A method of preparing a polymer comprises the use of free radical vinyl polymerisation to form carbon-carbon backbone segments of the polymer, wherein the longest chains in the polymer comprise vinyl polymer chains interspersed with other chemical groups and/or chains. The product has the characteristics of a step-growth polymer comprising a mixture of polyfunctional step-growth monomer residues formed by vinyl polymerization.

The present invention discloses novel calibrants containing between 1 and 5 iodine atoms and methods of making them using linear polymers, hyperbranched polymers, and biological polymers (including but not limited to proteins and peptides.) Methods of using the calibrants are also disclosed, such as mass spectrometry. The novel calibrants disclosed herein have a more cost- and time-efficient synthesis than other calibrants.

The present invention relates to amphiphilic star-like polyether. The core molecule is an aliphatic hyperbranched polyether polyol, which is further alkoxylated, first with ethylene oxide or combinations of ethylene oxide and C.sub.3-C.sub.20 alkylene oxide, preferably propylene oxide, and/or glycidol, and then with a C.sub.3-C.sub.20 alkylene oxide, preferably propylene oxide, or combination of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, then optionally anionically modified. The resulting amphiphilic star-like polyether thus has an inner core based on an aliphatic hyperbranched polyether polyol, an inner shell predominantly containing polyethylene oxide units, the inner shell comprising at least 3 ethylene oxide units and an outer shell predominantly containing polypropylene oxide units, the outer shell comprising at least 3 propylene oxide units. They optionally contain anionic groups instead of hydroxyl groups on the periphery of the macromolecule. The invention further relates to their use as additive in laundry formulations and to their manufacturing process.

The present invention relates to the preparation of novel nickel complexes containing iminopyrrolyl-type ligands, having the general molecular structure (I), and to their use as active catalysts in the polymerisation reaction of ethylene to hyperbranched polyethylene. The structure of the ligand precursor is such that it allows the occurrence of a cyclometallation reaction by the activation of a CH bond, in the coordination reaction to the metal centre, generating a C,N,N-tridentate complex.

Core-shell particles and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The core is formed of or contains one or more hydrophobic materials or more hydrophobic materials. The shell is formed of or contains hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG). The HPG coating can be modified to adjust the properties of the particles. Unmodified HPG coatings impart stealth properties to the particles which resist non-specific protein absorption and increase circulation in the blood. The hydroxyl groups on the HPG coating can be chemically modified to form functional groups that react with functional groups and adhere the particles to tissue, cells, or extracellular materials, such as proteins.

A oligomer and a lithium battery are provided. The oligomer is obtained by a polymerization reaction of a compound containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and a nucleophile compound. The compound containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated group is selected from a group consisting of a maleimide-based compound, an acrylate ester-based compound, a methacrylate ester-based compound, an acrylamide-based compound, a vinylamide-based compound and a combination thereof. The nucleophile compound is selected from a group consisting of monomaleimide, trithiocyanuric acid, hydantoin, hydantoin derivative, thiohydantoin, thiohydantoin derivative and a combination thereof.

A composition comprising the reaction product of a polypropylene comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, and having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) greater than 6, a branching index (g.sub.vis) of at least 0.97, and a melt strength greater than 10 cN determined using an extensional rheometer at 190 C.; and within the range from 0.01 to 3 wt % of at least one organic peroxide, by weight of the polypropylene and organic peroxide. Such hyperbranched polypropylenes are useful in films, foamed articles, and thermoformed articles.

A polymer construct includes at least one extruded degradable polymer layer having a host polymer material and at least one amphiphilic star-shaped polymer miscible with the host polymer material. The star-shaped polymer includes a polymer core and polymer branches extending therefrom to define a shell around the core. A guest agent is loaded on and/or within the core. The polymer construct upon delivery to a site of interest provides controlled and/or sustained release of the guest agent upon degradation of the at least one polymer layer.

A process for preparing a hyperbranched polycarbonate polyol includes reacting a polyfunctional alcohol and an ester or carbonate in the presence of a catalyst and then heating the reaction mixture under azeotropic reflux conditions to form an alcohol or water. The alcohol or water by-product is then removed from the reaction mixture, thereby pushing the reaction forward.

Provided are a reducible degradable hyperbranched-polymer nanomicelle and a method for preparation thereof and an application thereof. Cystamine and polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether are polymerized by means of a nucleophilic addition mechanism; in one step, a hyperbranched polymer alternatingly arising from cystamine and polyethylene glycol structural units is synthesized and obtained; then, a hyperbranched nanomicelle is formed by means of self-assembly during the process of dialysis. The hyperbranched-polymer chain segments contain both tertiary aminos and disulfide bond structural units and have pH- and reduction responsiveness, and the hyperbranched three-dimensional cavity structure imparts a drug-carrying ability to the nanomicelle.