Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.g., ingestion of a solution that induces rapid dissolution/degradation). In certain embodiments, the structure has a modular design, combining a material configured for controlled release of therapeutic, diagnostic, and/or enhancement agents with a structural material necessary for gastric residence but configured for controlled and/or tunable degradation/dissolution to determine the time at which retention shape integrity is lost and the structure passes out of the gastric cavity. For example, in certain embodiments, the residence structure comprises a first elastic component, a second component configured to release an active substance (e.g., a therapeutic agent), and, optionally, a linker. In some such embodiments, the linker may be configured to degrade such that the residence structure breaks apart and is released from the location internally of the subject after a predetermined amount of time.

Disclosed are compositions comprising polymeric nanoparticles and methods of using the same. The polymeric nanoparticles can be conjugated with a targeting ligand that is a substrate for a solid tumor-specific cell protein. The polymeric nanoparticles can also comprises an imaging compound and/or a therapeutic agent encapsulated in the hydrophobic interior of the nanoparticle. A cancer therapeutic composition comprising the nanoparticle is also disclosed. The disclosed nanoparticles can be used to target and deliver imaging and/or therapeutic compounds to cancer cells, thereby identifying and/or treating a solid tumor cell target. Methods for treating cancer, such as lung cancer, using the polymeric nanoparticles are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an antibacterial co-polymer comprising a water soluble backbone polymer having in at least one end a dendritic or hyperbranched polymer of generation 1 to 6 wherein at least one functional group comprising a carboxylic amine has been covalently attached to the periphery of the dendritic or hyperbranched polymer. The present invention also relates to said anti-bacterial co-polymer when said co-polymer has been cross-linked with a cross-linking agent and to uses of the cross-linked co-polymer in a hydrogel for the treatment or prevention of bacterial infections, particularly in surgical site infections (SSIs).

The present invention relates to a hyperbranched polyether of formula (I) R.sub.mQ.sub.n-0-R.sup.1 (I), wherein Q is a branching unit of formula, n is 2.sup.k1, m is 2.sup.k, k is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, each R is independently a hydrocarbon radical having at least 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 is a polymer having a number average molecular weight M.sub.n of at least 250 g/mol, wherein each branching unit Q is connected via ether linkage to adjacent branching units Q and each terminal oxygen of Q, not connected to adjacent branching units Q, is connected to R via ether linkage, as well as mixtures thereof. The present invention further relates to formulations comprising said hyperbranched polyether or mixture of ethers as well as their use.

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This invention is directed to a biodegradable polymer that can be degraded in vivo. The biodegradable polymer comprises a biodegradable polymer segment having at least a biodegradable bond and two or more cationic components, wherein each of said cationic components is covalently attached to the biodegradable polymer segment and the two cationic components/molecules are separated by at least one biodegradable bond in the backbone. The biodegradable polymer can be used for targeting desired ceils in vivo including T cells, NK (natural killer) ceils, cancer cells, or a combination thereof, delivering genes, DNA, oligodeoxynucleotide, oligonucleotide, RNA, mRNA, RNAi, siRNA, microRNA, protein, peptide, antibody, fragment of an antibody, small molecule drug including chemotherapy drugs, or other bioactive agents into cells, or being used as a vaccine or drug for treating a disease such as a cancer in a subject.

It is provided a method for manufacturing a hyperbranched polyester polyol derivative, comprising the following steps: a) reacting only glycidol and -caprolactone at a temperature lying in a range of between 40 C. and 140 C. to obtain a hyperbranched polyester polyol in which caprolactone residues are randomly arranged; b) reacting the hyperbranched polyester polyol of step a) with a sulfation reagent to obtain a sulfated hyperbranched polyester polyol as hyperbranched polyester polyol derivative.

The present disclosure relates to a non-silane polymeric coupler. The non-silane polymeric coupler may include a dendritic polymer core having at least one reactive end group. The at least one reactive end-group may be selected from the group consisting of thiol, thioester, thioether, sulfanyl, mercapto, sulfide, and disulfide.

An ethoxylated pentaerythritol core hyperbranched polymer with dithiocarboxylate as side group and terminal group and its applications as a heavy metal chelating agent are disclosed, which relates to the field of chemical and environmental protection technology. The hyperbranched polymer has a chemical formula of C[CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OCOCH.sub.2CH.sub.2N(CSSM)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2NHCSSM].sub.4, wherein M is Na.sup.+, K.sup.+ or NH.sub.4.sup.+. A preparation method of the hyperbranched polymer is simple, the raw materials are easily available, and it is easy to be industrialized. The hyperbranched polymer is able to be used as a heavy metal chelating agent. Its special three-dimensional space structure is able to alternately chelate with heavy metals to form a large three-dimensional molecular conjugate with low solubility, strong stability, and compactness, which is able to effectively treat wastewater and waste containing heavy metals.

Residence devices as well as their related methods of manufacture and use are generally provided. In some embodiments, a residence device includes a plurality of self-assembling structures that assemble in vivo to form an aggregate structure. Each structure of the plurality of structures includes a first side and a first attachment point that attaches to a second attachment point on another structure of the plurality of structures. The aggregate structure may be sized and shaped to maintain an in vivo position relative to an internal orifice of a subject. The attachment between the first and second attachment points may degrade after a period of time.

Several embodiments of hyperbranched structures are disclosed. In some embodiments, the hyperbranched structures are covalently modified to store and release nitric oxide. Some embodiments pertain to methods of making and also to the use of hyperbranched structures. The covalently modified hyperbranched structures may be tailored to release nitric oxide in a controlled manner and are useful for eradication of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as other microbes.