The present invention provides polymers and methods of preparing the same. In certain embodiments, the polymers comprise acrylate repeating units that have been derivatized (e.g., reduced and/or substituted) to form new polymeric structures. In certain embodiments, the polymers described herein self-assemble to form well-defined nanostructures. In some instances, the nanostructures exhibit relatively small d-spacing (e.g., a d-spacing value of 10 nm or less). Due to their properties, the polymers described herein are useful in a variety of applications including functional materials and biomedical applications.

The present application relates to brush amphiphilic block copolymers comprising at least one block which is hydrophilic and at least another block which is hydrophobic. The block copolymers can be used to prepare nanoparticles for biomedical applications including delivery of pharmaceuticals and other bioactive agents

Described herein are associative polymers capable of controlling a physical and/or chemical property of non-polar compositions and related compositions, methods and systems. Associative polymers herein described have a non-polar backbone and functional groups presented at ends of the non-polar backbone, with a number of the functional groups presented at the ends of the non-polar backbone formed by associative functional groups capable of undergoing an associative interaction with another associative functional group with an association constant (k) such that the strength of each associative interaction is less than the strength of a covalent bond between atoms and in particular less than the strength of a covalent bond between backbone atoms.

Described herein are therapeutic pH responsive compositions comprising a block copolymer and a therapeutic agent useful for the treatment of cancer.

A polymeric surfactant for use in chemical enhanced oil recovery, including a terpolymer of a first non-ionic monomer, a second non-ionic monomer, and an ionic monomer, the first non-ionic monomer being a hydrophilic monomer and the second non-ionic monomer being a hydrophobic monomer, the ionic monomer being in a lower proportion than the first and second non-ionic monomers. A method of preparation of polymeric surfactants.

An electrochemical catch-release system (1) for repeated use comprising pH-responsive polymers (2) covalently linked to a structure (3) via a monolayer (4) of eletrochemically insensitive aryl bonds, forming a polyelectrolyte arrangement (5), the polyelectrolyte arrangement (5) being arranged to, when the covalently bounded polymers (2) are in a neutral state, catch an entity (6) being a protein, a vesicle, or a compound modified with poly(ethylene glycol) by non-electrostatic interactions e.g. hydrogen bonds, and when the polymers (2) are in a charged state, release by electrostatic repulsion an entity (6) captured by the polyelectrolyte arrangement (5). The system also comprising a device (7) for applying an electrochemical potential to the polyelectrolyte arrangement (5) to induce a switch of the polyelectrolyte arrangement (5) from the neutral state to the charged state or the reverse in the presence of redox active species.

Disclosed herein is a method of making polymerizable bio-based monomers containing one phenolic hydroxyl group which has been derivatized to provide at least one polymerizable functional group which is an ethylenically unsaturated functional group (such as a [meth]acrylate group), where the precursors of the polymerizable bio-based monomers are derived from raw lignin-containing biomass. Also disclosed herein are bio-based copolymers prepared from such bio-based monomers and a co-monomer, and methods of making and using such bio-based copolymers. In particular, the bio-based copolymers can be used as pressure sensitive adhesives, binders, and polymer electrolytes.

A separator for a lithium secondary battery, including: a porous polymer substrate; and a crosslinked porous coating layer on at least one surface of the porous polymer substrate. The crosslinked porous coating layer includes inorganic particles and a crosslinkable binder polymer crosslinked through urethane crosslinking. The separator has improved heat resistance as compared to the conventional separators and maintains adhesion to an electrode. A lithium secondary battery including the separator is also disclosed.

A polymer for an electrode protective layer including a polymer (A) including a fluorine-based polymer in which a monomer unit including poly(alkylene oxide) and a monomer unit including a curable functional group (e.g., a thermocurable functional group or a photocurable functional group) are grafted on the fluorine-based polymer, and when preparing an electrode by coating an electrode active material layer using the polymer and curing (e.g., thermally curing or photocuring) the result, excellent lithium ion conductivity is obtained since lithium ion flow is not inhibited, chemical resistance for an electrolyte liquid is high, and voltage stability of a secondary battery may be enhanced by suppressing side reactions with the electrolyte liquid occurring on an electrode active material surface due to properties of a uniform and flexible protective layer.

Polyurethane-based and epoxy-based coating compositions are described that provide coatings and adhesives that are clear, amphiphobic and durable. Both water and hexadecane readily slide off these surfaces without leaving a residue. Coatings with thicknesses ranging from about 10 nm to about 10 μm exhibited excellent transmittance properties. Such films exhibited durability against abrasion, ink-resistance, anti-graffiti, anti-fingerprint, and strong adhesion to glass surfaces. The coatings are applicable to electronic devices, fabrics, glass, etc. to prepare optically clear, stain-resistant, and smudge-resistant surfaces.