Hygroscopic hydrogels including a cross-linked polymer, the polymer being prepared by polymerization of one or more monomers, wherein at least one of the monomers is a compound of formula I, are provided. Related monomers and polymers, as well as methods for the production and use thereof, are also provided. Hygroscopic hydrogels as described herein may be used for water harvesting, for example. (I) (formula I)

##STR00001##

A self-healing polymer network containing a physical crosslinking agent, a composition therefor, and an optical element comprising the same is provided. The self-healing polymer network comprises a polymer derived from monomers including self-healing monomers each having a first polymerizable functional group and at least one of urethane, urea, or amide group chemically linked to the first polymerizable functional group, wherein the polymer has a backbone formed by polymerizing the first polymerizable functional groups of the self-healing monomers and a plurality of side groups each having at least one of urethane, urea, or amide group chemically linked to the backbone. In addition, the self-healing polymer network comprises a physical crosslinking agent which is an alcohol mixture having at least two of monool, diol, triol, and tetraol or the higher polyol and crosslinking the polymer by physically crosslinking the urethane, urea, or amide group of the side groups.

A self-healing polymer network containing a physical crosslinking agent, a composition therefor, and an optical element comprising the same is provided. The self-healing polymer network comprises a polymer derived from monomers including self-healing monomers each having a first polymerizable functional group and at least one of urethane, urea, or amide group chemically linked to the first polymerizable functional group, wherein the polymer has a backbone formed by polymerizing the first polymerizable functional groups of the self-healing monomers and a plurality of side groups each having at least one of urethane, urea, or amide group chemically linked to the backbone. In addition, the self-healing polymer network comprises a physical crosslinking agent which is an alcohol mixture having at least two of monool, diol, triol, and tetraol or the higher polyol and crosslinking the polymer by physically crosslinking the urethane, urea, or amide group of the side groups.

Biotin-containing monomers, polymeric materials formed from the biotin-containing monomers, articles containing the polymeric materials, methods of making the articles, and methods of using the articles are provided. The articles can be used, for example, for affinity capture of biotin-binding proteins, including biotin-binding fusion proteins (i.e., a biotin-binding protein fused to another biomaterial). Articles that contain captured biotin-binding proteins can be further used for affinity capture of various biotin-containing biomaterials such as biotinylated proteins. The articles can also be used, for example, for affinity capture of biotin-binding fusion proteins where the fusion protein includes, for example, an enzyme or antibody.

Biotin-containing monomers, polymeric materials formed from the biotin-containing monomers, articles containing the polymeric materials, methods of making the articles, and methods of using the articles are provided. The articles can be used, for example, for affinity capture of biotin-binding proteins, including biotin-binding fusion proteins (i.e., a biotin-binding protein fused to another biomaterial). Articles that contain captured biotin-binding proteins can be further used for affinity capture of various biotin-containing biomaterials such as biotinylated proteins. The articles can also be used, for example, for affinity capture of biotin-binding fusion proteins where the fusion protein includes, for example, an enzyme or antibody.

This compound which has excellent solvent solubility and compatibility with a resin, and which can generate bases and radicals with high efficiency by being irradiated with active energy rays, is represented by formula (1), where, in formula (1), R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 represent a hydroxy group or an alkoxy group; the R.sub.4's independently represent an organic group containing a thioether bond; R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbons; R.sub.8 represents an alkylene group or an arylene group; and X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom. A photopolymerization initiator can include said novel compound; and a photosensitive resin composition can include said photopolymerization initiator, from which a cured product can be obtained that has high sensitivity and no metal corrosion. ##STR00001##

This compound which has excellent solvent solubility and compatibility with a resin, and which can generate bases and radicals with high efficiency by being irradiated with active energy rays, is represented by formula (1), where, in formula (1), R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 represent a hydroxy group or an alkoxy group; the R.sub.4's independently represent an organic group containing a thioether bond; R.sub.7 and R.sub.9 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbons; R.sub.8 represents an alkylene group or an arylene group; and X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom. A photopolymerization initiator can include said novel compound; and a photosensitive resin composition can include said photopolymerization initiator, from which a cured product can be obtained that has high sensitivity and no metal corrosion. ##STR00001##

A composition for polymerization, which can improve the storage stability in a high-temperature environment when a specific sulfobetaine monomer is stored as powder and can inhibit the discoloration of a cured film when the monomer is made into a cured film, and a method for producing the composition for polymerization: a composition for a coating containing the composition for polymerization, a method for producing the composition for a coating using the composition for polymerization, and a method for producing a coating; the composition for polymerization contains a monomer represented by formula (I) and water, in which the moisture content is equal to or higher than 3% by mass and less than 10% by mass.

##STR00001## (R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.)

A material non-adhesive to a biological substance containing: a polymer compound (A) which includes a repeating unit derived from a sulfobetaine monomer represented by Formula (I) or (II).

##STR00001##

In the formulae, R.sup.1 represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, or an isopropyl group, a plurality of R.sup.1's may be the same as or different from each other. R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. n represents an integer of 2 to 4. L represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 3 or 4 carbon atoms.

Some embodiments described herein relate to new polymer coatings for surface functionalization and new processes for grafting pre-grafted DNA-copolymers to surface(s) of substrates for use in DNA sequencing and other diagnostic applications.