A multifunctionalized polycaprolactone polymer, a process for forming a multifunctionalized polycaprolactone polymer, and an article of manufacture comprising a material containing a multifunctionalized polycaprolactone polymer are disclosed. The multifunctionalized polycaprolactone polymer includes at least two functional groups. The process of forming the multifunctionalized polycaprolactone polymer includes forming a caprolactone monomer having at least two functional groups, and polymerizing the caprolactone monomer. Further, the article of manufacture includes a polycaprolactone polymer having at least two functional groups.

A process for forming a flame retardant polymer, as well as the flame retardant polymer, are disclosed. A flame retardant polymer is a polymer that can be resistant to thermal degradation and/or thermal oxidation. A flame retardant polymer can be mixed or otherwise incorporated into a standard polymer to give flame retardancy to the standard polymer. The flame retardant polymers can include polycaprolactone functionalized with flame retardant substituents. The flame retardant substituents can include halides, substituted phosphoryl, and substituted phosphonyl.

Halogenated cyclic diesters, halogenated polymers derived from the cyclic diesters, and methods for making the halogenated cyclic diesters and related halogenated polymers.

A process of forming a flame retardant polylactide includes forming a flame retardant lactide monomer. The process also includes forming a lactide feedstock that includes at least the flame retardant lactide monomer. The process further includes polymerizing the lactide feedstock to form a flame retardant polylactide.

A polymeric scaffold contains pendant liquid crystal side chains and has fully interconnected pores. Such a polymeric scaffold will preferably be 3D in nature and elastomeric, biocompatible and biodegradable. Such 3D liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) scaffolds can be used for various biomedical applications, including cell culture applications. A method for the production of such a polymeric scaffold containing liquid crystals and having interconnected pores is also disclosed that uses a metal foam sacrificial template as a scaffold to produce the polymeric smart response scaffold of the present invention. Consistent and controlled pore sizes result from etching the sacrificial metal foam template away from the polymeric scaffold, permitting the incorporation of growth factors, when needed, for enhancing cell viability and proliferation.

Provided herein is a polymer having formula I:

##STR00001##

where m, n, and R.sup.1 are as defined herein, and the polymer has a number average molecular weight of the polymer of from 500 to 80,000 Daltons. Also provided herein are block copolymers of the polymer of formula I, as well as processes to make the polymer and block copolymers thereof.

A process of forming a flame retardant polylactide includes forming a flame retardant lactide monomer. The process also includes forming a lactide feedstock that includes at least the flame retardant lactide monomer. The process further includes polymerizing the lactide feedstock to form a flame retardant polylactide.

Provided herein is a polymer having formula I: ##STR00001##
where m, n, and R.sup.1 are as defined herein, and the polymer has a number average molecular weight of the polymer of from 500 to 80,000 Daltons. Also provided herein are block copolymers of the polymer of formula I, as well as processes to make the polymer and block copolymers thereof.

Polyester compositions are disclosed herein, as well as methods of making and using such polyesters. In some embodiments, the polyesters are formed from monomers derived from natural oils. In some embodiments, the polyesters are highly branched polymers, such as highly branched polymers that have low viscosity at higher molecular weights.

A process for forming a flame retardant polymer, as well as the flame retardant polymer, are disclosed. A flame retardant polymer is a polymer that can be resistant to thermal degradation and/or thermal oxidation. A flame retardant polymer can be mixed or otherwise incorporated into a standard polymer to give flame retardancy to the standard polymer. The flame retardant polymers can include polycaprolactone functionalized with flame retardant substituents. The flame retardant substituents can include halides, substituted phosphoryl, and substituted phosphonyl.