Abstract: A method of preparing a polyisobutylene-based polyurethane for making heart valves is disclosed, wherein the method includes providing a polyisobutylene (PIB) polymer, freshly distilling a diisocyanate compound to create a freshly distilled diisocyanate and providing a chain extender. When the polyisobutylene polymer, the freshly distilled diisocyanate, and the chain extender are combined together by mixing, the created polyisobutylene-based polyurethane exhibits a higher number average molecular weight, a higher ultimate strength, a higher elongation, and a greater toughness than a polyisobutylene-based polyurethane made without a freshly distilled diisocyanate, which makes the polymer particularly useful as a bioprosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having a styrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Abstract: A polyisobutylene-based polymer network comprising the thiol-ene reaction product of at least two thiol-terminated polyisobutylene precursor polymers and at least one multi-functional allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer in the presence of light or heat. The at least two thiol-terminated polyisobutylene precursor polymers have at least two thiol end groups. When each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has only two thiol end groups then the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has at least three functional groups, and wherein when the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has two functional groups then each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has at least three thiol end groups.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to polyurethanes and polyurethane nanocomposites having improved mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties over ordinarily produced polyurethanes and polyurethane nanocomposites. Such polyurethanes and polyurethane nanocomposites include very small amounts of a small chain diol, such as glycerol, and more specifically, between 0.01 and 4 weight percent of the small chain diol, based on the total polymer composition.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomeric network is taught. The thermoplastic elastomer network includes hyperbranched styrenic block copolymers and styrenic block copolymers physically crosslinked though aggregation. Additionally, the hyperbranched styrenic block copolymers of the thermoplastic elastomeric network are a plurality of styrenic block copolymers chemically crosslinked.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to new low cost initiator compositions for use with the production of well-defined telechelic PIBs (by LC+P of isobutylene). In various other embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods for using these novel compositions as initiators for isobutylene (IB) and other cationically polymerizable monomers, such as styrene and its derivatives. In still other embodiments, the present invention is directed to structurally new, allyl (and chlorine) telechelic PIBs formed from these new initiator compositions and their derivatives (in particular, hydroxyl telechelic PIB and amine telechelic PIB). In yet other embodiments, the present invention is directed to structurally new polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurethane ureas made using telechelic PIBs formed from these new initiator compositions.

Abstract: A polyisobutylene-based polymer network comprising the thiol-ene reaction product of at least two thiol-terminated polyisobutylene precursor polymers and at least one multi-functional allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer in the presence of light or heat. The at least two thiol-terminated polyisobutylene precursor polymers have at least two thiol end groups. When each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has only two thiol end groups then the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has at least three functional groups, and wherein when the allyl-containing precursor moiety or polymer has two functional groups then each polyisobutylene precursor polymer has at least three thiol end groups.

Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having either a styrene oligomer or ?-methyl styrene oligomer, wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a centrally-functionalizable living cationic polymer or copolymer having a centrally-substituted tetraene group having the formula wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a copolymer, such as a polyisobutylene polymer or a poly(isobutylene-b-styrene) copolymer.

Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having either a styrene oligomer or ?-methyl styrene oligomer, wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to polyurethanes and polyurethane nanocomposites having improved mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties over ordinarily produced polyurethanes and polyurethane nanocomposites. Such polyurethanes and polyurethane nanocomposites include very small amounts of a small chain diol, such as glycerol, and more specifically, between 0.01 and 4 weight percent of the small chain diol, based on the total polymer composition.

Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having a styrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Abstract: A polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene) is taught. The polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene) is synthesized by first providing a polystyrene backbone. Once the polystyrene backbone is provided, the polystyrene backbone is acetylated to provide acetyl groups on the polystyrene backbone. Next, the acetyl groups are converted to —C(CH3)2OH groups. Finally, the living polymerization of isobutylene is initiated, which is then followed by the living block polymerization of styrene. A polymer network of polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene)s is also provided.

Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having an ?-methylstyrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Abstract: A polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene) is taught. The polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene) is synthesized by first providing a polystyrene backbone. Once the polystyrene backbone is provided, the polystyrene backbone is acetylated to provide acetyl groups on the polystyrene backbone. Next, the acetyl groups are converted to —C(CH3)2OH groups. Finally, the living polymerization of isobutylene is initiated, which is then followed by the living block polymerization of styrene. A polymer network of polystyrene-g-(polyisobutylene-b-polystyrene)s is also provided.

Abstract: A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having an -methylstyrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to new low cost initiator compositions for use with the production of well-defined telechelic PIBs (by LC+P of isobutylene). In various other embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods for using these novel compositions as initiators for isobutylene (IB) and other cationically polymerizable monomers, such as styrene and its derivatives. In still other embodiments, the present invention is directed to structurally new, allyl (and chlorine) telechelic PIBs formed from these new initiator compositions and their derivatives (in particular, hydroxyl telechelic PIB and amine telechelic PIB). In yet other embodiments, the present invention is directed to structurally new polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurethane ureas made using telechelic PIBs formed from these new initiator compositions.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to new low cost initiator compositions for use with the production of well-defined telechelic PIBs (by LC+P of isobutylene). In various other embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods for using these novel compositions as initiators for isobutylene (IB) and other cationically polymerizable monomers, such as styrene and its derivatives. In still other embodiments, the present invention is directed to structurally new, allyl (and chlorine) telechelic PIBs formed from these new initiator compositions and their derivatives (in particular, hydroxyl telechelic PIB and amine telechelic PIB). In yet other embodiments, the present invention is directed to structurally new polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurethane ureas made using telechelic PIBs formed from these new initiator compositions.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a centrally-functionalizable living cationic polymer or copolymer having a centrally-substituted tetraene group having the formula wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a copolymer, such as a polyisobutylene polymer or a poly(isobutylene-b-styrene) copolymer.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments the present invention provides a three layer bimodal amphiphilic co-network (?-APCN) based drug delivery device and methods for its making and use. In various embodiments, the system is based on a three-layer scheme. A center layer is composed of a ?-APCN matrix containing a high drug loading and exhibiting high drug diffusivity and two outer layers which are also ?-APCN-based, contain no-drug and are instead loaded with a diffusional barrier such as vitamin E, which considerably slows drug diffusion through these outer layers. Both modeling and experimental data demonstrates that the combined effect of non-uniform distribution of drug loading and diffusion constants within the three-layer systems of various embodiments of the present invention is capable of maintaining a low local drug concentration at the polymer-fluid interface, thus achieving zero-order kinetics.