The present teaching relates to photo-responsive hydrogels comprising a copolymer comprising N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), a polymerisable derivative of benzospiropyran, a cross-linking agent and an acid, the acid having a pKa of less than 6, wherein the hydrogel is operably responsive to exposure to water so as to undergo spontaneous protonation and swelling. The photo-responsive hydrogels described can be used in the field of microfluidic platforms.

The present teaching relates to photo-responsive hydrogels comprising a copolymer comprising N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), a polymerisable derivative of benzospiropyran, a cross-linking agent and an acid, the acid having a pKa of less than 6, wherein the hydrogel is operably responsive to exposure to water so as to undergo spontaneous protonation and swelling. The photo-responsive hydrogels described can be used in the field of microfluidic platforms.

Embolic particles are described. The particles are reaction products of a prepolymer solution including at least one polyether macromer and an appropriate monomer.

The invention relates to aqueous polymer dispersions, comprising a water insoluble polymer P in the form of dispersed polymer particles, which is obtainable by free radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M, which comprise a) at least one monomer M1 which exhibits two ethylenically unsaturated moieties which are connected by a linker which comprises a disulfide moiety, and b) at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer M2, which has a low water solubility. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such an aqueous polymer dispersion, to solid polymer compositions in powder form, obtainable by drying such polymer dispersions, to the use of such polymer dispersions in a coating material, adhesive or sealant and to a methods of coating a surface of a substrate which comprises applying an aqueous coating composition, which contains such an polymer dispersion.

Disclosed are compositions and articles for a semi-rigid hydrogel material that provides an acoustic coupling medium for ultrasound diagnostic and treatment techniques. In one aspect, a hydrogel material for an acoustic coupling medium includes a sodium alginate block copolymer, a dimethylacrylamide monomer, and water. In some implementations, the sodium alginate block copolymer is present in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 25 wt %, the dimethylacrylamide monomer is present in an amount of about 1 wt % to about 40 wt %, and the water is present in an amount of at least about 50 wt % of the total weight of the hydrogel composition.

Backlight module, light guide plate, and preparation method for conductive hydrogel thereof. Main body of light guide plate is optical-glass material. Cavity is provided in light guide plate, filled with conductive hydrogel. Either end of light guide plate is provided with electrode electrically connected to conductive hydrogel in cavity. When not electrified, conductive hydrogel is in liquid state, when electrified, conductive hydrogel in cavity changes to gel state. Microcrystal particles are added to conductive hydrogel to improve light refection function and light diffuse reflection function of light guide plate and backlight module, to allow more light rays to penetrate through light guide plate to improve luminous efficacy. Addition of quantum dots or fluorescent powder to conductive hydrogel can further increase color gamut of backlight, such that liquid crystal display device has better effect.

Disclosed is a polymer for capturing or separating leukocytes. The polymer is prepared by a polymerization reaction of monomers containing an amino and a hydroxyl. The monomer containing an amino and a hydroxyl has the structure of formula (1): ##STR00001##
In formula (1), R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a methyl, an ethyl, a hydroxyl, any one of C1 to C12 long carbon chains, and a benzene ring, R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a methyl, an ethyl, any one of from C1 to C6 long carbon chains, an amino and a benzene ring, and n is an integer of 1 to 5.

The present invention relates to a thickener preparable by a process which comprises obtaining a cationic polymer by inverse emulsion polymerization of a) at least one water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one cationic monomer, optionally at least one anionic monomer and/or optionally at least one nonionic monomer, b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer, c) optionally at least one crosslinker, d) optionally at least one chain transfer agent,
the temperature being kept constant during the inverse emulsion polymerization and being at least 40° C., preferably 50 to 90° C., and after the inverse emulsion polymerization has ended, activator being added to obtain the thickener.

The present invention relates to a thickener preparable by a process which comprises obtaining a cationic polymer by inverse emulsion polymerization of a) at least one water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one cationic monomer, optionally at least one anionic monomer and/or optionally at least one nonionic monomer, b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer, c) optionally at least one crosslinker, d) optionally at least one chain transfer agent,
the temperature being kept constant during the inverse emulsion polymerization and being at least 40° C., preferably 50 to 90° C., and after the inverse emulsion polymerization has ended, activator being added to obtain the thickener.

Disclosed herein are water-soluble polymers comprising hydrolyzable cross-linked monomer units, and methods for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation using the water-soluble polymers.