Abstract: A method of making a composite membrane with ion exchange properties includes, in an exemplary embodiment, forming a porous membrane from a first material, dissolving a coating material in a fluid at supercritical conditions, and exposing the porous membrane to the coating material dissolved in the supercritical fluid. The method also includes precipitating a uniform coating of the coating material onto an exterior surface of the porous membrane by changing the supercritical conditions of the fluid to a non-supercritical condition, and applying an ion exchange material to the coated porous membrane so that the ion exchange material is in intimate contact with substantially all of the coated surfaces of the porous membrane.

Abstract: A method for depositing a coating comprising a polymer and at least two pharmaceutical agents on a substrate, comprising the following steps: providing a stent framework; depositing on said stent framework a first layer comprising a first pharmaceutical agent; depositing a second layer comprising a second pharmaceutical agent; Wherein said first and second pharmaceutical agents are selected from two different classes of pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: A method for depositing a coating comprising a polymer and pharmaceutical agent on a substrate, comprising the following steps: discharging at least one pharmaceutical agent in a therapeutically desirable morphology in dry powder form through a first orifice; discharging at least one polymer in dry powder form through a second orifice; depositing the polymer and/or pharmaceutical particles onto said substrate, wherein an electrical potential is maintained between the substrate and the pharmaceutical and/or polymer particles, thereby forming said coating; and sintering said coating under conditions that do not substantially modify the morphology of said pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: A coated coronary stent, comprising: a stainless steel sent framework coated with a primer layer of Parylene C; and a rapamycin-polymer coating having substantially uniform thickness disposed on the stent framework, wherein the rapamycin-polymer coating comprises polybutyl methacrylate (PBMA), polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA) and rapamycin, wherein substantially all of the rapamycin in the coating is in amorphous form and substantially uniformly dispersed within the rapamycin-polymer coating.

Abstract: Methods for carrying out lithography with a carbon dioxide development system are described. In some embodiments the methods involve preferential removal of a darkfield region; in other embodiments the methds involve preferential removal of a light field region. The carbon dioxide development systems include a quaternary ammonium salt, preferably a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, halide, or carbonate. Compositions for carrying out the methods are also described. The quaternary ammonium salts preferably contain at least one CO2-philic group, such as a siloxane-containing group or a fluorine-containing group.

Abstract: An air permeable composite article that in one embodiment includes a porous base membrane that includes a plurality of nodes and fibrils defining a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the porous base membrane with each node and fibril having a surface. The composite article also includes a precipitated coating material deposited on the surfaces of the plurality of nodes and fibrils. The coating material includes a copolymer formed from a fluorinated acrylate or methacrylate, an n-alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, and an isocyanate crosslinker. The precipitated coating material provides oil and contaminating agent resistance of at least a number six measured in accordance with AATCC 118 test method.

Abstract: A method for carrying out positive tone lithography with a carbon dioxide development system is carried out by: (a) providing a substrate, the substrate having a polymer resist layer formed thereon, (b) exposing at least one portion of the polymer resist layer to radiant energy causing a chemical shift to take place in the exposed portion and thereby form at least one light field region in the polymer resist layer while concurrently maintaining at least one portion of the polymer layer unexposed to the radiant energy to thereby form at least one dark field region in the polymer resist layer; (c) optionally baking the polymer resist layer; (d) contacting the polymer resist layer to a carbon dioxide solvent system, the solvent system comprising a polar group, under conditions in which the at least one light field region is preferentially removed from the substrate by the carbon dioxide solvent system as compared to the at least one dark field region; wherein the carbon dioxide solvent system comprises a first p

Abstract: A process of repairing a plasma etched low-k dielectric material having surface-bound silanol groups includes exposing at least one surface of the dielectric material to (a) a catalyst so as to form hydrogen bonds between the catalyst and the surface-bound silanol groups obtaining a catalytic intermediary that reacts with the silane capping agent so as to form surface-bound silane compounds, or (b) a solution comprising a supercritical solvent, a catalyst, and a silane capping agent so as to form hydrogen bonds between a catalyst and the surface-bound silanol groups obtaining a catalytic intermediary that reacts with the silane capping agent so as to form surface-bound silane compounds. Horizontal networks can be formed between adjacent surface-bound silane compounds.

Abstract: A method for carrying out positive tone lithography with a carbon dioxide development system is carried out by: (a) providing a substrate, the substrate having a polymer resist layer formed thereon, (b) exposing at least one portion of the polymer resist layer to radiant energy causing a chemical shift to take place in the exposed portion and thereby form at least one light field region in the polymer resist layer while concurrently maintaining at least one portion of the polymer layer unexposed to the radiant energy to thereby form at least one dark field region in the polymer resist layer; (c) optionally baking the polymer resist layer; (d) contacting the polymer resist layer to a carbon dioxide solvent system, the solvent system comprising a polar group, under conditions in which the at least one light field region is preferentially removed from the substrate by the carbon dioxide solvent system as compared to the at least one dark field region; wherein the carbon dioxide solvent system comprises a first p

Abstract: A method of forming a drug/polymer composite material is carried out by combining a drug material with a polymer material under pressure in the presence of a compressed gas solvent (e.g., carbon dioxide) to form the drug/polymer composite material. Drug/polymer composite materials and shaped articles (e.g., subcutaneous drug depots) which may be produced by a process are also described, along with methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Methods for carrying out lithography with a carbon dioxide development system are described. This invention involves methods for preferential removal of the darkfield region of conventional chemically amplified positive tone resists. The carbon dioxide development systems include one or more derivatizing agents, which may be an onium salt or a neutral compound.

