Abstract: Compositions and methods of making a modified polyhydroxylated polymer comprising a polyhydroxylated polymer having reversibly modified hydroxyl groups, whereby the hydroxyl groups are modified by an acid-catalyzed reaction between a polydroxylated polymer and a reagent such as acetals, aldehydes, vinyl ethers and ketones such that the modified polyhydroxylated polymers become insoluble in water but freely soluble in common organic solvents allowing for the facile preparation of acid-sensitive materials. Materials made from these polymers can be made to degrade in a pH-dependent manner. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargoes were successfully loaded into particles made from the present polymers using single and double emulsion techniques, respectively. Due to its ease of preparation, processability, pH-sensitivity, and biocompatibility, of the present modified polyhydroxylated polymers should find use in numerous drug delivery applications.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making a modified polyhydroxylated polymer comprising a polyhydroxylated polymer having reversibly modified hydroxyl groups, whereby the hydroxyl groups are modified by an acid-catalyzed reaction between a polydroxylated polymer and a reagent such as acetals, aldehydes, vinyl ethers and ketones such that the modified polyhydroxylated polymers become insoluble in water but freely soluble in common organic solvents allowing for the facile preparation of acid-sensitive materials. Materials made from these polymers can be made to degrade in a pH-dependent manner. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargoes were successfully loaded into particles made from the present polymers using single and double emulsion techniques, respectively. Due to its ease of preparation, processability, pH-sensitivity, and biocompatibility, of the present modified polyhydroxylated polymers should find use in numerous drug delivery applications.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making a modified polyhydroxylated polymer comprising a polyhydroxylated polymer having reversibly modified hydroxyl groups, whereby the hydroxyl groups are modified by an acid-catalyzed reaction between a polydroxylated polymer and a reagent such as acetals, aldehydes, vinyl ethers and ketones such that the modified polyhydroxylated polymers become insoluble in water but freely soluble in common organic solvents allowing for the facile preparation of acid-sensitive materials. Materials made from these polymers can be made to degrade in a pH-dependent manner. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargoes were successfully loaded into particles made from the present polymers using single and double emulsion techniques, respectively. Due to its ease of preparation, processability, pH-sensitivity, and biocompatibility, of the present modified polyhydroxylated polymers should find use in numerous drug delivery applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an organic compound comprising electron deficient unit covalently linked to two or more electron rich units. The present invention also provides for a device comprising the organic compound, such as a light-emitting diode, thin-film transistor, chemical biosensor, non-emissive electrochromic, memory device, photovoltaic cells, or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for converting light energy to mechanical energy by modification of surface tension on a supporting fluid. The apparatus comprises an object which may be formed as a composite object comprising a support matrix and a highly light absorptive material. The support matrix may comprise a silicon polymer. The highly light absorptive material may comprise vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VANTs) embedded in the support matrix. The composite object is supported on a fluid. By exposing the highly light absorptive material to light, heat is generated, which changes the surface tension of the composite object, causing it to move physically within the fluid.

Abstract: An embodiment of a microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of making microcapsules includes forming a mixture of a light absorbing material and an organic solution. An emulsion of the mixture and an aqueous solution is then formed. A polymerization agent is added to the emulsion, which causes microcapsules to be formed. Each microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of using microcapsules includes providing phototriggerable microcapsules within a bulk material. Each of the phototriggerable microcapsules includes a shell surrounding a space, a chemically reactive material within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the shell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sequential functionalization methodology for the covalent modification of nanotubes with between one and four repeat units of a polymer. Covalent attachment of oligomer units to the surface of nanotubes results in oligomer units forming an organic sheath around the nanotubes, polymer-functionalized-nanotubes (P-NTs). P-NTs possess chemical functionality identical to that of the functionalizing polymer, and thus provide nanoscale scaffolds which may be readily dispersed within a monomer solution and participate in the polymerization reaction to form a polymer-nanotube/polymer composite. Formation of polymer in the presence of P-NTs leads to a uniform dispersion of nanotubes within the polymer matrix, in contrast to aggregated masses of nanotubes in the case of pristine-NTs.

Abstract: An embodiment of a microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of making microcapsules includes forming a mixture of a light absorbing material and an organic solution. An emulsion of the mixture and an aqueous solution is then formed. A polymerization agent is added to the emulsion, which causes microcapsules to be formed. Each microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of using microcapsules includes providing phototriggerable microcapsules within a bulk material. Each of the phototriggerable microcapsules includes a shell surrounding a space, a chemically reactive material within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the shell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sequential functionalization methodology for the covalent modification of nanotubes with between one and four repeat units of a polymer. Covalent attachment of oligomer units to the surface of nanotubes results in oligomer units forming an organic sheath around the nanotubes, polymer-functionalized-nanotubes (P-NTs). P-NTs possess chemical functionality identical to that of the functionalizing polymer, and thus provide nanoscale scaffolds which may be readily dispersed within a monomer solution and participate in the polymerization reaction to form a polymer-nanotube/polymer composite. Formation of polymer in the presence of P-NTs leads to a uniform dispersion of nanotubes within the polymer matrix, in contrast to aggregated masses of nanotubes in the case of pristine-NTs.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a polymer comprising a ?-conjugated backbone comprising a furan. The polymer has a narrow or low band gap and/or is solution processable. In some embodiments, the polymer is PDPP2FT or PDPP3F. The present invention also provides for a device comprising the polymer, such as a light-emitting diode, thin-film transistor, chemical biosensor, non-emissive electrochromic, memory device, photovoltaic cells, or the like.

