Abstract: Provided herein are graft co-polymers of lignin and poly(lactic acid) (lignin-g-PLA copolymer), thermoset and thermoplastic polymers including them, methods of preparing these polymers, and articles of manufacture including such polymers.

Abstract: Provided herein are graft co-polymers of lignin and poly(lactic acid) (lignin-g-PLA copolymer), thermoset and thermoplastic polymers including them, methods of preparing these polymers, and articles of manufacture including such polymers.

Abstract: A cyclic carbonate monomer, including: wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R10 is a connecting group selected from the group consisting of linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl and heteroaryl; R4 is an optional bridging group selected from the group consisting of linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl and heteroaryl; Z is selected from the group consisting of O, NH, NR, and S; G is a guanidine group; and P is a protecting group. The cylic carbonate monomer can be reacted with an initiator including a drug, drug candidate, probe or other molecule of interest to form an oligomer with the molecule of interest attached to one end of a carbonate backbone and guanidine groups attached to the carbonate backbone.

Abstract: A cyclic carbonate monomer, including: wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R10 is a connecting group selected from the group consisting of linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl and heteroaryl; R4 is an optional bridging group selected from the group consisting of linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, aryl and heteroaryl; Z is selected from the group consisting of O, NH, NR, and S; G is a guanidine group; and P is a protecting group. The cylic carbonate monomer can be reacted with an initiator including a drug, drug candidate, probe or other molecule of interest to form an oligomer with the molecule of interest attached to one end of a carbonate backbone and guanidine groups attached to the carbonate backbone.

Abstract: A method is provided for carrying out depolymerization of a polymer containing electrophilic linkages in the presence of a catalyst and a nucleophilic reagent, wherein production of undesirable byproducts resulting from polymer degradation is minimized. The reaction can be carried out at a temperature of 80° C. or less, and generally involves the use of an organic, nonmetallic catalyst, thereby ensuring that the depolymerization product(s) are substantially free of metal contaminants. In an exemplary depolymerization method, the catalyst is a carbene compound such as an N-heterocyclic carbene, or is a precursor to a carbene compound. The method provides an important alternative to current recycling techniques such as those used in the degradation of polyesters, polyamides, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides implants suitable for use as an artificial cornea, and methods for making and using such implants. Artificial corneas having features of the invention may be two-phase artificial corneas, or may be three phase artificial corneas. These artificial corneas have a flexible, optically clear central core and a hydrophilic, porous skirt, both of which are biocompatible and allow for tissue integration. A three-phase artificial cornea will further have an interface region between the core and skirt. The artificial corneas have a high degree of ocular tolerance, and allow for tissue integration into the skirt and for epithelial cell growth over the surface of the prosthesis. The use of biocompatible material avoids the risk of disease transmission inherent with corneal transplants, and acts to minimize post-operative inflammation and so to reduce the chance or severity of tissue necrosis following implantation of the synthetic cornea onto a host eye.

Abstract: A method is provided for carrying out depolymerization of a polymer containing electrophilic linkages in the presence of a catalyst and a nucleophilic reagent, wherein production of undesirable byproducts resulting from polymer degradation is minimized. The reaction can be carried out at a temperature of 80° C. or less, and generally involves the use of an organic, nonmetallic catalyst, thereby ensuring that the depolymerization product(s) are substantially free of metal contaminants. In an exemplary depolymerization method, the catalyst is a carbene compound such as an N-heterocyclic carbene, or is a precursor to a carbene compound. The method provides an important alternative to current recycling techniques such as those used in the degradation of polyesters, polyamides, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides implants suitable for use as an artificial cornea, and methods for making and using such implants. Artificial corneas having features of the invention may be two-phase artificial corneas, or may be three phase artificial corneas. These artificial corneas have a flexible, optically clear central core and a hydrophilic, porous skirt, both of which are biocompatible and allow for tissue integration. A three-phase artificial cornea will further have an interface region between the core and skirt. The artificial corneas have a high degree of ocular tolerance, and allow for tissue integration into the skirt and for epithelial cell growth over the surface of the prosthesis. The use of biocompatible material avoids the risk of disease transmission inherent with corneal transplants, and acts to minimize post-operative inflammation and so to reduce the chance or severity of tissue necrosis following implantation of the synthetic cornea onto a host eye.

Abstract: Catalysts, catalyst systems and processes for production of alternating copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins, and to novel classes of atactic and isotactic alternating copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins, which copolymers include a wide range of crystallinity and exhibit commercially useful properties. Appropriate selection of ligand substituents permit the catalysts to be symmetric or assymetric, resulting in atactic, or isotactic or atactic, respectively, alternating copolymers of ethylene with alpha olefins. The novel class of bridged flourenyl metallocene catalysts of the invention is assymetric structural form interconvert between states during polymerization of ethylene with alpha olefins to produce alternating isotactic or atactic copolymers.

Abstract: Catalysts, catalyst systems and processes for production of alternating copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins, and to novel classes of atactic and isotactic alternating copolymers of ethylene and alpha olefins, which copolymers include a wide range of crystallinity and exhibit commercially useful properties. Appropriate selection of ligand substituents permit the catalysts to be symmetric or assymetric, resulting in atactic, or isotactic or atactic, respectively, alternatingf copolymers of ethylene with alpha olefins. The novel class of bridged flourenyl metallocene catalysts of the invention is assymetric structural form interconvert between states during polymerization of ethylene with alpha olefins to produce alternating isotactic or atactic copolymers.