The invention relates to a hydrogel based on vinyl caprolactam, with or without additional monomers, and at least two crosslinkers. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining said material and to the use thereof to culture cells/engineer cell monolayers, as well as supports for cell culture and transplant.

The invention relates to a crosslinkable composition comprising functionalized monomers comprising a crosslinkable group, a cationic group and a fluorinated group, wherein the composition comprises anions corresponding to the cationic groups of the functionalized monomers, wherein the cationic group is an N-substituted cyclic and in particular heteroaromatic group comprising a 5-membered ring and/or at least two heteroatoms and wherein a spacer which is an uncharged and unfluorinated organyl group and preferably an alkylene group is arranged between the cationic group and the fluorinated group.

The invention relates to a crosslinkable composition comprising functionalized monomers comprising a crosslinkable group, a cationic group and a fluorinated group, wherein the composition comprises anions corresponding to the cationic groups of the functionalized monomers, wherein the cationic group is an N-substituted cyclic and in particular heteroaromatic group comprising a 5-membered ring and/or at least two heteroatoms and wherein a spacer which is an uncharged and unfluorinated organyl group and preferably an alkylene group is arranged between the cationic group and the fluorinated group.

A material having a first non-zero elastic modulus capable of reversibly changing the first non-zero elastic modulus to a second non-zero elastic modulus in response to a redox reaction occurring in the material. A method of producing a material that is reversibly cyclable between a first non-zero elastic modulus and a second non-zero elastic modulus, comprising: preparing a polymer comprising both crosslinks that do not depend on metal binding and functional groups capable of having oxidation-state specific binding constants to a metal ion; and doping the polymer with a solution containing the metal ion.

A material having a first non-zero elastic modulus capable of reversibly changing the first non-zero elastic modulus to a second non-zero elastic modulus in response to a redox reaction occurring in the material. A method of producing a material that is reversibly cyclable between a first non-zero elastic modulus and a second non-zero elastic modulus, comprising: preparing a polymer comprising both crosslinks that do not depend on metal binding and functional groups capable of having oxidation-state specific binding constants to a metal ion; and doping the polymer with a solution containing the metal ion.

An object of the present invention is to provide an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition with which a pattern thus formed has excellent LER and collapse suppressing ability. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a resist film, a pattern forming method, a method for manufacturing an electronic device, each using the actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition. In addition, still another object of the present invention is to provide a resin which can be used in the actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition.

The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition of the present invention is an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition including a compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation, and a resin whose polarity increases by the action of an acid, in which the resin includes a repeating unit represented by General Formula (B-1), and a content of the repeating unit represented by General Formula (B-1) is 5% to 70% by mass with respect to all the repeating units in the resin. In General Formula (B-1), R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group, the Ring W1 represents a ring which includes at least one carbon atom and one nitrogen atom, and may have a substituent

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Polycationic polymeric antimicrobial surfactant and polymeric biocompatible antimicrobial surfactant compositions are useful in dispersing various compounds in a carrier liquid. The polycationic polymeric antimicrobial surfactant and polymeric biocompatible antimicrobial surfactant compositions employ polymers having both hydrophilic domains and hydrophobic domains so that the compositions can disperse particles such as polymer particles or droplets in a continuous phase as well as provide stable dispersions that have not been provided before. The antimicrobial properties of the compositions provide much-needed capabilities of fighting infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses in a wide spectrum of products such as paint, adhesives, and coatings. Methods of using these compositions as well as methods of making products using the compositions are disclosed.

Polycationic polymeric antimicrobial surfactant and polymeric biocompatible antimicrobial surfactant compositions are useful in dispersing various compounds in a carrier liquid. The polycationic polymeric antimicrobial surfactant and polymeric biocompatible antimicrobial surfactant compositions employ polymers having both hydrophilic domains and hydrophobic domains so that the compositions can disperse particles such as polymer particles or droplets in a continuous phase as well as provide stable dispersions that have not been provided before. The antimicrobial properties of the compositions provide much-needed capabilities of fighting infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses in a wide spectrum of products such as paint, adhesives, and coatings. Methods of using these compositions as well as methods of making products using the compositions are disclosed.

A new azo-type quaternary pyridinium salt (Azo-QPS) shows enhanced activity at acidic conditions (e.g., pH=5); in neutral or basic conditions, this new Azo-QPS shows a much lower level (2-50 times less) anti-bacterial activity. The use of such a stimulus-enhance antibiotic can response to the proliferation of bacteria directly. It helps reduce or prevent the build-up of potent antibacterial agents in the oral environment. The antibacterial properties of Azo-QPS are activated when the environmental pH becomes acidic; this acidic pH may be indicative of the accumulation of Streptococcus mutans, or the initiation of tooth decay.

A noncovalent soft elastomer includes a binary block copolymer composed of an A block and a B block and a solvent, wherein the B block has a noncovalent-bonding functional group, and the solvent is a nonvolatile liquid which has a property of dissolving the B block but not dissolving the A block and which forms a functional group capable of noncovalent-bonding of the B block.