The invention provides UV-sensitive monomers, comprising a cyclopropenone-containing group, which acts as a masked dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)/dibenzoazocyclooctyne (DIBAC) group. The monomers of the invention can be polymerized for example via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization techniques to yield a polymer comprising the masked DBCO/DIBAC group. In certain embodiments, the DBCO/DIBAC group can be unmasked under controlled conditions, allowing conjugation of small molecules and/or macromolecules to the polymer through highly selective and efficient strain-promoted azide alkyne click chemistry (SPAAC).

Coatings and other applications containing a latex with modified surface properties obtainable by methods of adding a water soluble amphiphilic copolymer in a aqueous dispersion of a water-insoluble polymer obtained from ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

Zwitterionic polymers or biocompatible polymers with improved properties for cell encapsulation, coating of devices, or a combination thereof are described. The biocompatible polymer contains a zwitterionic monomer, a monomer with a reactive side chain, and optionally another hydrophobic monomer or a neutral hydrophilic monomer. The zwitterionic polymers are cross-linked with a cross-linker via covalent bond to form a zwitterionic hydrogel in the presence of cells. Also provided, are methods of making and using the zwitterionic polymers.

The invention relates, in part, to methods to prepare and use molecularly imprinted copolymer compounds. Molecularly imprinted compounds of the invention can be used to identify the presence and/or level of a target compound that the molecularly imprinted copolymer compound of the invention was imprinted to detect. Molecularly imprinted copolymer compounds of the invention can also be used in separation methods to remove or isolate a target compound that the molecularly imprinted copolymer compound was imprinted to specifically bind.

The time when at least a monomer and a chain transfer agent are supplied in a reactor and the solution temperature in the reactor has reached a predetermined polymerization temperature is set as starting time (T.sub.0), and the time when a process to terminate the polymerization is started is set as ending time (T.sub.1). A polymerization initiator is supplied into the reactor between (T.sub.0) and just before [(T.sub.1)−(T.sub.0)/2] and between [(T.sub.1)−(T.sub.0)/2] and (T.sub.1). The total mass of the polymerization initiator supplied to the reactor between (T.sub.0) and (T.sub.1) is set as (I.sub.A), and the total mass of the polymerization initiator supplied between [(T.sub.0−T.sub.1)/2] and (T.sub.1) is set as (I.sub.B). The (I.sub.A) is set 50 to 100 mass % of the entire polymerization initiator. Using a production method in which 0.50<(I.sub.B)/(I.sub.A)<1.00 is satisfied, a polymer is produced at a high polymerization rate showing less variation of molecular weight and having less amount of chain transfer agent residue remaining at an end of the polymer chain.

The present invention relates to the novel method for the preparation of a polymer of (meth)acrylic acid in aqueous solution, said polymer having a molecular mass of less than 6,500 g/mol, as measured by SEC, using a compound of copper carbonate type or one of its derivatives and a compound of formula (I):

##STR00001## according to which: X represents Na, K or H and R represents an alkyl chain comprising from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

A binder includes a copolymer including a building block (I) and a building block (II) ##STR00001##
The building block (I) is formed by copolymerizing a building block (i) ##STR00002##
and a building block (ii) ##STR00003##

Aspects generally relate to a temperature responsive polymer, more specifically to a polymer exhibiting an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in an aqueous solution. In one aspect, a monomer compound includes one or more amide or thioamide groups; one or more ureido or thioureido groups; and one or more ethylenically unsaturated groups. In one aspect, a polymer, such as a homopolymer or a copolymer, is produced by polymerization of the monomer compound. The copolymer is produced by polymerization of the monomer compound and a comonomer, such as a hydrophobic comonomer, a hydrophilic comonomer, a pH responsive comonomer, a light responsive comonomer, and combinations thereof. The polymer exhibits a UCST from about 1° C. to about 100° C. in an aqueous solution at 1 atm.

ABA type block copolymers as a new class of temperature sensing polymers with tunable, high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). A sensor includes a heater, a thermal insulator between two thermometer layers, the heater generating a thermal gradient within the thermal insulator. The thermometers give an indirect measurement of fluid flow around the sensor, based on their temperature readings. The thermometers are flexible layers including ABA block polymers.

Disclosed herein is a block copolymer comprising a first segment and a second segment that are covalently bonded to each other and that are chemically different from each other; where the first segment has a first surface free energy and where the second segment has a second surface free energy; and an additive copolymer; where the additive copolymer comprises a surface free energy reducing moiety where the surface free energy reducing moiety has a lower surface free energy than that of the first segment and the second segment; the additive copolymer further comprising one or more moieties having an affinity to the block copolymer; where the surface free energy reducing moiety is chemically different from the first segment and from the second segment; where the additive copolymer is not water miscible; and where the additive copolymer is not covalently bonded with the block copolymer.