coefficient of expansion. The waveguide device further includes a waveguide layer formed on the surface of the substrate. The waveguide layer has a temperature-dependent refractive index characterized by a negative thermo-optical coefficient. The thermal response of the waveguide device includes a temperature-dependent wavelength shift proportional to a thermal response parameter equal to a sum of the thermo-optical coefficient and the product of the refractive index and the thermal coefficient of expansion.

Abstract: The process for fabricating a ridge waveguide on a substrate uses a photosensitive sol-gel glass material prepared, according to a first embodiment, by mixing methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (H.sub.2 C.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.3 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3) and methacrylic acid (H.sub.2 C.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COOH) or, according to a second embodiment, by mixing methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (H.sub.2 C.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.3 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3) with bis(s-butoxy)aluminoxytriethoxysilane. A thick film of photosensitive sol-gel glass material is first dip coated on at least a portion of the substrate. A photomask is applied to the film of photosensitive sol-gel glass material, and this sol-gel material is exposed to ultraviolet radiation through the opening(s) of the photomask to render a portion of the film insoluble to a given solvent and thereby imprint the ridge waveguide in that film.

Abstract: Carbon-metal catalysts having a substantial amount of catalytically active metal, e.g. silver, deposited thereon in zero-valent, small cluster form, are prepared by vaporizing the metal under low vapor pressure conditions in the vicinity of an organic liquid solvent e.g. tetrahydrofuran, such that the metal dissolves in the solvent as a labile solvated zero-valent metal complex. This complex is contacted with the carbon so that the complex diffuses onto the surface of the carbon and also into the pores thereof.