An antimicrobial composition for the treatment of drug-resistant pathogens is provided. The composition includes antimicrobial compounds and chelating agents assemblies that are particularly effective in inhibiting drug-resistant bacteria and biofilm growth. Optionally, the composition may include an efflux pump inhibitor, further enhancing activity against resistant bacteria. Also provided are methods of treating diseases and surfaces of materials treated with the composition.

A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of pathological calculus and plaque formation is provided. The composition includes conjugates of polymers and metal binding agents that are particularly effective in inhibiting crystal nucleation, growth, and aggregation in the body, such as that observed in the formation of kidney stones. The composition is effective at low dosage, thereby avoiding the side effects typically associated with current treatments for kidney stones. The composition is also effective against plaque formation, and may have intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Also provided are methods of treating diseases and surfaces of devices and materials treated with the composition.

A polyether dendrimer of formula (I),

##STR00001##

wherein the symbols and indices have the following meanings:
each Y is independently [R.sup.1(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.pO];
each Z is independently [R.sup.2(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.q(OCH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2).sub.rO];
each R.sup.1 is independently H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2-C.sub.4-alkyl;
each R.sup.2 is independently linear or branched C.sub.8-C.sub.22-alkyl;
X is H or C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl;
m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6;
n, o are rational positive numbers>0, with the proviso that the sum of n and o is 2.sup.m;
p is a natural number from 5 to 50;
q is a natural number from 1 to 50;
r is 0 or is a natural number from 1 to 30, with the proviso that 5q+r50, and
denotes the bonding of the respective group to the dendron scaffold,
is useful for solubilizing sparingly-water soluble active ingredients, in particular pesticides.

A process for manufacturing epoxy monomers and/or epoxides in high yields and useful quality and chemical stability by dehydrochlorination of the corresponding chlorohydrins with an alkaline agent, producing the corresponding side product dry salt in a high purity, characterized in that the process comprises the following steps: a. Reaction of the chlorohydrins with the alkaline agent to form corresponding epoxides and the corresponding precipitated chloride salt; b. Dehydration, and optionally completing the reaction, of the reaction mixture of step (a), by use of an azeotropic agent, added to step (b) or generated in situ in step (a), resulting in the producing of a dehydrated reaction mixture; c. Separating the resulting chloride salt by filtration from the dehydrated reaction mixture (b) and d. Isolating the epoxide from the filtered liquid fraction.

This invention provides the use of a polymer comprising a hyperbranched polyether polyol such as hyperbranched polyglycerol as a serum albumin substitute. Also provided are high molecular weight hyperbranched polyglycerol polymers suitable for a variety of medical and non-medical uses including methods for making such high molecular weight polymers.

The present invention relates to new molecular design that allows micelles to report their activation and disassembly by an enzymatic trigger. The molecular design is based on introduction of a labeling moiety selected from a fluorescent dye, a dark quencher, combinations of dyes or dyes/quenchers, and a fluorinated moiety (a .sup.19F-magenetic resonance (MR) probe for turn ON/OFF of a .sup.19F-MR signal) through covalent binding to the focal point of amphiphilic polymer-dendron hybrids with the labeling moiety. At the assembled micellar state, the dyes are closely packed and hence the probability for intermolecular interactions increases significantly, leading to alteration of the fluorescent properties (signal quench or shift) or the .sup.19F-MR signal (OFF state) of the micelles. Upon enzymatic cleavage of the hydrophobic end-groups from enzyme-responsive dendron, the polymers become hydrophilic and disassemble. This structural change is then translated into a spectral change as dye-dye interactions are halted and the dyes regain their intrinsic fluorescent properties, or alternatively by turn ON the .sup.19F-MR signal. The high modularity of the design allows the introduction of various types of dyes and thus enables rational adjustment of the spectral response. Two major types of responses are described: Turn-On/Off and spectral shift, depending on the type of labeling dye. The present invention further provides methods of use of the hybrid delivery system and to a kit comprising the same.

A composition comprising linked segments of: (a) a polyhydroxy segment derived from a compound independently selected an acyclic polyhydric alcohol having 4 to 6 carbon atoms and 4 to 6 reactive hydroxyl groups; a cyclic polyhydric alcohol having 4 to 6 carbon atoms and 4 to 6 reactive hydroxyl groups, a poly(hydroxyethyl) polyethyleneamine having 4 to 6 reactive hydroxyl groups and combinations thereof; (b) polyoxyalkylene segments wherein each hydroxyl group of the polyhydroxyl segment is linked to a polyoxyalkylene segment; (d) and aliphatic end segments or aromatic end segments, each end segment having 6 to 32 carbon atoms and a hydroxyl reactive group, wherein the mole ratio of the polyoxyalkylene segment to the polyhydroxy segment is at least 4:1 and the mole ratio of the aliphatic or aromatic end segment to the polyhydroxy segment is at least 0.25:1.

The present invention relates to a composition containing a particulate solid, a polar or non-polar organic medium, and a polymer chain having at least one fused aromatic imide pendant group. The invention further provides compositions for coatings, inks, toners, plastic materials (such as thermoplastics), plasticizers, plastisols, crude grinding and flush.

Provided herewith are microbicidal polymers comprising an alkylene oxide backbone comprising one or more alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary branches, in which at least one of the alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary branches is functionalized with a quaternary ammonium or fluorinated group, or at least two of the alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary branches are functionalized with a quaternary ammonium and fluorinated group, the primary branches optionally contain one or more alkyl and/or alkylene oxide secondary branches that are functionalized with a quaternary ammonium or fluorinated group, compositions comprising the polymer and a carrier, and methods of using the same.

Provided is an antimicrobial substrate comprising a substrate to which is covalently bonded an antimicrobial polymer, in which the antimicrobial polymer comprises an alkylene oxide backbone to which are attached one or more alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches, at least one of the alkyl or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches is functionalized with a quaternary ammonium or a fluorinated group, or at least two of the alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches are functionalized with a quaternary ammonium and a fluorinated group. The antimicrobial substrate can be used, for example, in a method for protecting an object against microbial infection, microbial colonization, or microbial transinfection comprising providing to the object an antimicrobial substrate.