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.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel non-immunogenic, hydrophilic/cationic block copolymers comprising a neutral-hydrophilic polymer and a cationic polymer, wherein both polymers have well-defined chain-end functionality. A representative example of such a block copolymer comprises poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA) and poly(N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide) (PDMAPMA). Also provided is a synthesis method thereof in aqueous media via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Further provided are uses of these block copolymers as drug delivery vehicles and protection agents.

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.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a thermally responsive AB diblock copolymer prepared by RAFT polymerization wherein the diblock copolymer comprises poly(N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide hydrochloride)-block-(N-isopropylacrylamide). Nanostructures of the thermally responsive diblock copolymer are formed by molecularly dissolving the diblock copolymer in aqueous solution at room temperature; and increasing the solution temperature to form nanostructures, for example vesicles or micelles. The first RAFT polymerization of an unprotected amino acid based monomer directly in water is also disclosed. The present invention also provides a method of forming shell cross-linked vesicles by adding a RAFT synthesized anionic homopolymer to a solution of the thermally responsive diblock copolymer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A water-soluble, charged, random copolymer of acrylamide and an alkali metal salt of an acrylamido-alkanoic acid such as alkali metal 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoate, having an average molecular weight of greater than about 50,000, has been found to maintain unusually stable and effective viscosities in the presence of salts such as NaCl and CaCl.sub.2 when added to water in minor amounts, thus making it a highly effective mobility control agent for secondary and tertiary oil recovery methods. Also within the scope of the invention are the acid form of the polymer, as well as terpolymers which additionally contain olefinically unsaturated monomers such as acrylic acid or sodium acrylate.

Abstract: A water-soluble ionically-charged random copolymer of acrylamide and an alkaline or alkali metal 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoate having an average molecular weight of greater than about 50,000 has been found to maintain unusually stable and effective viscosities in the presence of salts such as NaCl and CaCl.sub.2 when added to water in minor amounts, thus making it a highly effective mobility control agent for secondary and tertiary oil recovery methods. Also within the scope of the invention are terpolymers which additionally contain olefinically unsaturated monomers such as acrylic acid or sodium acrylate.

Abstract: Controlled release pesticide-polymers are prepared by reacting a polymer having a pendant group containing a reactive hydrogen with a chloroformamide derivative of a pesticide. In a preferred embodiment, metribuzin chloroformamide is prepared by reacting metribuzin with phosgene at a temperature of about 40.degree. C. The metribuzin chloroformamide is then reacted with cellulose to form a pesticide-polymer from which the metribuzin is released under use conditions by hydrolytic degradation of the carbamate bond attaching the metribuzin to the polymer.

Abstract: Cellulose solutions containing cellulose dissolved in lithium chloride and dimethylacetamide are useful in preparing cellulose derivatives. The solutions may contain up to about 8% lithium chloride and up to about 3% cellulose. The preparation of cellulose derivatives using the cellulose solutions is also described.

Abstract: Pesticide polymers comprising a polymer with a macromolecular backbone and pendant groups having pesticidal groups chemically linked thereto are prepared by reacting a pesticide having a replaceable hydrogen with a multifunctional isocyanate to form a pesticide-isocyanate adduct and then reacting the adduct with the polymer substrate in a mutual solvent to form the pesticide polymers. The chemical linkages connecting the pesticide-adduct to the pendant groups are cleaved under environmental conditions of use to controllably release an effective amount of the active pesticide.

Abstract: Controlled release pesticides are prepared by reacting an isocyanate derivative of a pesticide with a polymer having pendant groups containing a reactive hydrogen to obtain a novel pesticide-polymer system in which the pesticide is chemically bonded to the polymer. Active pesticidal material is released from the pesticide-polymer system by hydrolysis or chemical depolymerization under conditions of use.

Abstract: Controlled release pesticide-polymer systems are prepared by the polymerization of vinyl monomers containing pendant pesticides. The vinyl monomers are prepared by reacting an acrylic acid derivative with a pesticide or a pesticide derivative having an active hydrogen. The pesticide-polymer systems prepared from the pesticide vinyl monomers release the active pesticide material by hydrolysis or chemical depolymerization under conditions of use.