The present invention relates to a cell culture support comprising a substrate and a polymeric blend layer bound to the substrate. The polymeric blend layer comprises at least one thermoresponsive polymer and at least one coupling agent. The coupling agent is a non-protein coupling agent that has functional thiol, ester, epoxy, or aldehyde groups. The cell culture support further includes cells supported by the polymeric blend layer, wherein the thermoresponsive polymer provides for temperature induced detachment of the cells and/or cell sheets.

The present invention relates to a cell culture support comprising a substrate and a polymeric blend layer bound to the substrate. The polymeric blend layer comprises at least one thermoresponsive polymer and at least one coupling agent. The coupling agent is a non-protein coupling agent that has functional thiol, ester, epoxy, or aldehyde groups. The cell culture support further includes cells supported by the polymeric blend layer, wherein the thermoresponsive polymer provides for temperature induced detachment of the cells and/or cell sheets.

This invention relates to monodisperse cross-linked hydrogel polymer particles comprising a polymer formed from (a) a hydrophilic vinylic monomer; and (b) a crosslinker comprising at least two vinyl groups. The invention also relates to monodisperse seed particles with a Z-average diameter of from 100 nm to 1500 nm that comprise a plurality of non-crosslinked oligomers of poly N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Also provided are methods of forming the monodisperse cross-linked hydrogel polymer particles and monodisperse seed particles.

This invention relates to monodisperse cross-linked hydrogel polymer particles comprising a polymer formed from (a) a hydrophilic vinylic monomer; and (b) a crosslinker comprising at least two vinyl groups. The invention also relates to monodisperse seed particles with a Z-average diameter of from 100 nm to 1500 nm that comprise a plurality of non-crosslinked oligomers of poly N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Also provided are methods of forming the monodisperse cross-linked hydrogel polymer particles and monodisperse seed particles.

A polymerization method including radically polymerizing a monomer in a polymerization medium comprising a chain transfer agent, and a free radical initiator prepared by oxidizing a reaction product of a ligand-reactive decomplexation agent and an alkyl-borane complex of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently selected from hydrogen, an alkyl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing from 3-12 carbon atoms, and an aryl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein the aryl group may be optionally substituted with an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 is an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group, and L is a complexing agent selected from one or more amine groups, amidine groups, hydroxide groups, alkoxyl groups, alkyl ether groups, alkoxide groups and mixtures thereof.

An organic tellurium compound is disclosed having a versatility that, when used as a living radical polymerization initiator, it is applicable to polymerization of a vinyl monomer in an aqueous vehicle without using any surfactant or dispersant. The organic tellurium compound is represented by a general formula (1), ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, A represents an alkali metal atom or an alkaline earth metal atom, x=1 when A is monovalent, x=½ when A is divalent, and R.sup.3 is represented by a general formula (2), ##STR00002##
where in the general formula (2) R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently represent an alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and a represents an integer from 0 to 10.

The present invention provides plasticizers, compositions, and tires which can vary tire performance in response to temperature changes. The present invention relates to a plasticizer for resins and/or elastomers, containing a group that changes hydrophilicity with changes in temperature.

The present invention provides plasticizers, compositions, and tires which can vary tire performance in response to temperature changes. The present invention relates to a plasticizer for resins and/or elastomers, containing a group that changes hydrophilicity with changes in temperature.

A microdroplet or microparticle with Janus or core-shell internal morphology, which is obtained under the control of phase separation of high-concentration NIPAAm formed at 25° C. or more in a microfluidic device, is provided. The microdroplet or microparticle shows an anisotropic volume change according to a change in temperature, and can also serve as a fat-soluble/water-soluble carrier, and thus can be used as a new material for medical supplies in the field of various applications in the future.

A microdroplet or microparticle with Janus or core-shell internal morphology, which is obtained under the control of phase separation of high-concentration NIPAAm formed at 25° C. or more in a microfluidic device, is provided. The microdroplet or microparticle shows an anisotropic volume change according to a change in temperature, and can also serve as a fat-soluble/water-soluble carrier, and thus can be used as a new material for medical supplies in the field of various applications in the future.