The present invention provides a poly(ethylene) glycol based polyurethane polymer composition, particularly useful in the production of contact lenses. Generally the reactant mixture used to form the polymer includes a branched chain extender. There is also provided a method of manufacturing a contact lens formed from such a polymer.

Covalently linked linear polyethylenimine (PEI) clusters are provided that change conformation depending upon changes in counterion concentrations. The structures may be used for the storage, delivery, and/or transport of substances.

The present disclosure provides a crosslinking agent, the preparation process and uses thereof, a hydrogel and a biodegradable cryogel including the crosslinking agent.

The present invention relates to silicone hydrogels exhibiting desired combinations of physical and mechanical properties, formed from a reactive monomer mixture comprising at least one N-alkyl methacrylamide, and at least one silicone-containing component. These silicone hydrogels may also contain hydrophilic components, crosslinking agents and toughening monomers. These silicone hydrogels are useful in preparing biomedical devices, ophthalmic lenses, and contact lenses.

The present application is directed to processes for removing carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from low CO.sub.2 concentration gaseous streams. The process comprises contacting the gaseous stream with a hydrogel for absorbing at least some CO.sub.2 from the gaseous stream. The hydrogel comprises a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer comprising a hydrophilic polymer cross-linked with a cross-linking agent. Processes for preparing the hydrogel, types of hydrogels, using the hydrogel to remove CO.sub.2 from gaseous streams, and regenerating the hydrogel to recover absorbed CO.sub.2 from the hydrogel are also disclosed.

Described herein are antimicrobial ophthalmic devices comprising a silicone hydrogel composition and an antimicrobial agent, and methods of making and use thereof. The silicone hydrogel compositions comprise an actinically-crosslinkable polysiloxane-polyglycerol block copolymer crosslinked with a crosslinker. The actinically-crosslinkable polysiloxane-polyglycerol block copolymer being derived from: a polysiloxane prepolymer comprising a polyglycerol side chain, the polyglycerol side chain comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group covalently linked thereto, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated group is actinically curable.

The invention is generally related to an insert for being embedded in a silicone hydrogel contact lens. The insert is made of a crosslinked materials which are rigid in dry state at room temperature (from about 22° C. to about 26° C.), have a high oxygen permeability and a high refractive index in fully hydrated state. Such materials are useful for making inserts in embedded contact lenses for correcting corneal astigmatism, presbyopia, and color blindness lenses and for imparting photochromic characteristics to the lenses. The invention is also related to a method for making embedded silicone hydrogel contact lenses comprising an insert of the invention therein and to embedded silicone hydrogel contact lenses comprising an insert of the invention therein.

The invention relates to novel a high-volume swelling hydrogel which comprises a plurality of pores which are defined by an interpenetrating network, and/or a semi-interpenetrating network and/or simple cross-linked arrangement of a plurality of one or more species of hydrophilic polymers, optionally together with one or more biocompatible polymers and optionally together with one or more plasticising agents, characterised in that at least some of the pores are at least partially collapsed and/or flattened, and further characterised in that the interpenetrating network and/or semi-interpenetrating network and/or cross-linked arrangement which defines the collapsed and/or flattened pores is substantially unbroken. The invention also relates to a process for preparing such hydrogels, and to their use as an appetite suppressant.

Described herein is a method of preparing a thermoresponsive polymer biomacromolecule conjugate, the method comprising: preparing by living cationic ring opening polymerisation a thermoresponsive polymer selected from polyoxazoline, polyoxazine, or copolymer thereof, the so-formed thermoresponsive polymer having a living cation; and reacting the living cation with a nucleophilic functional group selected from carboxylate, amino, sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate, phosphonate and thiol of a biomacromolecule to conjugate the thermoresponsive polymer to the biomacromolecule; wherein in an aqueous liquid the so-formed thermoresponsive polymer biomacromolecule conjugate exhibits a gelation temperature and forms a hydrogel in that liquid above that gelation temperature.

Electro-responsive hydrogel particles are flowed into a first wellbore formed in a subterranean formation. An electric circuit is established between the first wellbore and a second wellbore formed in the subterranean formation. An electric current is applied through the electric circuit, thereby exposing the electro-responsive hydrogel particles to an electric field and causing at least one of swelling or aggregation of the electro-responsive hydrogel particles to form a flow-diverting plug within the subterranean formation. Water is flowed into the first wellbore to increase hydrocarbon production from the second wellbore.