There is provided a method for introducing a temperature-sensitive probe comprising a copolymer, which comprises a thermoresponsive unit and a fluorescent unit, into a cell, and the method using the copolymer further comprising a cationic unit as the temperature-sensitive probe, and the method comprising the step of mixing the copolymer with the cell in a solvent. The copolymer can be preferably used as a fluorescence temperature sensor which measures intracellular temperature since the copolymer has a cationic group and thus enters into a cell without using a special method.

There is provided a method for introducing a temperature-sensitive probe comprising a copolymer, which comprises a thermoresponsive unit and a fluorescent unit, into a cell, and the method using the copolymer further comprising a cationic unit as the temperature-sensitive probe, and the method comprising the step of mixing the copolymer with the cell in a solvent. The copolymer can be preferably used as a fluorescence temperature sensor which measures intracellular temperature since the copolymer has a cationic group and thus enters into a cell without using a special method.

A pattern forming process is provided comprising the steps of applying a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having formula (1a) and/or (1b), an acid generator and a solvent onto a substrate, baking to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, baking, and developing in an alkaline developer to form a negative tone pattern.

A pattern forming process is provided comprising the steps of applying a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having formula (1a) and/or (1b), an acid generator and a solvent onto a substrate, baking to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, baking, and developing in an alkaline developer to form a negative tone pattern.

A polymer for resist use is obtainable from a hemiacetal compound having formula (1a) wherein R.sup.1 is H, CH.sub.3 or CF.sub.3, R.sup.2 to R.sup.4 each are H or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, X.sup.1 is a divalent hydrocarbon group, ZZ designates a non-aromatic mono- or polycyclic ring of 4 to 20 carbon atoms having a hemiacetal structure, k.sup.1=0 or 1, and k.sup.2=0 to 3. A resist composition comprising the polymer displays controlled acid diffusion and low roughness during both positive and negative tone developments. ##STR00001##

A polymer for resist use is obtainable from a hemiacetal compound having formula (1a) wherein R.sup.1 is H, CH.sub.3 or CF.sub.3, R.sup.2 to R.sup.4 each are H or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, X.sup.1 is a divalent hydrocarbon group, ZZ designates a non-aromatic mono- or polycyclic ring of 4 to 20 carbon atoms having a hemiacetal structure, k.sup.1=0 or 1, and k.sup.2=0 to 3. A resist composition comprising the polymer displays controlled acid diffusion and low roughness during both positive and negative tone developments. ##STR00001##

There is provided a method for introducing a temperature-sensitive probe comprising a copolymer, which comprises a thermoresponsive unit and a fluorescent unit, into a cell, and the method using the copolymer further comprising a cationic unit as the temperature-sensitive probe, and the method comprising the step of mixing the copolymer with the cell in a solvent. The copolymer can be preferably used as a fluorescence temperature sensor which measures intracellular temperature since the copolymer has a cationic group and thus enters into a cell without using a special method.

A self-healing conjugated polymer is disclosed. The self-healing conjugated polymer has hydrogen bonding functional groups introduced into its side chains. Due to this structure, the conjugated polymer is imparted with the ability to recover through self-healing while maintaining its inherent properties (for example, physical and electrical properties). Based on this effective self-healing ability, the conjugated polymer is expected to find application as a biomaterial, a pharmaceutical material, a nonlinear optical material or an organic electronic material.

A self-healing conjugated polymer is disclosed. The self-healing conjugated polymer has hydrogen bonding functional groups introduced into its side chains. Due to this structure, the conjugated polymer is imparted with the ability to recover through self-healing while maintaining its inherent properties (for example, physical and electrical properties). Based on this effective self-healing ability, the conjugated polymer is expected to find application as a biomaterial, a pharmaceutical material, a nonlinear optical material or an organic electronic material.

The present invention relates to a fluorescently-tagged (co)polymer useful as a scale inhibitor in industrial water systems. Said (co)polymer comprises a (i) reactive fluorescent compound selected from a diazole compound (ii) at least one monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer, and (iii) optionally, at least one monoethylenically unsaturated acid-free monomer.