Abstract: A tissue adhesive material that provides fast and robust adhesion even on tissue surfaces covered in bodily fluids. The tissue adhesive material is formed of a hydrophobic matrix and a plurality of bioadhesive microparticles dispersed within the hydrophobic matrix configured such that disposing the adhesive material directly on a fluid covered surface and applying pressure causes the (a) hydrophobic matrix to repel the fluid, (b) the bioadhesive particles to compress forming an adhesive layer, and (c) the bioadhesive particles to form temporary crosslinks followed by covalent crosslinks with the surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ecological governance method based on erosion prevention and control for a gentle slope farmland and relates to the technical field of ecological governance of farmlands. The ecological governance method based on erosion prevention and control for a gentle slope farmland includes the following steps: sampling a gentle slope farmland to investigate erosion thereof; and determining erosion of a gentle slope cultivated land and selecting a corresponding recovery strategy based on a detection result of a sample, a soil quality index (SQI), and a comprehensive vegetation quality index (VQI), where the recovery strategy includes a natural recovery method and a biological-farming comprehensive recovery method; enclosing the gentle slope cultivated land, fallowing the gentle slope cultivated land and reducing tillage; exterminating insect pests and poisonous weeds in the enclosed area; and turning over straws under soil by a cultivator. The growth of poisonous weeds is inhibited.

Abstract: Dry adhesive materials, particularly in the form of a film or tape, for adhering one or more wet surfaces comprising: (i) one or more hydrophilic polymers; (ii) one or more amine coupling groups, and (iii) one or more cross linkers. The dry adhesive material, when placed in contact with the one or more wet surfaces, absorbs liquid from the one or more wet surfaces, swells to form temporary crosslinking with the wet surface, and forms covalent crosslinking with the one or more wet surfaces.

Abstract: A tissue adhesive material that provides fast and robust adhesion even on tissue surfaces covered in bodily fluids. The tissue adhesive material is formed of a hydrophobic matrix and a plurality of bioadhesive microparticles dispersed within the hydrophobic matrix configured such that disposing the adhesive material directly on a fluid covered surface and applying pressure causes the (a) hydrophobic matrix to repel the fluid, (b) the bioadhesive particles to compress forming an adhesive layer, and (c) the bioadhesive particles to form temporary crosslinks followed by covalent crosslinks with the surface.

Abstract: A shape memory adhesive material for adhering and contracting wounds, particularly diabetic wounds, to facilitate their closure and healing. The shape memory adhesive is pre-stretched and dried to provide an adhesive structure with a pre-programmed strain, wherein the adhesive is capable of rapid robust adhesion followed by predictive contraction upon contact with a wet surface. According to preferred embodiments, the shape memory adhesive material includes a combination of one or more hydrophilic polymers or copolymers, one or more amine coupling group, and one or more cross linkers.

Abstract: Provided herein, in some embodiments, are hydrogel-elastomer and hydrogel-alginate devices, compositions and associated methods to encapsulate living cells.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to modified polyurethanes, specifically polyurethanes modified with one or more lipophilic groups, and tough organogels comprising such modified polyurethanes.

Abstract: Robotic devices and methods for performing minimally invasive procedures on the vascular system, particularly cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgical procedures, where a submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device is configured and adapted for active steering and navigation based on external magnetic actuation. The submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device includes an elongate body having an inner core and an outer shell, where the outer shell is fabricated of an elastomeric material having a plurality of ferromagnetic particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for on-person wearable electronic devices configured for extended periods of wear. A couplant may be provided that is made of a soft anti-dehydrating, and hydrogel-elastomer hybrid material. A bioadhesive may connect the couplant the electronic devices and the person. The couplant may serve as a coupling and transmission for information to or from the electronic device.

Abstract: Described herein are window retrofits including a monolithic silica aerogel slab having (i) an average haze value of <5% as calculated in accordance with ASTM standard D1003-13 and (ii) a U-factor of <0.5 BTU/sf/hr/° F., and a transparent polymer envelope sealed at an internal pressure of ?1 atmosphere, wherein the monolithic silica aerogel slab is encapsulated in the transparent polymer envelope. The monolithic aerogel slab can have a transmittance >94% at 8 mm thickness. The window retrofit can be bonded to a glass sheet.

