Zwitterionic polymers or biocompatible polymers with improved properties for cell encapsulation, coating of devices, or a combination thereof are described. The biocompatible polymer contains a zwitterionic monomer, a monomer with a reactive side chain, and optionally another hydrophobic monomer or a neutral hydrophilic monomer. The zwitterionic polymers are cross-linked with a cross-linker via covalent bond to form a zwitterionic hydrogel in the presence of cells. Also provided, are methods of making and using the zwitterionic polymers.

The present teachings are directed at 1,1-disubstituted alkene monomers (e.g., methylene beta-ketoester monomers), methods for producing the same, polymerizable compositions including a methylene beta-ketoester monomer, and polymers, compositions and products formed therefrom. The monomer preferably is a high purity monomer. In the method for producing the methylene beta-ketoesters of the invention, a beta-ketoester may be reacted with a source of formaldehyde. The methylene beta-ketoester monomers may be used in monomer-based products (e.g., inks, adhesives, coatings, sealants or reactive molding) and polymer-based products (e.g., fibers, films, sheets, medical polymers, composite polymers and surfactants).

The present teachings are directed at 1,1-disubstituted alkene monomers (e.g., methylene beta-ketoester monomers), methods for producing the same, polymerizable compositions including a methylene beta-ketoester monomer, and polymers, compositions and products formed therefrom. The monomer preferably is a high purity monomer. In the method for producing the methylene beta-ketoesters of the invention, a beta-ketoester may be reacted with a source of formaldehyde. The methylene beta-ketoester monomers may be used in monomer-based products (e.g., inks, adhesives, coatings, sealants or reactive molding) and polymer-based products (e.g., fibers, films, sheets, medical polymers, composite polymers and surfactants).

Provided are a composition for forming an upper layer film for a photoresist, including a polymer having a molecular weight distribution in which a peak area of a high-molecular-weight component having a weight-average molecular weight of 40,000 or more accounts for 0.1% or less with respect to the entire peak area in the molecular weight distribution, measured by the gel permeation chromatography.

Provided are a water dispersion of gel particles in which the gel particles which have a three-dimensional crosslinked structure including a thioether bond and an ethylenic double bond, have a hydrophilic group, and include a photopolymerization initiator are dispersed in water, a producing method of the water dispersion, and an image forming method using the water dispersion.

Polymer particle embolics and methods of making same are described. The particle embolics can be used as embolization agents.

Polymer particle embolics and methods of making same are described. The particle embolics can be used as embolization agents.

A polymer comprising recurring units derived from a sulfonium salt of specific structure having a polymerizable group is coated to form a resist film which is amenable to precise micropatterning because of improved LWR, CDU and resolution.

Provided is an optically anisotropic layer having an excellent surface condition, with which an image display device having an excellent contrast can be manufactured; and an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each having the optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is obtained by immobilizing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including a polymerizable rod-shaped liquid crystal compound exhibiting a liquid crystal state of a smectic phase and an additive in a liquid crystal state of a smectic phase, in which a molecular length A (Å) of the polymerizable rod-shaped liquid crystal compound, a layer interval B (Å) of the smectic phase of the optically anisotropic layer, and a molecular length C (Å) of the additive satisfy a relationship of Expression (1-1), 0.5×B≤C≤0.6×A . . . (1-1).

A polymer compound having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000, and contains one or more repeating units represented by formula (1) and one or more repeating units represented by formula (2): ##STR00001## R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; Rf.sub.1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a phenyl group, and has at least one fluorine atom or a trifluoromethyl group in Rf.sub.1; Z.sub.1 represents a single bond, an arylene group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or —C(═O)—O—R.sup.2—; R.sup.2 represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an arylene group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and may have an ether group, a carbonyl group or an ester group in R.sup.2; and “a” is 0<a≤1.0, and ##STR00002## “b” is 0<b<1.0.