Abstract: A composite article, in an exemplary embodiment, includes a porous membrane formed from a first material, a coating formed from a second material applied to at least a portion of the porous membrane, and a third material covering at least a portion of the porous membrane. The third material is substantially incompatible with the first material. The second material of the coating is compatible with the first material and the third material. The coating is positioned between the first material and the third material The third material is connected to the first material by the coating on the porous membrane.

Abstract: A composite article, in an exemplary embodiment, includes a porous base membrane made from a first material having hydrophobic properties, and a coating layer formed on at least a portion of the porous membrane. The coating layer includes a crosslinked coating material, and has hydrophilic properties.

Abstract: A method of making a composite membrane with ion exchange properties includes, in an exemplary embodiment, forming a porous membrane from a first material, dissolving a coating material in a fluid at supercritical conditions, and exposing the porous membrane to the coating material dissolved in the supercritical fluid. The method also includes precipitating a uniform coating of the coating material onto an exterior surface of the porous membrane by changing the supercritical conditions of the fluid to a non-supercritical condition, and applying an ion exchange material to the coated porous membrane so that the ion exchange material is in intimate contact with substantially all of the coated surfaces of the porous membrane.

Abstract: Methods for carrying out lithography with a carbon dioxide development system are described. In some embodiments the methods involve preferential removal of a darkfield region; in other embodiments the methds involve preferential removal of a light field region. The carbon dioxide development systems include a quaternary ammonium salt, preferably a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, halide, or carbonate. Compositions for carrying out the methods are also described. The quaternary ammonium salts preferably contain at least one CO2-philic group, such as a siloxane-containing group or a fluorine-containing group.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a divided pressure vessel in a processing system employing a carbon dioxide based solvent includes transferring a first carbon dioxide based treating solution from a first liquid chamber in a divided pressure vessel having a plurality of liquid chambers to a processing vessel, returning the first treating solution from the processing vessel to the divided pressure vessel, transferring a second carbon dioxide based treating solution having a composition different from the first treating solution from a second liquid chamber in the divided pressure vessel to a processing vessel, and returning the second treating solution from the processing vessel to the divided pressure vessel. A divided pressure vessel may allow multiple solvent baths each having a different chemical composition to be stored and/or processed in a single pressure vessel while maintaining the different chemical compositions of the multiple solvent baths.

Abstract: A method of coating a substrate comprises the steps of: (a) providing a substrate in an enclosed vessel, the substrate having a surface portion; (b) at least partially filling the enclosed vessel with a first supercritical fluid so that said first supercritical fluid contacts the surface portion, with the first supercritical fluid carrying or containing a coating component; then (c) adding a separate compressed gas atmosphere to the reaction vessel so that a boundary is formed between the first supercritical fluid and the separate compressed gas atmosphere, said separate compressed gas atmosphere having a density less than said first supercritical fluid; and then (d) displacing said first supercritical fluid from said vessel by continuing adding said separate compressed gas atmosphere to said vessel so that said boundary moves across said surface portion and a thin film of coating component is deposited on said microelectronic substrate.

Abstract: An air permeable composite article that in one embodiment includes a porous base membrane that includes a plurality of nodes and fibrils defining a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the porous base membrane with each node and fibril having a surface. The composite article also includes a precipitated coating material deposited on the surfaces of the plurality of nodes and fibrils. The coating material includes a copolymer formed from a fluorinated acrylate or methacrylate, an n-alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, and an isocyanate crosslinker. The precipitated coating material provides oil and contaminating agent resistance of at least a number six measured in accordance with AATCC 118 test method.

Abstract: Methods for carrying out lithography with a carbon dioxide development system are described. This invention involves methods for preferential removal of the darkfield region of conventional chemically amplified positive tone resists. The carbon dioxide development systems include a quaternary ammonium salt, preferably a quaternary ammonium halide, borate, sulfonate, tosylate or carbonate. Compositions for carrying out the methods are also described. The quaternary ammonium salts preferably contain at least one CO2-philic group, such as a siloxane-containing group or a fluorine-containing group.

Abstract: A method for carrying out positive tone lithography with a carbon dioxide development system is carried out by: (a) providing a substrate, the substrate having a polymer resist layer formed thereon, (b) exposing at least one portion of the polymer resist layer to radiant energy causing a chemical shift to take place in the exposed portion and thereby form at least one light field region in the polymer resist layer while concurrently maintaining at least one portion of the polymer layer unexposed to the radiant energy to thereby form at least one dark field region in the polymer resist layer; (c) optionally baking the polymer resist layer; (d) contacting the polymer resist layer to a carbon dioxide solvent system, the solvent system comprising a polar group, under conditions in which the at least one light field region is preferentially removed from the substrate by the carbon dioxide solvent system as compared to the at least one dark field region; wherein the carbon dioxide solvent system comprises a first p