Patents by Inventor Andrew B. Lowe

Andrew B. Lowe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8084558
    Abstract: A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thiol-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the steps of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, III, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin
  • Publication number: 20090305045
    Abstract: A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thiol-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the steps of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, III, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin
  • Patent number: 7417096
    Abstract: A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thiol-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surface modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the steps of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a collidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as fuctionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, III, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin
  • Patent number: 7402690
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, Michael S. Donovan, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin, David B. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7186786
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, Michael S. Donovan, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin, David B. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7179872
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, Michael S. Donovan, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin, David B. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7138468
    Abstract: A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thio-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the stops of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, III, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin
  • Patent number: 6855840
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, Michael S. Donovan, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin, David B. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20030199653
    Abstract: A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thio-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the stops of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin
  • Publication number: 20030195310
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, Michael S. Donovan, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin, David B. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20030191262
    Abstract: Polymers and copolymers synthesized by means that yield a narrow range of molecular weights can have different properties than polymers synthesized by conventional means. In order to obtain such polymers, however, polymerization must be controlled. One type of controlled polymerization is the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process, which has characteristics of a living polymerization. The present invention discloses a group of dithioesters and trithioesters suitable as chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization. The present invention also discloses RAFT polymerizations conducted in aqueous media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Charles L. McCormick, Michael S. Donovan, Andrew B. Lowe, Brent S. Sumerlin, David B. Thomas