The present disclosure provides copolymers useful in medical devices. For example, the disclosure provides copolymers comprising the polymerization product ester block, ether blocks and diisocyanates. In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides a medical copolymer for implantation comprising ester blocks and ether blocks, wherein: the ester blocks comprise a negative free energy transfer and the ether blocks comprise a positive free energy transfer, the ether and ester blocks are less than 1/10 the length of said copolymer, and, the blocks are distributed such that no domain of contiguous blocks possessing the same polarity of free energy transfer are less than ⅓ of the molecular weight of the copolymer. The disclosure further provides methods of making the aforementioned polymers, and medical devices comprising the polymers.

The present invention provides a biomass-derived polyester compound useful as a rubber material or an adhesive material, the compound including a multiple bond in the molecule. By synthesizing an ester compound composed of a hydroxycinnamic acid and a fatty acid, and carrying out polycondensation reaction using the ester compound as a monomer, a polyester compound containing cinnamic acid and a ricinoleic acid derivative that are alternately linked to each other can be efficiently obtained. For example, an ester compound of General Formula (1) is produced. (In the formula, the substituents R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a methoxy group; the substituent R.sub.3 represents an alkyl group or an alkenyl group; and n represents an integer of 10 to 100).

The present invention provides a biomass-derived polyester compound useful as a rubber material or an adhesive material, the compound including a multiple bond in the molecule. By synthesizing an ester compound composed of a hydroxycinnamic acid and a fatty acid, and carrying out polycondensation reaction using the ester compound as a monomer, a polyester compound containing cinnamic acid and a ricinoleic acid derivative that are alternately linked to each other can be efficiently obtained. For example, an ester compound of General Formula (1) is produced. (In the formula, the substituents R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a methoxy group; the substituent R.sub.3 represents an alkyl group or an alkenyl group; and n represents an integer of 10 to 100).

A medical device capable of transmitting a radiofrequency signal to and/or receiving a radiofrequency signal from an external device is provided. The medical device comprises at least one component that contains a polymer composition that exhibits a dielectric constant of greater than about 6 at a frequency of 2 GHz, wherein the polymer composition includes a liquid crystalline polymer.

The invention pertains to an improved branched glycolic acid polymer being obtained from polycondensation reaction of a monomer mixture comprising: (i) glycolic acid (GA); (ii) optionally, at least one hydroxyacid having only one hydroxyl group and only one carboxylic acid group different from GA [hydroxyacid (A)], wherein the molar amount of hydroxyacid (A) is of at most 5% moles with respect to the sum of moles of GA and hydroxyacid (A); (iii) at least one polyol comprising at least three hydroxyl groups and being free from carboxylic acid group [polyol (H)]; (iv) at least one alcohol comprising one or two hydroxyl groups and being free from carboxylic acid group [alcohol (AO)]; (v) optionally at least one carboxylic acid comprising one carboxylic acid group and being free from hydroxyl group [monoacid (C)]; and (vi) optionally at least one polyacid comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups and being free from hydroxyl groups [polyacid (O)], wherein the amount of polyacid (O) is such that the number of carboxylic acid groups thereof is comprised between 0.025 and 0.900% with respect to the overall number of hydroxyl groups of glycolid acid and of the hydroxyacid (A), if present.

The invention pertains to an improved branched glycolic acid polymer being obtained from polycondensation reaction of a monomer mixture comprising: (i) glycolic acid (GA); (ii) optionally, at least one hydroxyacid having only one hydroxyl group and only one carboxylic acid group different from GA [hydroxyacid (A)], wherein the molar amount of hydroxyacid (A) is of at most 5% moles with respect to the sum of moles of GA and hydroxyacid (A); (iii) at least one polyol comprising at least three hydroxyl groups and being free from carboxylic acid group [polyol (H)]; (iv) at least one alcohol comprising one or two hydroxyl groups and being free from carboxylic acid group [alcohol (AO)]; (v) optionally at least one carboxylic acid comprising one carboxylic acid group and being free from hydroxyl group [monoacid (C)]; and (vi) optionally at least one polyacid comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups and being free from hydroxyl groups [polyacid (O)], wherein the amount of polyacid (O) is such that the number of carboxylic acid groups thereof is comprised between 0.025 and 0.900% with respect to the overall number of hydroxyl groups of glycolid acid and of the hydroxyacid (A), if present.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to a method for producing a polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin. The method includes (a) disrupting or solubilizing microbial cells containing a polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin, and (b) separating the polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin from a composition obtained by the process (a). The process (a) and the process (b) use water with a calcium ion concentration (14.5 mg/L or less. The water used in the process (a) and the process (b) is preferably obtained by subjecting wastewater that is discharged from the production process of the polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin to microbial anaerobic and aerobic treatments, subsequently pre-filtration by a membrane bioreactor process, and further filtration with a calcium ion removal membrane This method provides the polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin with good color tone and high thermal stability.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to a method for producing a polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin. The method includes (a) disrupting or solubilizing microbial cells containing a polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin, and (b) separating the polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin from a composition obtained by the process (a). The process (a) and the process (b) use water with a calcium ion concentration (14.5 mg/L or less. The water used in the process (a) and the process (b) is preferably obtained by subjecting wastewater that is discharged from the production process of the polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin to microbial anaerobic and aerobic treatments, subsequently pre-filtration by a membrane bioreactor process, and further filtration with a calcium ion removal membrane This method provides the polyhydroxybutyrate-based resin with good color tone and high thermal stability.

The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a packaging film constructed from water-dispersible and/or biodegradable compositions. Particularly, the disclosed film comprises a first layer constructed from one or more water-dispersible materials, such as water-dispersible paper. The film further comprises a second layer constructed from one or more biodegradable materials, such as poly(hydroxyalkanoate). The first and second layers can be constructed to form a packaging material used to enclose a wide variety of products, including liquids and moisture-sensitive solids. Advantageously, the disclosed film (and associated packaging materials) are dissolvable in water and/or biodegrade when exposed to landfill conditions and/or water.

Provided is a liquid crystal polyester fiber in which gas generation from the liquid crystal polyester fiber can be suppressed when being heated. The liquid crystal polyester fiber has a total amount of carboxy end groups (total CEG amount) of 5.0 mEq/kg or less and a tenacity of 18 cN/dtex or higher. For example, the liquid crystal polyester fiber may have an initial elastic modulus variation of 3.0% or less. The liquid crystal polyester fiber may contain carboxy end groups as carboxyphenyl terminus at a CEG amount of 4.0 mEq/kg or less.