Abstract: Novel main chain acid degradable polymer backbones and drug delivery systems comprised of materials capable of delivering bioactive materials to cells for use as vaccines or other therapeutic agents are described. The polymers are synthesized using monomers that contain acid-degradable linkages cleavable under mild acidic conditions. The main chain of the resulting polymers readily degrade into many small molecules at low pH, but remain relatively stable and intact at physiological pH. The new materials have the common characteristic of being able to degrade by acid hydrolysis under conditions commonly found within the endosomal or lysosomal compartments of cells thereby releasing their payload within the cell. The materials can also be used for the delivery of therapeutics to the acidic regions of tumors and other sites of inflammation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for converting light energy to mechanical energy by modification of surface tension on a supporting fluid. The apparatus comprises an object which may be formed as a composite object comprising a support matrix and a highly light absorptive material. The support matrix may comprise a silicon polymer. The highly light absorptive material may comprise vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VANTs) embedded in the support matrix. The composite object is supported on a fluid. By exposing the highly light absorptive material to light, heat is generated, which changes the surface tension of the composite object, causing it to move physically within the fluid.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of making a modified polyhydroxylated polymer comprising a polyhydroxylated polymer having reversibly modified hydroxyl groups, whereby the hydroxyl groups are modified by an acid-catalyzed reaction between a polydroxylated polymer and a reagent such as acetals, aldehydes, vinyl ethers and ketones such that the modified polyhydroxylated polymers become insoluble in water but freely soluble in common organic solvents allowing for the facile preparation of acid-sensitive materials. Materials made from these polymers can be made to degrade in a pH-dependent manner. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargoes were successfully loaded into particles made from the present polymers using single and double emulsion techniques, respectively. Due to its ease of preparation, processability, pH-sensitivity, and biocompatibility, of the present modified polyhydroxylated polymers should find use in numerous drug delivery applications.

Abstract: A broadly applicable method requiring no more than a single step facilitates the preparation of large area super hydrophobic or super hydrophilic surfaces on a variety of substrates such as such as glass, metal, plastic, paper, wood, concrete and masonry. The technique involves the free radical polymerization of common acrylic or styrenic monomers in the presence of porogenic solvents in a mold or on a free surface. The material can be semi- or fully-transparent and either super hydrophobic or super hydrophilic depending on the choice of the monomers. Because porosity and dual scale roughness are intrinsic bulk properties of the monolithic materials and not only a surface characteristic, the polymers can be powdered to produce a super hydrophobic powder or otherwise fragmented and attached to the surface of any object to render it super hydrophobic or super hydrophilic. The surface properties of the porous material may also be altered locally by photografting with selected monomers.

Abstract: Organosulfur compounds suitable as protected thiol-containing reactive organic layer precursors, for example 3,5-dimethoxy-?,?-dimethylbenzyloxycarbonyl-3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane, are useful in methods of nanometer scale (nanoscale) patterning and fabrication of nanoscale structures on patterned surfaces. The compounds and methods enable the patternwise placement of nanoparticles, with nanometer resolution to form, for example, electrically conductive nanostructures.

Abstract: Novel microgels, microparticles and related polymeric materials capable of delivering bioactive materials to cells for use as vaccines or therapeutic agents. The materials are made using a crosslinker molecule that contains a linkage cleavable under mild acidic conditions. The crosslinker molecule is exemplified by a bisacryloyl acetal crosslinker. The new materials have the common characteristic of being able to degrade by acid hydrolysis under conditions commonly found within the endosomal or lysosomal compartments of cells thereby releasing their payload within the cell. The materials can also be used for the delivery of therapeutics to the acidic regions of tumors and sites of inflammation.

Abstract: Novel main chain acid degradable polymer backbones and drug delivery systems comprised of materials capable of delivering bioactive materials to cells for use as vaccines or other therapeutic agents are described. The polymers are synthesized using monomers that contain acid-degradable linkages cleavable under mild acidic conditions. The main chain of the resulting polymers readily degrade into many small molecules at low pH, but remain relatively stable and intact at physiological pH. The new materials have the common characteristic of being able to degrade by acid hydrolysis under conditions commonly found within the endosomal or lysosomal compartments of cells thereby releasing their payload within the cell. The materials can also be used for the delivery of therapeutics to the acidic regions of tumors and other sites of inflammation.

Abstract: A microfluidic device preferably made of a thermoplastic polymer that includes a channel or a multiplicity of channels whose surfaces are modified by photografting. The device further includes a porous polymer monolith prepared via UV initiated polymerization within the channel, and functionalization of the pore surface of the monolith using photografting. Processes for making such surface modifications of thermoplastic polymers and porous polymer monoliths are set forth.

Abstract: Macromolecules in the shape of three-dimensional kites, barbells, and other shapes are disclosed. The shaped macromolecules are prepared the reaction of one or more dendritic polymers and a linear polymer. The kite-shaped macromolecules are dendritic polymers attached at either their focal points or at an outer to a long carbon chain group. The barbell macromolecules have dendritic polymers at either end of the molecule, which polymers are connected together through the focal points of each by a suitable connecting substituent such as a linear polymer. The shaped macromolecules are used in specialty medical and technological applications including such as drug delivery agents, imaging materials, molecular devices, thin film devices, surface modifiers, transport agents, compatibilizers, rheology control agents, molecular ball bearings, molecular dipoles, non-linear optical materials, medical imaging agents, membrane and cell modifiers, complexing agents, adhesives, interface strengthening agents, and the like.

Abstract: Block copolymers are prepared by living-type or semi-living type free radical polymerization, with said copolymers having at least one random block comprised of at least one hydrophobic monomer and at least one hydrophilic monomer. The selection of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in the random block is determined by the relative hydrophobicity of the monomers to impart selected solubility or dispersability in water and/or alcohols of the overall block copolymer.