Our technology relates to the special way of processing of bio-polymers and incorporation of these bio-polymers into fibers and fabrics of both synthetic and natural origin (e.g. polyesters, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, spandex, orlon, acrylics, Kevlar, cotton, linen, silk and wool), thus the desirable properties of the bio-polymer can be incorporated into the fibers or fabrics.
Today there are many fabrics in use for a wide variety of purposes, based on natural and synthetic fibers. In many applications it is desirable for the fabrics or fibers to have properties that are not inherent to the basic fiber, such as being anti-microbial or promoting the healing of wounds. Current methods (e.g. addition of silver ions, antibiotics, surface treatments, etc.) are often expensive, easily removed by washing, can cause skin irritation or change the inherent desirable properties of the base fabric.
One solution to the limitation of added components or treatments is through the use of bio-polymers that have the desirable properties of being anti-microbial and/or promoting wound healing as well as being sustainable materials. They are also bio-compatible and do not cause skin irritation. Fibers or fabrics prepared using our technology have utility by adding the properties of the bio-polymers to the physical properties of the base fiber or fabric. For example, a chitin-polyester fabric provides a fabric with anti-microbial activity while retaining the strength, feel and wicking properties of the base polyester. An alginate-cotton fabric adds wound healing properties to the feel and breathability of cotton bandage material.
In addition, the fibers and fabrics produced by our technology represent novel materials which are not currently available due to the limitations of prior art in the processing of bio-polymers. Thus, the technology provides a means for producing novel materials with a broad utility in a variety of applications.

About 40% of new chemical entities in the pharma industry are poorly water soluble or lipophilic compounds. This means, in case of oral pharmaceuticals, that the active pharmaceuticals ingredients (APIs) cannot reach their molecular target in the body since they remain insoluble in the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the drugs can have low permeability. Current biopharmaceutical drug classification for oral drug absorption, BCS, divides drug classes into the following categories: a) High solubility-high permeability drugs, b) Low solubility-high permeability drugs, c) High solubility-low permeability drugs, and d) Low solubility-low permeability drugs.
Apart from the physiological properties, drug absorption is also controlled by the API's physicochemical properties. Therefore, there has been a great interest in developing strategies for changing physical properties of a drug to help solubilizing poorly water soluble APIs and/or increasing drugs' permeability, in order to establish better drug delivery. Many of the methods that have been attempted involve manipulating the structure of the drug via covalent modification (prodrug design), or change in the environment of API via: formation of crystalline salts, colloids/ dispersions, co-crystal formation, or by utilizing surfactants to create micelles.
Our technology allows for the formation of the pure liquid salt forms (Ionic liquids, ILs) from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Preparation strategy of the liquid salt forms of APIs, or IL-APIs, does not covalently change the drug itself, but allows for targeted change in its physical properties. Such liquid salt forms might be developed with dramatic difference of original drug's solubility, permeability, stability, etc. while maintaining the biological efficacy of the active ingredient.
The Ionic Liquid strategy allows one to fine tune APIs for:

• Specific solubilities
• Rate of dissolution
• Bioavailability increase
• Stability increase
• Controlled release
• Controlled delivery
• Physical properties (stability, melting point, etc.)