Abstract: Enhanced cleaning of a fouled membrane is achieved via controlled deformation in a method wherein a feed composition, comprising a solvent and dissolved components, flows into a retentate side of a membrane module. The solvent passes through the membrane from the retentate side to a permeate or draw side of the membrane module while retaining the dissolved components on the membrane. As a foulant accumulates on either side of the membrane, a driving force is generated across the membrane, wherein the membrane responds cyclically by deforming back and forth toward the permeate or draw side and toward the retentate side. The foulant is dislodged from the membrane via mechanical fatigue at the foulant-membrane interface caused by the deformation of the membrane and contact with a spacer in contact with the membrane.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a stretchable anti-fogging tape (SAT) that can be applied to diverse transparent materials with varied curvatures for persistent fogging prevention. The SAT comprises three synergistically-combined transparent layers: i) a stretchable middle layer with high elastic recovery to keep transparent materials tightly bound; ii) an anti-fogging top layer to impart hydrophilicity to transparent materials; and iii) an adhesive bottom layer to form robust yet reversible adhesion between transparent materials and SATs. The SAT can be configured to have water condensate form a predominantly continuous film thereon in response to a high humidity environment At least two applications are demonstrated, including the SAT-adhered eyeglasses and goggles for clear fog-free vision, and the SAT-adhered condensation cover for efficient solar-powered freshwater production.

Abstract: A dry shape memory adhesive material for adhering a target surface in the presence of fluid and for providing tunable mechanical contraction of an adhered surface. The dry shape memory adhesive material is pre-stretched and dried to provide an adhesive structure that implements a hydration-based shape memory mechanism to achieve both uniaxial and biaxial contractions of the adhered surface. According to preferred embodiments, the shape memory adhesive material includes a combination of one or more hydrophilic polymers or copolymers, one or more amine coupling group, and one or more cross linkers.

Abstract: Described herein are window retrofits including a monolithic silica aerogel slab having (i) an average haze value of <5% as calculated in accordance with ASTM standard D1003-13 and (ii) a U-factor of <0.5 BTU/sf/hr/° F., and a transparent polymer envelope sealed at an internal pressure of ?1 atmosphere, wherein the monolithic silica aerogel slab is encapsulated in the transparent polymer envelope. The monolithic aerogel slab can have a transmittance >94% at 8 mm thickness. The window retrofit can be bonded to a glass sheet.

Abstract: A responsive material having an elastomeric matrix in which ferromagnetic particles are dispersed so as to have a predetermined magnetization pattern which, when exposed to an external magnetic field, changes the shape of the responsive material from an initial shape to a predetermined transformed shape dictated by the magnetization pattern. An initial shape of the responsive material is formed by direct ink printing while applying magnetic fields to a dispensing nozzle to align the particles and gives rise to the desired magnetization pattern.

Abstract: Bioadhesive materials and methods for adhering biological tissues and blood vessels in a minimally invasive manner, wherein the bioadhesive materials are in folded bioadhesive sleeve configurations or in injectable bioadhesive forms adapted for delivery using minimally invasive procedures. The folded bioadhesive sleeve is disposed on the distal portions of a variety of minimally invasive devices for insertion to a target tissue site, then deployed and adhered to the target tissue site through actuation of the minimally invasive device. The injectable bioadhesive is disposed in a syringe and delivered to a target site via a catheter, then adhered to the target tissue by actuation of a minimally invasive device. Precise placement and adhesion to the target tissue site can be successfully accomplished solely through the actuation of the minimally invasive devices without the use of additional devices to assist in placement or actuation of the bioadhesive materials.

Abstract: Robotic devices and methods for performing minimally invasive procedures on the vascular system, particularly cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgical procedures, where a submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device is configured and adapted for active steering and navigation based on external magnetic actuation. The submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device includes an elongate body having an inner core and an outer shell, where the outer shell is fabricated of an elastomeric material having a plurality of ferromagnetic particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: An adhesive material that provides fast and robust adhesion on wet surfaces, where the adhesion formed is detachable on-demand. The adhesive material is formed of one or more hydrophilic polymers or copolymers grafted with one or more amine coupling groups via a plurality of cleavable physical bonds and/or cleavable covalent bonds and one or more cross linkers. Application of the adhesive material on a wet surface causes the adhesive material to absorb liquid to thereby swell the adhesive material to form a layer of hydrogel, resulting in the formation of temporary crosslinks followed by covalent crosslinks with the surface. Introducing a triggering agent cleaves the cleavable physical bonds and/or cleavable covalent bonds to allow for non-traumatic detachment of the adhesive material from the surface.

Abstract: The invention features a composition comprising a self-healing interpenetrating network hydrogel comprising a first network and a second network. The first network comprises covalent crosslinks and the second network comprises ionic or physical crosslinks. For example, the first network comprises a polyacrylamide polymer and second network comprises an alginate polymer.

Abstract: A biorobotic hybrid heart that preserves organic intracardiac structures and mimics cardiac motion by image-guided replication of the cardiac myofiber architecture of the left ventricle with an active synthetic myocardium that drives the motion of the heart. The active soft tissue mimic is adhered to the organic endocardial tissue in a helical fashion using a custom-designed adhesive to form a flexible, conformable, and watertight organosynthetic interface.