Disclosed herein are poly(hydroxylalkyleneimine disulfide)polymers, which have both desirable transfection properties and reduced toxicity.

The invention provides amphiphilic biocompatible copolymers which have a hydrophilic backbone and pendant hydrophobic groups. The polymers form nanoscale molecular aggregates in aqueous environments, which have hydrophobic interiors within which anticancer drugs may be solubilized. The polymers optionally feature attached antibodies, receptor ligands, and other targeting moieties which mediate adherence of the drug-carrying aggregates to targeted cancer cells.

In one embodiment, a polymer includes a repeating unit represented by a formula (1) shown below. A weight-average molecular weight of the polymer is in a range of 3000 or more to 1000000 or less. ##STR00001##
R1 indicates a monovalent group selected from hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, and a substituted or unsubstituted hetero-aromatic group. R2, R3, and R4 indicate independently a monovalent group selected from hydrogen, halogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, and a substituted or unsubstituted hetero-aromatic group. X, Y, and Z indicate independently an atom selected from O, S, and Se.

In one embodiment, a polymer includes a repeating unit represented by a formula (1) shown below. A weight-average molecular weight of the polymer is in a range of 3000 or more to 1000000 or less. ##STR00001##
R1 indicates a monovalent group selected from hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, and a substituted or unsubstituted hetero-aromatic group. R2, R3, and R4 indicate independently a monovalent group selected from hydrogen, halogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, and a substituted or unsubstituted hetero-aromatic group. X, Y, and Z indicate independently an atom selected from O, S, and Se.

A method for forming a high melt viscosity polyarylene sulfide is provided. The method comprises reacting a sulfur source with a dihaloaromatic compound during a first stage to form an arylene sulfide prepolymer having halogen end groups; and thereafter, reacting the arylene sulfide prepolymer with a secondary sulfur source during a second stage to form the polyarylene sulfide.

Process for producing polyarylene ether beads from a polyarylene ether solution, comprising the steps of i) dividing the polyarylene ether solution into droplets, ii) transferring the droplets into a precipitation bath to form polyarylene ether beads in the precipitation bath which (A) comprises at least one aprotic solvent (component (1)) and at least one protic solvent (component (2)), (B) has a temperature of 0° C. to T.sub.c, where the critical temperature T.sub.c in [° C.] can be determined by the numerical equation T.sub.c=(99−c)/0.61 in which c is the concentration of component (1) in the precipitation bath in [% by weight] and (C) has component (1) in concentrations of 5% by weight to c.sub.c, where the critical concentration c.sub.c in [% by weight] can be determined by the numerical equation c.sub.c=99−0.61*T in which T is the temperature in the precipitation bath in [° C.], where
the percentages by weight are each based on the sum of the percentages by weight of component (1) and of component (2) in the precipitation bath.

The invention relates to a process for producing polyarylene ether beads from a polyarylene ether solution, comprising the steps of i) dividing the polyarylene ether solution in a division apparatus which is made to vibrate with a frequency of 10 to 1400 Hz to obtain droplets, ii) transferring the droplets into a precipitation bath to form polyarylene ether beads in the precipitation bath which (A) comprises at least one aprotic solvent (component (1)) and at least one protic solvent (component (2)), (B) has a temperature of 0° C. to T.sub.c, where the critical temperature T.sub.c in [° C.] can be determined by the numerical equation T.sub.c=(77−c)/0.58 in which c is the concentration of component (1) in the precipitation bath in [% by weight] and (C) has component (1) in concentrations of 5% by weight to c.sub.c, where the critical concentration c.sub.c in [% by weight] can be determined by the numerical equation c.sub.c=77−0.58*T in which T is the temperature in the precipitation bath in [° C.], where
the percentages by weight are each based on the sum of the percentages by weight of component (1) and of component (2) in the precipitation bath.

A Addition-fragmentation oligomers containing allylic disulfide groups are described. The oligomers may be added to polymerizable compositions to provide labile crosslinks that can cleave and reform during the polymerization process.

A Addition-fragmentation oligomers containing allylic disulfide groups are described. The oligomers may be added to polymerizable compositions to provide labile crosslinks that can cleave and reform during the polymerization process.

Process for the production of a liquid mercapto-terminated polythioethersulfide comprising the step of reacting, at a temperature in the range 0-100° C. and in the presence of a catalyst: at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (i) dimercapto-dioxa-alkanes (DMDAs) and (ii) glycol di(mercapto carboxylic acid ester)s (GDMEs), at least one dimercapto-dialkyl sulfide (DMDS) at least one di-epoxide, and optionally at least one branching agent selected from compounds having at least three terminal groups selected from epoxy and mercapto groups,
wherein the molar ratio (DMDA+GDME)/DMDS is in the range 1.1-4.0.