Methods are generally provided for preparing a polymeric composition that includes a grafted block copolymer. Methods are also generally provided for preparing a polymeric composition that includes a star block copolymer prepared from a central core molecule that includes a plurality of attachment moieties. Methods are also generally provided for preparing a polymeric composition that includes a linear block copolymer. Block copolymers are also generally provided. Multi-segmented linear block copolymers are also generally provided.

The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing a comb polymer, without organic solvent, by esterification and/or amidification of an acidic homopolymer or copolymer, which consists in performing the esterification and/or amidification of said homopolymer/copolymer by reaction at elevated temperature in the mixing and transportation zone of a tubular reactor, optionally equipped with a water removal system, in the presence of at least one poly(alkylene glycol) in solid or molten form and of an antioxidant, said esterification and/or amidification taking place at a temperature greater than or equal to 170° C.

Graft copolymer polyelectrolyte complexes are disclosed for the efficient delivery of anionic, cationic or polyelectrolyte therapeutic agents into biological cells, and for maintaining the biological activity of these molecules while in serum and other aqueous environments are provided. Such complexes comprise (1) an anionic graft copolymer containing an anionic polymer backbone, with pendent carboxylic acid groups and pendant chains containing amphipathic or hydrophilic polymers covalently bonded to a portion of the pendant carboxylic acid groups, (2) one or more anionic, cationic or polyelectrolyte therapeutic agents, and (3) optionally a liposome optionally containing an additional therapeutic agent. Also disclosed are functional nanoparticles containing the complexes.

A functional polymer including at least two different types of side chains, having the general formula (1),

##STR00001##

wherein A is an at least monosubstituted alkylene or arylene group; B is an amide, ester or ether group and n is 0 or 1; F is selected from: an ester, secondary amine, amide, ether, thio ether, thio ester, and may be the same or different for the different side chains; D is a side chain intended to reversible bind to a substrate or has a coating function; E is a side chain intended to irreversible bind to a substrate, the side chain E and polymer includes 1 to 10 different side chains D and 1 to 10 different side chains E, but at least one of each, and includes a plurality of each type, whereby the different types of side chains are randomly or regularly distributed in the polymer.

A polyphenylene ether resin of Formula (1) and a resin composition including the polyphenylene ether resin of Formula (1) are provided. The resin composition is useful for making different articles, including a prepreg, a resin film, a laminate or a printed circuit board, which may achieve excellent multi-layer board thermal resistance and excellent height of impact whitening, in addition to the desirable properties such as fully dissolvable varnish, absence of branch-like pattern or dry board on laminate appearance, high glass transition temperature, low dissipation factor, low Z-axis ratio of thermal expansion and high copper foil peeling strength.

##STR00001##

A polymer and a pharmaceutical composition employing the same are disclosed. The polymer includes a first repeating unit, a second repeating unit, and a third repeating unit. In particular, the first repeating unit is ##STR00001##
the second repeating unit is ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl group; and the third repeating unit is ##STR00003##
wherein X is ##STR00004##
and Y is a hydrophilic polymeric moiety.

The present invention provides a modified conjugated diene polymer that has excellent hydrophilicity and is useful for modification of polar polymers. The present invention also provides a modified conjugated diene polymer and a polymer modifier that, when used for modification of a polar polymer, can enhance characteristics, for example, flexibility, of the composition including the polymer and also offer excellent processability and shaping properties. The present invention further provides a polymer composition including such a conjugated diene polymer. A polymer modifier (A) includes a modified conjugated diene polymer (A1) having a hydrophilic group having a polyethylene glycol structure.

Described are amphiphilic polymers that are provided with chelating moieties. The amphiphilic polymers are block copolymers comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, with the chelating moieties linked to the end-group of the hydrophilic block. The disclosed polymers are capable of self-assembly into structures such as micelles and polymersomes. With suitable metals present in the form of coordination complexes with the chelating moieties, the chelating amphiphilic polymers of the invention are suitable for use in various imaging techniques requiring metal labeling, such as MRI (T.sub.1/T.sub.2 weighted contrast agents or CEST contrast agents) SPECT, PET or Spectral CT.

Disclosed is a block copolymer of the formula: A-B-A (I) or A-B (II), wherein block A is: (i) a polymer of allyl glycidyl ether or (ii) a polymer of allyl glycidyl ether wherein one more of the allyl groups have been replaced with 1,2-dihydroxypropyl group or a group of the formula: —(CH.sub.2).sub.a—S—(CH.sub.2).sub.b—X, wherein a, b, and X are defined herein. The block copolymers find use as wetting agents in the preparation of porous membranes from aromatic hydrophobic polymers such as polyethersulfone. Also disclosed are methods of preparing such block copolymers and porous membranes therefrom.

Disclosed herein is a method to stabilize a poly(arylene ether) comprising combining a neat or diluted poly(arylene ether) with a vinyl or vinylidene-terminated polyolefin at a temperature of at least 80° C. to form heated reaction components; combining a Brφnsted acid or Lewis acid with the heated reaction components; and isolating a polyolefin-poly(arylene ether) copolymer composition.