The present invention provides the use of selected thermogelling polymers for the purpose of growing tumor spheroids. The invention provides a thermogelling platform comprising a synthetic polymer which, when seeded with cancer cells, induces the cells to grow into a natural spheroidal pattern forming a tumor spheroid. After accomplishing this in about 3-10 days, the gel washes away, leaving behind the spheroids.

The present invention provides a POSS-containing in-situ composite nanogel with magnetic responsiveness and the method for preparing the same, wherein POSS-containing macromolecule capable of polymerizing and metal-coordination complexing is synthesized to complex with iron salt, Fe.sup.2+/Fe.sup.3+ salts are in-situ deposited via chemical coprecipitation, and crosslinking agent and initiator are added to induce polymerization so that POSS-containing nanogel ranges with magnetic responsiveness is obtained. The present invention is of professional design, feasible technique and simple operation, and prepared nanogel magnetic particles are well dispersed with excellent magnetic responsiveness, which possesses a good application prospect in medical diagnosis, sensor, catalyst carrier and biomaterial.

The present invention relates to a composition for a gel polymer electrolyte comprising a liquid electrolyte solvent, a lithium salt, a polymerization initiator, and a mixed compound of a first compound and a second compound, and a lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and a gel polymer electrolyte, wherein the gel polymer electrolyte is formed by polymerizing the composition for a gel polymer electrolyte.

By comprising a mixed compound of a first compound and a second compound in which the first compound is an amine-based compound comprising polyethylene glycol as a functional group and the second compound is an epoxy-based compound, a composition for a gel polymer electrolyte of the present invention exhibits, when used in a lithium secondary battery, enhanced battery lifespan, excellent high temperature storability, and enhanced battery capacity property by readily inducing a hopping phenomenon.

Methods, compositions, apparatuses, and systems are provided for a hybrid thermoplastic gel or sealant. The methods comprise providing (a) a base polymer having at least one functional group capable of crosslinking, (b) a functionalized extender, and (c) heat, and reacting the base polymer and functionalized extender in the presence of the heat to form the hybrid thermoplastic gel. The gel composition may comprise 5-40 wt % of a base polymer, 60-95 wt % of a functionalized extender, and 0-10 wt % of a crosslinker. A closure or interconnect system may comprise a housing, a cable, and a hybrid thermoplastic gel or sealant. A telecommunications apparatus may comprise a telecommunications component and a sealant that forms a seal with the telecommunications component. The sealant may comprise a sealant material having a first range of elongation followed by a second range of elongation.

A well treatment composition for use in a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir comprising a reversible aminal gel composition is disclosed. The reversible aminal gel composition includes a liquid precursor composition. The liquid precursor composition is operable to remain in a liquid state at about room temperature. The liquid precursor composition comprises an organic amine composition; an aldehyde composition; a polar aprotic organic solvent; and a metal salt composition with valence 3, 4, or 5. The liquid precursor composition transitions from the liquid state to a gel state responsive to an increase in temperature in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. The gel state is stable in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir at a temperature similar to a temperature of the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, and the gel state is operable to return to the liquid state responsive to a change in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir selected from the group consisting of: a decrease in pH in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir and an addition of excess metal salt composition in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir.

Organopolysiloxane gels are prepared by reacting an unsaturated silicone resin, a minor proportion of a terminally unsaturated polyoxyalkylene polyether, and two Si—H-functional organopolysiloxanes, one (2) with from 0.011 to 0.044 wt. % of Si—H groups, and one (2′) with from 0.045 to 0.35 wt. % of Si—H groups, where the molar ratio of (2) to (2′) is from 0.2 to 20. Compositions containing the gels are storage stable, and can absorb polar and/or hydrophilic substances and yet form monoplastic mixtures. The gels are particularly useful in personal care compositions.

A molding based on a monolithic organic aerogel has a density in the range from 60 to 300 kg/m.sup.3 and a thermal conductivity in the range from 12 to 17.8 mW/m*K. The molding based on a monolithic organic aerogel has more than 30 vol.-% of pores with a diameter of less than 150 nm, and more than 20 vol.-% of pores with a diameter of less than 27 nm, based on the total pore volume. A process can be used to prepare the molding by compression.

Systems and methods for producing a reversible hemiaminal or aminal gel composition for use in 3D printing, the method including preparing a liquid precursor composition, the liquid precursor composition operable to remain in a first liquid state at about room temperature, where the liquid precursor composition comprises: an organic amine composition; an aldehyde composition; a polar aprotic organic solvent; and a carbon nanomaterial; heating the liquid precursor composition to transition from the liquid state to a gel state; transitioning the gel state to a second liquid state; and 3D printing a solid carbon nanomaterial object comprising a solid printed gel from the second liquid state with a pre-determined orientation for the carbon nanomaterial.

In certain aspects and embodiments, the present invention provides a radiolytic polymerization/gelation method for the synthesis of gels and their subsequent activated carbon derivatives. In certain exemplary embodiments, resorcinol-formaldehyde gels are produced from resorcinol and formaldehyde without additives, catalysts, buffers, initiators or other species. In certain embodiments, ionizing γ-type radiation from .sup.60Co is used as a radiation source in the gel crosslinking process. Different compositions of resorcinol/formaldehyde and a wide range of irradiation doses were examined. Various techniques are used to characterize the outcome product, either the gels or their derived carbon gels or activated carbon.

An aspect of the present invention is directed to a vibration damping material for use in a mount part for supporting a motor, the vibration damping material including: a gel of a dehydration condensation reaction product of silicone oil and boric acid, wherein the boric acid is in an amount of 25 to 75 moles based on 100 moles of the total amount of the silicone oil and the boric acid.