In an additive for an epoxy adhesive and an epoxy adhesive composition for construction including same, the additive for an epoxy adhesive is formed by atomic transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of a polyacrylate of which one terminal is halogenated, as an arm-polymer, and a diacrylate-based compound or a dimethacrylate-based compound, as a cross-linker, and comprises a star polymer of a star-shape having a core/shell structure including a core formed by the polymerization of the cross-linker and a shell formed by a portion of the arm-polymer.

Polymeric foam layer comprising a star polymer, wherein the polymeric foam layer has a thickness up to 25,700 micrometers, and methods of making the same. Exemplary uses of polymeric foam layers described herein including a finishing pad for silicon wafers and vibration damping.

A polymer composition comprising star macromolecules is provided. Each star macromolecule has a core and five or more arms, wherein the number of arms within a star macromolecule varies across the composition of star molecules. The arms on a star are covalently attached to the core of the star; each arm comprises one or more (co)polymer segments; and at least one arm and/or at least one segment exhibits a different solubility from at least one other arm or one other segment, respectively, in a reference liquid of interest.

The invention encompasses hydrogels, monomer precursors of the hydrogels, methods for the preparation thereof, and methods of use therefor. The linking of monomers can take place using non-radical, bioorthogonal reactions such as copper-free click-chemistry.

N-oxide and monomers, N-oxide polymers and copolymers, methods for making the N-oxide monomers, polymers, and copolymers, compositions and materials that include N-oxide polymers and copolymers, and methods for using the N-oxide monomers, N-oxide polymers, and N-oxide copolymers.

A water-absorbing resin having a high swollen gel elastic modulus, a high swelling capacity and a method for producing the same are provided where the water-absorbing resin includes a water soluble unsaturated monomer having a dissociable group, an internal crosslinked structure index expressed by the following numerical formula of 14 or more, a weight average molecular weight (Mw) after a hydrolysis treatment of 220,000 or less, and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) after a hydrolysis treatment of 3.40 or less: Crosslinked structure index=(Equilibrium swelling capacity with respect to 0.9 wt % physiological saline solution.sup.1/3/(Weight average molecular weight (Mw) after hydrolysis treatment)1000000; where the hydrolysis treatment leaves 50 mg of the water-absorbing resin as a solids content to stand still in 10 g of a 0.1 mol/l aqueous sodium hydroxide solution for 3 weeks at 80 C., and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is measured after the treatment.

Compositions for use as a tissue glue or sealant are disclosed. The compositions include first and second precursor molecules, wherein the first precursor molecule is a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer having at least two nucleophilic groups and the second precursor molecule is a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer having at least two electrophilic groups. Biomaterials for use as a tissue glue or sealant, methods of making such biomaterials, devices for applying a biomaterial to a tissue of a patient, methods of sealing a tissue of a patient, and kits also are disclosed.

Provided herein are in vivo gelling ophthalmic pre-formulations forming a biocompatible retinal patch comprising at least one nucleophilic compound or monomer unit, at least one electrophilic compound or monomer unit, and optionally a therapeutic agent and/or viscosity enhancer. In some embodiments, the retinal patch at least partially adheres to the site of a retinal tear. Also provided herein are methods of treating retinal detachment by delivering an in vivo gelling ophthalmic pre-formulation to the site of a retinal tear in human eye, wherein the in vivo gelling ophthalmic pre-formulation forms a retinal patch.

N-oxide and monomers, N-oxide polymers and copolymers, methods for making the N-oxide monomers, polymers, and copolymers, compositions and materials that include N-oxide polymers and copolymers, and methods for using the N-oxide monomers, N-oxide polymers, and N-oxide copolymers.

A biodegradable cross-linked polymer and methods of preparing same are provided. The biodegradable cross-linked polymer is formed from a biodegradable polymeric material having two or more arms, which is a random copolymer formed of a first monomer and a second monomer different from the first monomer. The first monomer is selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, DL-lactide, glycolid, -caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, p-dioxanone, amino acid-derived polycarbonates and polyorthoesters. The second monomer is one or two selected from the group consisting of D-lactide, DL-lactide, glycolide, -caprolactone, trimethyl carbonate, salicylic acid, carbonates, amino acids and derivatives thereof. The biodegradable polymeric material has a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 1,200,000 and an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.1 to 9.0 dl/g. Each of the terminal groups on the arms of the biodegradable polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl amino and carboxyl groups.