The present invention generally relates to electrochromic compounds, the synthesis method and the uses thereof, particularly to a family of conjugated electrochromic polymers containing solubilizing side chains, where at least one side chain contains amide functional groups. The disclosed conjugated electrochromic polymers with amide-containing side chains demonstrated excellent redox switching in not only organic but also aqueous media while maintaining high photo contrast. The presence of the amide groups is also beneficial when it comes to lower the oxidation onset potential of the polymers, making them attractive candidates for electrochromic in aqueous environment.

Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.

Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.

The subject invention provides materials and methods for intracellular deliver of molecules and/or therapeutic agents. The subject invention also provides methods for synthesizing polymeric systems and nanomaterials that enhance or assist the passage of molecules and/or therapeutic agents across biological membranes. The compound, polymer or nanoparticle of the subject invention comprises a modified guanidine moiety in a plurality of repeating units of a polymer or on the surface of a nanoparticle where the guanidine moiety comprises, for example, a carbamoyl or thiourea modification. The polymer or nanoparticle can be used in a cancer treatment formulation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer compound in which, by blending with a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystalline compound, alignment of the liquid crystalline compound in a phase difference layer to be obtained increases; and a liquid crystal composition, a phase difference layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device using the same. The polymer compound of the present invention is a polymer compound including a repeating unit represented by Formula (I), a repeating unit represented by Formula (II), a repeating unit represented by Formula (III), and a repeating unit represented by Formula (IV). ##STR00001##

Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) reactor chambers can be designed to contain an ICF target being imploded and capture the resulting energy output from the reaction. The exact amount of energy required to facilitate this implosion depends on the specific target design in use. An ICF target design and implosion mechanism which is more robust against non-uniformities, simpler to analyze and simpler to utilize would be advantageous in achieving practical energy generation. Ideally, the ICF target will be configured to achieve a uniform temperature and density profile when imploding with a variety of parameters not limited to the following: a central region having an areal density (ρr) less than 1 g/cm.sup.2 at ignition and approximately 1% of the entire mass to be a material having a Z between 6 and 47 inclusive. Once the parameters of the ICF target are selected, one can easily smooth both the temperature and density profiles in the fusion fuel of non-equilibrium ignition targets without preventing runaway burn or affecting margin parameters such as fall-line greatly.

Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.

Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.

Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.

In an aspect, the invention provides therapeutic agents comprising brush polymers that address challenges associated with conventional administration of free therapeutic peptides. In an embodiment, for example, the invention provides brush polymers incorporating one or more therapeutic peptides as side chain moieties. Therapeutic agents of the invention comprising brush polymers include high-density brush polymers including cross-linked brush polymers and brush block copolymers. In an embodiment, brush polymers of the invention exhibit proteolysis-resistant characteristics and maintain their biological function during formulation and administration. The invention also includes methods of making and using therapeutic agents comprising brush polymers.