Provided herein are water-soluble prodrugs, compositions comprising such prodrugs, and related methods of making and administering the same. The prodrugs of the invention comprise a water-soluble polymer having three or more arms, at least three of which are typically covalently attached to an active agent, e.g., a small molecule. The conjugates of the invention provide an optimal balance of polymer size and structure for achieving improved drug loading, since the conjugates of the invention possess three or more active agents releasably attached to a multi-armed water-soluble polymer. The prodrugs of the invention are therapeutically effective, and exhibit improved properties in-vivo when compared to unmodified parent drug.

(Per)fluoropolyether polymers comprising a (per)fluoropolyether chain having two ends, wherein one or both ends comprise one or more zwitterionic groups at one or both polymer ends, methods for their manufacture and uses thereof are herein disclosed. The polymers can be used in particular for protecting materials in contact with biological fluids or fluids containing biological material from contamination by organic compounds therein contained.

One embodiment of the present invention is a fullerene derivative represented by general formula (1)

##STR00001##

(wherein FLN is a fullerene backbone; each A is independently a monovalent group including a divalent perfluoropolyether group; each R is each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, or an alkoxycarbonyl group including a divalent perfluoropolyether group; at least one of the 2m R is a hydrocarbon group or an alkoxycarbonyl group including a divalent perfluoropolyether group; m is an integer from 1 to 5; and n is an integer from 1 to 6).

Biodegradable polyether network polymers crosslinked via ester linkages, to substrates, implants and scaffolds including the biodegradable polyether network polymers; methods for preparing such network polymers, implants and scaffolds; and methods of using substrates, implants and scaffolds including the network polymers, particularly for culturing cells and regenerating tissue.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a medical device element by means of extrusion or injection molding and to medical devices comprising such extruded or injection molded medical device elements. The medical device elements (e.g. tubes, wires, lines, stents, catheters, guides, endodontic instruments, needles, trocars for e.g. laparoscopic surgery, laparoscopic accessories, surgical instruments, guide wires) are characterized by a prefabricated shaped article or a thermoplastic substrate polymer having thereon a layer of a covalently cross-linked coating composition of a thermoplastic matrix polymer and a hydrophilic polymer. The method involves a coating composition comprising a thermoplastic matrix polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and one or more photo-initiator(s), e.g. covalently linked to molecules of the thermoplastic matrix polymer and/or to molecules of the hydrophilic polymer. The coating composition is irradiated with UV or visible light so as to covalently cross-link said coating composition.

The present disclosure provides nanostructure compositions and methods of producing nanostructure compositions. The nanostructure compositions comprise at least one population of nanostructures, at least one poly(alkylene oxide) ligand bound to the surface of the nanostructures, and optionally at least one organic resin. The present disclosure also provides nanostructure films comprising a nanostructure layer and methods of making nanostructure films.

The disclosure relates to biodegradable polyether network polymers crosslinked via ester linkages, to substrates, implants and scaffolds comprising the biodegradable polyether network polymers, to methods for preparing such network polymers, implants and scaffolds, and to methods of using substrates, implants and scaffolds comprising the network polymers, particularly for culturing cells and regenerating tissue.

A fluorinated compound represented by D.sup.1-R.sup.f1OCH.sub.2(C.sub.mF.sub.2mO).sub.n-A (wherein D.sup.1 is CF.sub.3 or CF.sub.3O, R.sup.f1 is a C.sub.1-20 fluoroalkylene group containing at least one hydrogen atom, a C.sub.2-20 fluoroalkylene group containing at least one hydrogen atom and having an etheric oxygen atom between carbon-carbon atoms, etc., m is an integer of from 1 to 6, n is an integer of from 1 to 200, and A is a monovalent organic group having at least one (meth)acryloyl group), which is capable of imparting excellent antifouling properties (oily ink repellency, fingerprint stain removability) and lubricity to e.g. a hard coat layer; a hard coat layer-forming composition which contains such a fluorinated compound; and an article having a hard coat layer formed from such a composition.

(Per)fluoropolyether polymers comprising a (per)fluoropolyether chain having two ends, wherein one or both ends comprise one or more zwitterionic groups at one or both polymer ends, methods for their manufacture and uses thereof are herein disclosed. The polymers can be used in particular for protecting materials in contact with biological fluids or fluids containing biological material from contamination by organic compounds therein contained.

In some aspects, a system for forming a hydrogel composition is described that comprises (a) a multifunctional cyclic carbonate compound and (b) a radiopaque, reactive polymer that comprises a plurality of amino groups that are reactive with the multifunctional cyclic carbonate groups of the multifunctional cyclic carbonate compound. In other aspects, a radiopaque crosslinked hydrogel composition is described that comprises a crosslinked reaction product of a multifunctional cyclic carbonate compound and a radiopaque, reactive polymer that comprises a plurality of amino groups. In further aspects, a method of treatment is described that comprises administering to a subject a mixture that comprises a multifunctional cyclic carbonate compound and a radiopaque, reactive polymer that comprises a plurality of amino groups, wherein the mixture is administered under conditions such that the multifunctional cyclic carbonate compound and the radiopaque, reactive multi-arm polymer crosslink after administration.