The present invention provides amphiphilic telodendrimers that aggregate to form nanocarriers characterized by a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic exterior. The nanocarrier core may include amphiphilic functionality such as cholic acid or cholic acid derivatives, and the exterior may include branched or linear poly(ethylene glycol) segments. Nanocarrier cargo such as hydrophobic drugs and other materials may be sequester in the core via non-covalent means or may be covalently bound to the telodendrimer building blocks. Telodendrimer structure may be tailored to alter loading properties, interactions with materials such as biological membranes, and other characteristics.

The present invention provides amphiphilic telodendrimers that aggregate to form nanocarriers characterized by a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic exterior. The nanocarrier core may include amphiphilic functionality such as cholic acid or cholic acid derivatives, and the exterior may include branched or linear poly(ethylene glycol) segments. Nanocarrier cargo such as hydrophobic drugs and other materials may be sequester in the core via non-covalent means or may be covalently bound to the telodendrimer building blocks. Telodendrimer structure may be tailored to alter loading properties, interactions with materials such as biological membranes, and other characteristics.

A multi-branched drug conjugate of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In the formula, R is an organic center, POLY is a polymer, L is a multivalent linker, T is a targeting molecule, D is an active agent, and q is any integer between 3 and 8. The symbol “*” in L represents a junction point of the multivalent linker L and the targeting molecule T, “#” represents a junction point of the multivalent linker L and the active agent D, and “%” represents a junction point of the multivalent linker L and POLY. 1 is any integer between 2 and 20, and m and n are each an integer between 0 and 10. T is iRGD, cRGD, tLyp-1, Lyp-1, RPARPAR, Angiopep2, or GE11. D is a camptothecin drug. ##STR00001##

A fluoropolyether group-containing compound of formula (1a) or formula (1b):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.F1, R.sup.F2, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined herein.

A fluoropolyether group-containing compound of formula (1a) or formula (1b):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.F1, R.sup.F2, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined herein.

An encoding/decoding apparatus and method using a low-density parity-check code (LDPC code) is disclosed. Basic column group information, serving as a set of information regarding positions of rows with weight 1, is extracted from a reference column in each column group of a predetermined parity-check matrix. Column group information transforms the positions of rows with weight 1 into positions whose lengths are within a required parity length. A parity-check matrix is generated according to the generated column group information. Data is enclosed or decoded based on the generated parity-check matrix.

An encoding/decoding apparatus and method using a low-density parity-check code (LDPC code) is disclosed. Basic column group information, serving as a set of information regarding positions of rows with weight 1, is extracted from a reference column in each column group of a predetermined parity-check matrix. Column group information transforms the positions of rows with weight 1 into positions whose lengths are within a required parity length. A parity-check matrix is generated according to the generated column group information. Data is enclosed or decoded based on the generated parity-check matrix.

The present invention provides dynamically covalent polymeric hydrogel systems for encapsulating and stabilizing bioactive therapeutic agents (e.g., proteins, cells, viruses, and vaccines) from environmental stressors, obviating standard refrigeration requirements, and decreasing transportation and storage costs of temperature-sensitive biomolecules. Described herein are dynamic polymeric hydrogel compositions comprising a therapeutic agent and a combination of phenylboronic acid- and 1,2-diol-modified multi-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer backbones. Methods of encapsulating and stabilizing bioactive therapeutic agents within the dynamic polymeric hydrogel compositions are also provided. Also described are methods for releasing stabilized therapeutic agents from hydrogel encapsulation. The covalently adaptable hydrogel release systems allow for discretionary administration of temperature-sensitive therapeutic agents, as well as the parenteral administration of highly concentrated amounts of therapeutic agents.

Disclosed are a multifunctionalized polyethylene glycol derivative and a preparation method therefor. The derivative has an H-shaped structure as represented by formula (1) and comprises one linear core LPEG and four PEG branch chains, where n.sub.1, n.sub.2, n.sub.3, and n.sub.4 respectively are the degrees of polymerization of the branch chains, U.sub.1 and U.sub.2 are trivalent branching groups connecting the core LPEG to two of the PEG branch chains, F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 contain a functional group or a protected form R.sub.01 thereof and may or may not contain a branched group G, correspondingly, the number of R.sub.01 is one or more, F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are either identical or different, any one linking group in the molecule or any linking group formed with an adjacent heteroatom group can either remain stable or be degraded, and any one PEG segment in the molecule is discretely polydispersed or monodispersed. The multifunctional polyethylene glycol is flexible and diverse in terms of branch structures and the lengths of branching arms, has various parameters and performance indicators that are adjustable and easy to control, and has a broad applicability.

Disclosed are a multifunctionalized polyethylene glycol derivative and a preparation method therefor. The derivative has an H-shaped structure as represented by formula (1) and comprises one linear core LPEG and four PEG branch chains, where n.sub.1, n.sub.2, n.sub.3, and n.sub.4 respectively are the degrees of polymerization of the branch chains, U.sub.1 and U.sub.2 are trivalent branching groups connecting the core LPEG to two of the PEG branch chains, F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 contain a functional group or a protected form R.sub.01 thereof and may or may not contain a branched group G, correspondingly, the number of R.sub.01 is one or more, F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are either identical or different, any one linking group in the molecule or any linking group formed with an adjacent heteroatom group can either remain stable or be degraded, and any one PEG segment in the molecule is discretely polydispersed or monodispersed. The multifunctional polyethylene glycol is flexible and diverse in terms of branch structures and the lengths of branching arms, has various parameters and performance indicators that are adjustable and easy to control, and has a broad applicability.