PURPOSE To present our initial results in the treatment of nasolacrimal obstruction by placing a polyurethane stent. METHODS 74 nasolacrimal stents were implanted under fluoroscopic guidance in obstructed nasolacrimal systems of 64 patients. Dacryocystography and CT were used to verify the position and patency of the stents. Mean follow-up was 15 months. Clinical examinations were done at the...

Interaction of silica and silicon nitride with polyurethane surfaces is rather poorly studied despite being of great interest for modern semiconductor industry, e.g., for chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) processes. Here we show the results from the application of the atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique to study the forces between silica or silicon nitride (AFM tips) and polyurethane ...

A novel sponge composed of a poly (lactic acid) composite skeleton covered with bonelike apatite (b-HA) was produced via a particleleaching technique combined with a biomimetic processing. The sponge has a large porosity of w75% with large-sized pores and shows mechanical ductility. After incubation of human osteoblasts for 7 days, numerous cells attached to the surface of the skeleton, which w...

Polyurethane (PU)has beenwidely used asbiomaterials due to its excellent physical properties and blood compatibility. Hemocompatibility and resistance to biodegradation of PU had led to its application in both commercial and experimental blood-contacting areas, such as vascular grafts, catheters, chambers for artificial hearts, and pacemaker insulation and so on. Many implanted substitutes like...

The strain rate effect of luffa sponge material is an indispensable property for it to be used for acoustic, vibration, and impact energy absorption. Compressive tests at different strain rates on cylindrical column specimens of luffa sponge material were conducted over a wide density ranging from 24 to 64 kg/m. A photographic technique was applied to measure the section area of the specimen wi...

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been used clinically for many years. It has good biocompatibility in bone contact as its chemical composition is similar to that of bone material. Porous HA ceramics have found enormous use in biomedical applications including bone tissue regeneration, cell proliferation, and drug delivery. In bone tissue engineering it has been applied as filling material for bone defec...

As oil and chemical spills pose a significant threat to the water environment, need develop efficient sorbent materials remove organic pollutants from has arisen. This study aimed simple modification scheme impart selective absorption capacity common three-dimensional porous material. Commercially available polyurethane sponges were used as base material, vinyl silica aerogel particles loaded o...

Polymeric biomaterials based on polyurethane and polylactide blends are promising candidates for regenerative medicine applications as biocompatible, bioresorbable carriers. In current research we showed that 80/20 polyurethane/polylactide blends (PU/PLDL) with confirmed biological properties in vitro may be further improved by the addition of ZnO nanoparticles for the delivery of bioactive zin...

Nanoclays are layered mineral silicates, i.e., silicate nanosheets. such as montmorillonite, bentonite, kaolinite, etc., have been used reinforcements in the nanofibers. Numerous polymers to fabricate nanofibers, including poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(vinyl alcohol), polycaprolactone, nylon, polyurethane, poly(ethylene oxide), and others. To develop better compatibility with polymers, nanocl...