Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the tunable precipitation of apatite induced by a chemical reaction within a polymeric hydrogel, and the product made thereof. The present invention includes a pH dependent pathway for the hydrolysis of DCPD precursor phase. In addition to pH the stoichiometry of the CaP reactants can contribute to the composition of the CaP phase incorporated into the PVA hydrogels. At elevated pH the direct conversion of DCPD to apatite is observed. However, decreasing the reaction pH to 7.4 to mimic physiological conditions results in the inclusion of OCP as a transition step.

Abstract: Zwitterionic cryogels and methods of making the same and using the same are disclosed. The zwitterionic cryogels are not brittle and are capable of self-healing by reestablishing crosslinks.

Abstract: Augmented three-dimensional (3D) printing systems and methods for constructing and mineralizing a hydrogel structure with defined geometry are disclosed. One example embodiment is a system for three-dimensional printing and mineralizing a polymer. The system includes a three-dimensional printer unit with a syringe extruder, a fluid delivery system operatively coupled to the three-dimensional printer unit, and a control unit. The control unit is operatively coupled to the three-dimensional printer unit and fluid delivery system, and is configured to (i) cause the three-dimensional printer unit to print a portion of a three-dimensional polymer object, (ii) cause the fluid delivery system to flush the portion of the three-dimensional polymer object with a fluid to mineralize the portion of the three-dimensional polymer object, and (iii) cause the three-dimensional printer unit to print a subsequent portion of the three-dimensional polymer object.

Abstract: A dental or bone material comprising a polysaccharide, diepoxide and calcium phosphate. The polysaccharide can be a chitosan, and the polysaccharide is modified to be soluble. The combination of the polysaccharide and diepoxide form a gel, which can be cured to form the implant. The curing does not require equipment, but instead the material is self-curing. Methods of making and using the material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Augmented three-dimensional (3D) printing systems and methods for constructing and mineralizing a hydrogel structure with defined geometry are disclosed. One example embodiment is a system for three-dimensional printing and mineralizing a polymer. The system includes a three-dimensional printer unit with a syringe extruder, a fluid delivery system operatively coupled to the three-dimensional printer unit, and a control unit. The control unit is operatively coupled to the three-dimensional printer unit and fluid delivery system, and is configured to (i) cause the three-dimensional printer unit to print a portion of a three-dimensional polymer object, (ii) cause the fluid delivery system to flush the portion of the three-dimensional polymer object with a fluid to mineralize the portion of the three-dimensional polymer object, and (iii) cause the three-dimensional printer unit to print a subsequent portion of the three-dimensional polymer object.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the tunable precipitation of apatite induced by a chemical reaction within a polymeric hydrogel, and the product made thereof. The present invention includes a pH dependent pathway for the hydrolysis of DCPD precursor phase. In addition to pH the stoichiometry of the CaP reactants can contribute to the composition of the CaP phase incorporated into the PVA hydrogels. At elevated pH the direct conversion of DCPD to apatite is observed. However, decreasing the reaction pH to 7.4 to mimic physiological conditions results in the inclusion of OCP as a transition step.

Abstract: Continuous monitoring of fluid composition, e.g. drinking water supply, with improved detection sensitivity and selectivity to varying degrees of contamination at and below the predetermined maximum contaminant levels using pyrolysis-differential mobility spectrometry.

Abstract: The invention provides an interface assembly for delivering an ionized analyte from an ionization apparatus into an ion mobility spectrometer. This allows analysis of biological and non-biological samples, even non-volatile solids, via differential mobility spectrometry, without fragmentation of molecules. The invention also provides portable sample analysis systems that operate at ambient pressure. Systems of the invention may be used for high molecular weight species detection, for example, drinking water contaminants, pathogenic biological agents, bio-organic substances, non-biological material, peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, polymers, bacteria, and hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for aligning and filtering chromatograms representative of complex mixture samples. In one embodiment, the invention includes identifying and matching related peaks to determine a temporal offset, and applying a nonlinear temporal shift to account for the offset. In other embodiments, the invention provides methods for smoothing chromatographic data by application of an autoregressive filter to provide improved signal-to-noise ratio, data compression, and resolution. The alignment and filtering methods may be performed separately or combined. In certain embodiments, the invention provides improved chromatographic pattern recognition capability and improved classification of samples of complex chemical and/or biological mixtures.