A polymerizable quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) including an acrylate group and a cationic group is provided. Specifically, the acrylate group is capable of polymerization so as to integrate the QAC into a macromolecular chain of a polymer through an addition polymerization for introducing antimicrobial and antiviral activities. For instance, the polymerizable QAC can be polymerized with a vinyl group monomer, an acrylate monomer, a silane monomer, an adhesion monomer and an emulsification monomer to form a synthesized polymer emulsion. The polymer emulsion can be further incorporated into a coating material to provide a transparent, water resistant, antimicrobial and antiviral waterborne coating on a substrate's surface.

Described herein are anti-microbial and UV-protective biological devices and extracts produced therefrom. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing proteins such as, for example, zinc-related protein/oxidase, silicatein, silaffin, and alcohol dehydrogenase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for producing and using the devices are also described herein. Finally, compositions and methods for using the devices and extracts to kill microbial species or prevent microbial growth and to reduce or prevent UV-induced damage or exposure to materials, items, plants, and human and animal subjects are described herein. Also disclosed are biological devices producing polyactive carbohydrates and carbo sugars, as well as compositions and articles incorporating both extracts from these devices and the anti-microbial and UV-protective extracts.

Provided are amphiphilic copolymers that include repeat units of formulas [Z].sub.m and [P].sub.n, wherein Z is a zwitterionic structural unit including at least one pendant heteroaromatic moiety, the heteroaromatic moiety containing a positively charged quaternary nitrogen atom (e.g., a pyridine ring), and wherein at least one negatively charged functional moiety is linked to the heteroaromatic moiety directly or through a linker, wherein the linker, where present, is an optionally substituted alkyl linker; P is a structural unit including a hydrophobic moiety, the hydrophobic moiety being a linear, branched, or cyclic fluorine-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20 moiety; m is an integer that is 1; and n is an integer that is 1.

A composition for coating an overhead conductor is disclosed comprising: (i) a reflective agent; (ii) a photocatalytic agent comprising 70 wt % anatase titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) having an average particle size (aps)100 nm; (iii) a polyorganosiloxane binder; and (iv) a superhydrophobic agent comprising either: surface functionalised silica nanoparticles, a functional polysiloxane or a polymethylsilsesquioxane.

The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.

The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.

An ink-jet recording head, wherein the ink-jet recording head has a silicone-containing film on a surface where a discharge port is provided, when a surface of the silicone-containing film etched in a thickness direction perpendicular to the surface of the silicone-containing film using C60.sup.+ with an accelerating voltage of 40 kV applied thereto is subjected to a composition analysis by a time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry ToF-SIMS, a value of a ratio of an abundance of SiC.sub.3H.sub.9.sup.+ at an etching time of 30 s to an abundance of SiC.sub.3H.sub.9.sup.+ at an outermost surface (0 s) of the silicone-containing film is 0.70 or more, and a contact angle at the outermost surface of the silicone-containing film is 80 or more.

The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40 C. to about 140 C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40 C. to about 140 C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.

A system, composition, and method are disclosed for producing superhydrophobic and antifouling polymer materials. The invention incorporates antifouling agents such as capsaicin, medetomidine, tralopyril, or zinc pyrithione together with hydrophobic additives such as polydimethylsiloxane, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluoropolymers, or surface-modified nanoparticles into natural or synthetic rubber and thermoplastic matrices. In one approach, pre-formulated antifouling compositions are added as solid components during compounding, and in another, the polymer itself serves as a carrier medium for direct incorporation of the active ingredients. The compounded materials exhibit controlled release of antifouling agents, low surface energy, and superhydrophobic behavior that reduces drag and resists attachment of marine and freshwater organisms. A manufacturing system may include compounding, monitoring, and forming units, with optional plasma or laser treatment to enhance nanoscale roughness. The invention enables durable, environmentally responsible materials for marine, industrial, and consumer applications requiring long-term fouling resistance.