Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for carrying out high-throughput quantitative measurements of bulk mechanical properties of soft materials. The systems include a centrifuge, solid particles, and sample wells. In the systems and methods, samples comprising solid particles embedded in soft materials contained within sample wells are centrifuged in a series of increasing centrifugal speed increments, and a bulk mechanical property, such as fracture stress or elastic modulus, of each soft material is determined by monitoring the centrifugal force needed for the solid particles to fracture the soft material in each of the samples.

Abstract: A thermothickening fluid is provided which comprises a liquid phase; a first polymer comprising functional groups and having a room temperature solubility in the liquid phase; and a second, different polymer comprising functional groups and having a room temperature solubility in the liquid phase, wherein functional groups on the first polymer are capable of associating with functional groups on the second polymer to form complexes, and the room temperature solubility of the first polymer is greater than the room temperature solubility of the second polymer. The fluid is a colloid at room temperature, a solution at an elevated temperature, and exhibits a thermothickening/thinning transition viscosity value at a thermo-thickening/thinning transition temperature between room temperature and the elevated temperature.

Abstract: Methods for making porous polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) films are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises coating the surface of a substrate with a polyelectrolyte (PE) coacervate mixture, the PE coacervate mixture comprising a cationic polymer, an anionic polymer, water, and a salt, the PE coacervate having a salt concentration; exposing the coating to an aqueous medium having another salt concentration, for a time to induce solidification of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) in the form of a PEC film having pores distributed throughout, wherein a difference ??C-M #191 between the salt concentration of the PE coacervate mixture and the salt concentration of the aqueous medium is selected to achieve a predetermined porosity for the porous PEC film.

Abstract: Methods for making porous polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) films are provided. In an embodiment, such a method comprises coating the surface of a substrate with a polyelectrolyte (PE) coacervate mixture, the PE coacervate mixture comprising a cationic polymer, an anionic polymer, water, and a salt, the PE coacervate having a salt concentration; exposing the coating to an aqueous medium having another salt concentration, for a time to induce solidification of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) in the form of a PEC film having pores distributed throughout, wherein a difference ??C-M #191 between the salt concentration of the PE coacervate mixture and the salt concentration of the aqueous medium is selected to achieve a predetermined porosity for the porous PEC film.

Abstract: Methods for forming a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) film are provided. In embodiments, the method comprises applying a potential between a working electrode and a counter electrode, the electrodes in contact with an aqueous polyelectrolyte solution characterized by a bulk pH. The aqueous polyelectrolyte solution comprises a pH sensitive PEC pair comprising an unmodified anionic polymer and a cationic species, an electrochemical pH agent other than water, and a salt. The applied potential induces an electrochemical reaction of the electrochemical pH agent to generate OH? or H+ at the working electrode without inducing water electrolysis in the aqueous polyelectrolyte solution, thereby forming a PEC film from the unmodified anionic polymer and the cationic species on a surface of the working electrode.

Abstract: Methods for forming a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) film are provided. In embodiments, the method comprises applying a potential between a working electrode and a counter electrode, the electrodes in contact with an aqueous polyelectrolyte solution characterized by a bulk pH. The aqueous polyelectrolyte solution comprises a pH sensitive PEC pair comprising an unmodified anionic polymer and a cationic species, an electrochemical pH agent other than water, and a salt. The applied potential induces an electrochemical reaction of the electrochemical pH agent to generate OH? or H+ at the working electrode without inducing water electrolysis in the aqueous polyelectrolyte solution, thereby forming a PEC film from the unmodified anionic polymer and the cationic species on a surface of the working electrode.

Abstract: A method of creating a bioadhesive in a substantially aqueous environment is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing an anionicially polymerized block copolymer containing an amide, which is prepared by reacting a difunctional anionic initiator with a sterically hindered ester of methacrylic acid (SEMA), into a solvent to allow the solvent to swell the block copolymer; reacting the anionically polymerized hindered ester of methacrylic acid with methacrylic acid (MMA); hydrolyzing the anionically polymerized block copolymer with an aqueous solution to afford a methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate block copolymer (MMA-MAA-MMA); reacting the MMA-MAA-MMA block copolymer with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl alanine to afford an amide with the MAA portion of the block copolymer; and placing the solvent swollen block copolymer in water. The water is exchanged with the solvent to provide a bioadhesive in an aqueous environment.

Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic block copolymer comprising hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate), hydrophilic poly (lower alkyl methacrylic acid), and hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate) is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic block copolymer comprising hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methoacrylate), hydrophilic poly (lower alkyl methacrylic acid), and hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate).

Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic block copolymer comprising hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methoacrylate), hydrophilic poly (lower alkyl methacrylic acid), and hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate).

Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic block copolymer comprising hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methoacrylate), hydrophilic poly (lower alkyl methacrylic acid), and hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate).

Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic block copolymer comprising hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methoacrylate), hydrophilic poly (lower alkyl methacrylic acid), and hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate).

Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic block copolymer comprising hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methoacrylate), hydrophilic poly (lower alkyl methacrylic acid), and hydrophobic poly (lower alkyl methacrylate).

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from an ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles, having the steps of: a) applying a heat-activatable adhesive material over the surface of the nozzle plate having contaminants on the surface thereof; b) applying heat to the heat-activatable to the adhesive material to cause it to flow over the surface of the nozzle plate having contaminants on the surface thereof, thereby causing the contaminants to adhere to the heat-activatable adhesive material; and c) removing the heat-activatable adhesive material having the contaminants adhered thereto.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from an ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles, the method comprising: