OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a new skin graft immobilization technique using multilayered polyurethane foam in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS AND MATERIALS Twenty-six patients underwent a full-thickness skin graft. Multiple layers of a hydrocellular polyurethane foam dressing were used for skin graft immobilization. In addition, we created an in vitro skin graft model that allowed us to estimate immobilization pressure at the center and edges of skin grafts of various sizes.

RESULTS Overall mean graft survival was 88.9%. In the head and neck region ( 19 patients), mean graft survival was 93.6%. Based on the in vitro outcomes,

this technique supplies effective pressure (< 30 mmHg) to the center region of the

skin graft. CONCLUSIONS This multilayered polyurethane foam dressing is simple, safe, and effective for skin PX-478 graft immobilization.”
“The use of mild conditions to perform the entrapment of biomolecules in polymeric matrices is a crucial step in a broad range of applications as biosensors, biocarrier-mediated facilitated transport membranes, and drug-controlled release devices. In this study, we investigated the crosslinking of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by glutaraldehyde in the absence of an acid catalyst and organic solvents to improve the water resistance of the hydrophilic biocompatible ABT-888 solubility dmso polymer. Glutaralclehyde was chosen as the crosslinking agent because it favors the intermolecular reaction with PVA and is able to bind nonspecifically to proteins. The effects of the temperature and glutaraldehyde content on the thermal and structural properties of the PVA films were examined. Membranes prepared at 40 degrees C showed a maximum crosslinking density for low glutaraldehyde content www.sellecn.cn/products/btsa1.html namely, 0.04 wt % in the spreading solution. Higher amounts of the crosslinker led to the branching of PVA. The increase in membrane thermal

properties and reduction in crystallinity were ascribed to the crosslinking treatment, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. The oxygen permeability of the films was reduced Lip to 2.7 times, which indicated that the crosslinking of the polymer was successfully accomplished. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 3074-3080, 2009″
“A model for the electric displacement hysteresis and strain butterfly loops of ferroelectric films under electrical loading is proposed based on an improved Preisach model for nonlinear remanent polarization. Our model shows improved displacement and strain versus electric field loops that agree reasonably well with the experimental data. Compared to the previous model, the current model, including the history-dependent electric field effect, which is always neglected in the conventional model, provides electric displacement and strain loops with a full and symmetric shape.