The present invention relates to novel polymer compositions, to a process for their manufacturing, to the use of said polymer compositions for modifying the viscosity of aqueous compositions, and to water-borne coating compositions containing the novel polymer compositions as thickeners. The polymer compositions comprise a polymer material which is obtainable by reacting: a) a polymer P1 having at least one functional group of the formula (I), where k is an integer from 0 to 4; n is 0 or 1 p is an integer from 1 to 10, the number average of p being from 1.5 to 10; Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of O and NH; P is a p-valent hydrophilic neutral polymer radical; and R.sup.1 is as defined in the claims; with b) a succinic anhydride of the formula (II) where R is C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkyl or C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkenyl. ##STR00001##

Polymeric reagents are provided comprising a moiety of atoms arranged in a specific order, wherein the moiety is positioned between a water-soluble polymer and a reactive group. The polymeric reagents are useful for, among other things, forming polymer-active agent conjugates. Related methods, compositions, preparations, and so forth are also provided.

A polymer hydrogel having a polymer formed by the crosslinking reaction of a polymeric unit A according to formula (I),

##STR00001##

with a crosslinking unit B according to formula (II)

##STR00002##

and water, wherein n=100-10,000, preferable 250-2500, more preferable 500-1500; m=independently 2-10, preferably 3 or 4; FG is a functional moiety that can be covalently coupled to the complementary functional moiety F1 or F2 of the crosslinking unit (B); k=0.01-0.05; h=0, 1 or 2; the spacer is an organic moiety, having a main chain comprising at least two functional moieties F1 and F2, wherein the length of the crosslinker in the extended conformation as determined by molecular modeling (including spacer and functional groups F1 and F2) is between 2.5 and 12 nm, or wherein the length is between 20 and 80 atoms.

A lipid derivative in which a hydrophilic polymer is bound through a cyclic benzylidene acetal linker, and which can accurately control a hydrolysis rate in the weakly acidic environment of a living body to detach the hydrophilic polymer from a lipid membrane structure. The lipid derivative is represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein, R.sup.1 and R.sup.6 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently an electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituent or a hydrogen atom; R.sup.7 is a hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, an acyl group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, a cholesterol derivative, a glycerolipid, a phospholipid or a sphingolipid; P is a hydrophilic polymer; s is 1 or 2, t is 0 or 1, and s+t is 1 or 2; and Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are each independently a selected divalent spacer.

The present invention provides a surfactant having a formula selected from the group consisting of: B((X).sub.x(CH.sub.2).sub.a-M.sub.n(VI), (A-(CH.sub.2)(X).sub.xB(X).sub.x(CH.sub.2).sub.a-A).sub.n (IV), (A-(CH.sub.2).sub.a(X).sub.xB).sub.n (V), and (B).sub.n(X).sub.x(CH.sub.2).sub.aA (VII), wherein A is a perfluoropolyether; a is a positive integer; X is either a covalent bond or a linking group; x is a positive integer; B is a polyalkylene oxide unit; n is a positive integer greater than 1 and, in compounds comprising more than one A, B, X, a and x, each may be the same or different. The present invention also relates to methods of making such surfactants, uses of such surfactants and emulsions comprising such surfactants.

Among other aspects, provided herein are multi-armed polymer conjugates comprising an alkanoate-linker, compositions comprising such conjugates, and related methods of making and administering the same. Methods of treatment employing such conjugates and related uses are also provided. The conjugates are prepared with high drug loading efficiencies.

The present application relates to a curable composition, a cured product and uses of the curable composition and the cured product. By comprising the curable compound having a certain structure, the present application can provide a curable composition which can increase cohesiveness of the cured product without increasing viscosity of the composition before curing, also minimize the increase of the elastic modulus, and also minimize the ratio of a nonreactive oligomer with an effect of improving the interfacial adhesion. The curable composition can be applied to a variety of optical applications and can be usefully used, for example, for bonding various optical functional members in a display device, for example, for directly bonding a touch panel and a display panel.

Polymeric reagents are provided comprising a moiety of atoms arranged in a specific order, wherein the moiety is positioned between a water-soluble polymer and a reactive group. The polymeric reagents are useful for, among other things, forming polymer-active agent conjugates. Related methods, compositions, preparations, and so forth are also provided.

A lipid derivative in which a hydrophilic polymer is bound through a cyclic benzylidene acetal linker, and which can accurately control a hydrolysis rate in the weakly acidic environment of a living body to detach the hydrophilic polymer from a lipid membrane structure. The lipid derivative is represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein, R.sup.1 and R.sup.6 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently an electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituent or a hydrogen atom; R.sup.7 is a hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, an acyl group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, a cholesterol derivative, a glycerolipid, a phospholipid or a sphingolipid; P is a hydrophilic polymer; s is 1 or 2, t is 0 or 1, and s+t is 1 or 2; and Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are each independently a selected divalent spacer.

Among other aspects, provided herein are multi-armed polymer conjugates comprising an alkanoate-linker, compositions comprising such conjugates, and related methods of making and administering the same. Methods of treatment employing such conjugates and related uses are also provided. The conjugates are prepared with high drug loading efficiencies.