Nanosphere composition containing a mixture of a triblock oligomer and a diblock oligomer for the delivery of an active agent. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the nanospheres and methods of delivering an active agent enclosed in the nanospheres.

Described herein are anti-microbial and UV-protective biological devices and extracts produced therefrom. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing proteins such as, for example, zinc-related protein/oxidase, silicatein, silaffin, and alcohol dehydrogenase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for producing and using the devices are also described herein. Finally, compositions and methods for using the devices and extracts to kill microbial species or prevent microbial growth and to reduce or prevent UV-induced damage or exposure to materials, items, plants, and human and animal subjects are described herein. Also disclosed are biological devices producing polyactive carbohydrates and carbo sugars, as well as compositions and articles incorporating both extracts from these devices and the anti-microbial and UV-protective extracts.

A macromolecule comprises a ring-opened polymerized product of β-lactone monomers of formula I:

##STR00001## and having a structure of formula IA:

##STR00002## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms. The macromolecule may be hydroxy-terminated, and may be copolymerized with other β-lactone monomers having different substituting groups and/or with higher lactone monomers. The macromolecule may be used as a reactant to form an alkoxysilane-terminated polymer, a polyurethane, or a (co)polyester, or may be used as an elastomeric midblock in a triblock copolymer having hard end blocks, such as polylactic acid. Such triblock systems demonstrate two discreet regions having properties similar to styrene block copolymers and are therefore suitable for use as hot melt or pressure-sensitive adhesives. In some embodiments, such triblock polymers may be entirely bio-sourced and compostable.

A resin useful for producing objects is provided, which resin contains a photoinitiator of low cytotoxicity. The resins may be suitable for use in additive manufacturing techniques such as bottom-up and top-down stereolithography, produce objects that are bioresorbable and non-cytotoxic, and/or produce objects that are flexible or elastic. Methods of use of the resin and objects produced therefrom are also provided.

The present disclosure provides copolymers useful in medical devices. For example, the disclosure provides copolymers comprising the polymerization product ester block, ether blocks and diisocyanates. In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides a medical copolymer for implantation comprising ester blocks and ether blocks, wherein: the ester blocks comprise a negative free energy transfer and the ether blocks comprise a positive free energy transfer, the ether and ester blocks are less than 1/10 the length of said copolymer, and, the blocks are distributed such that no domain of contiguous blocks possessing the same polarity of free energy transfer are less than ⅓ of the molecular weight of the copolymer. The disclosure further provides methods of making the aforementioned polymers, and medical devices comprising the polymers.

An alkoxylated polyamine can include the general formula (1)

##STR00001##

in which the variables E1 to E5, R and y are defined as disclosed in the description.

The thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions described herein have biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable hard and soft segments. The TPU hard segment can be formed from a polyisocyanate and a 2,5-substituted diketopiperazine.

A method for producing a thermoplastic resin composition, including: melt-kneading a mixture containing a polyester resin (A), a starch material (B), and water; and dewatering the melt-kneaded mixture to reduce a water content to 5% by weight or less. The mixture contains 25 to 55 parts by weight of the water per 100 parts by weight of a solid content of the starch material (B). A film containing a thermoplastic resin composition containing a biodegradable polyester resin (A) and a starch material (B), wherein the starch material (B) has a number-average particle diameter of 3 μm or less.

The present invention relates to a biodegradable polyester resin, in which the first repeat unit comprising a first diol residue and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue and the second repeat unit comprising a second diol residue and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residue satisfy a ratio of the number of repeat units in a specific range, and the softness index of the resin satisfies a specific range, and to a process for preparing the same. Since the biodegradable polyester resin can provide a biodegradable polyester sheet or film that can be simultaneously enhanced in productivity, processability, and moldability and is excellent in tensile strength, tear strength, and friction coefficient and excellent in biodegradability and water degradability, it can be utilized in more diverse fields.

The invention relates to a composition comprising A) a polyester, B) a polyolefin and C) a compatibilizer, wherein C) is a functionalized polyolefin containing hydroxyl functional groups or a reaction product of the functionalized polyolefin and a polyester, wherein the total amount of A) and B) with respect to the total composition is at least 77 wt % and the amount of C) with respect to the total composition is 0.1 to 23 wt %.