The present disclosure relates to degradable polymers which contain a hydrophobic and hydrophilic segment which is sensitive to pH. In some aspects, the polymers form a micelle which is sensitive to pH and have backbones which are capable of undergoing degradation in vivo. In some aspects, the disclosure also provides methods of using these degradable polymers for the delivery of a drug.

A composition including a particulate solid, a plastic material and a polymer represented by formula (1):

A-(B).sub.n (1)

wherein: A is a residue of a polyether having a polyether segment and 2 or 3 amine groups; wherein the polyether segment is derived from monomers of at least one of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or tetrahydrofuran; wherein the polyether segment has a number average molecular weight of from 160 to 2000; and wherein the amine groups are primary or secondary; each B is independently a residue of a C.sub.6-C.sub.50 fatty acid or fatty acid anhydride, which is linear or branched, and which is saturated or unsaturated; and n is 2 or 3; wherein each B is independently bound to A by an amide bond or a cyclic imide group. Methods of using, and use of, a polymer represented by the formula (1) as a dispersant in a composition further comprising a particulate solid and a plastic material.

The invention is directed to a tissue-adhesive multi-arm polymer comprising a core from which polymeric arms extent, which polymeric arms are substituted with a hydroxyl-substituted aromatic group based on compounds such as dopamine, L-DOPA, D-DOPA, tyramine, noradrenaline and/or serotonin. In addition, the invention is directed to a caprolactam blocked hydroxyl-substituted aromatic compound, suitable for the preparation of the tissue-adhesive multi-arm polymer and to the method for the preparation of the tissue-adhesive multi-arm polymer.

An intracellularly degraded branched and degradable polyethylene glycol derivative represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein each symbol is as defined in the present specification, that is used for modifying bio-related substances is provided by the present invention.

The invention relates to a branched copolymer containing rigid blocks and flexible blocks, wherein the branchings are made by a polyol residue binding rigid blocks of the copolymer, said polyol being a polyol comprising at least three hydroxyl groups, said copolymer having a weight-average molar mass Mw of greater than or equal to 80 000 g/mol, and wherein the ratio of the weight-average molar mass Mw of the copolymer to the number-average molar mass Mn of the copolymer is greater than or equal to 2.2.

The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a copolymer and also to a foam of such a copolymer, to a process for manufacturing such a foam and articles made from such a foam.

A PEG linker as represented by formula (I), wherein n and m are respectively an integer from 1 to 7, providing the PEG linker with 1 to 49 linking sites. A ligand drug conjugate as represented by formula (II). The conjugate uses the PEG linker to increase a drug loading capacity and drug loading diversity, thereby improving pharmaceutical efficacy.
Y1-PEG1-{R.sup.1-PEG2-{Y4}.sub.n}.sub.m  (I)
TM-{R.sup.2-PEG1-{R.sup.1-PEG2-{R.sup.3-A′-drug}.sub.n}.sub.m}.sub.l  (II)

The present invention provides a novel surface-active material exhibiting strong utility as fluorosurfactants, for the preparation of emulsions, most specifically double or multiple emulsions which may be used in droplet-based microfluidics. The method of synthesizing such material is also disclosed herein.

A branched monodispersed polyethylene glycol represented by the formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein X.sup.1 is a functional group that forms a covalent bond upon a reaction with a functional group present in a biofunctional molecule; n is an integer of 4 to 50, which represents number of repeating units of ethylene oxide units; and L.sup.1 represents a single bond, NH, -L.sup.2-(CH.sub.2).sub.m1 or -L.sup.2-(CH.sub.2).sub.m1-L.sup.3-(CH.sub.2).sub.2-, L.sup.2 represents an ether bond, an amide bond, an urethane bond or a single bond, L.sup.3 represents an ether bond, an amide bond or an urethane bond, and m1 and m2 represent each independently an integer of 1 to 5.

Provided are polymers (e.g., polymeric materials), nanoparticles comprising one or more of the polymers, and compositions. A polymer may be in the form of a nanoparticle. A polymer can be linear or branched. A polymer includes one or more poly(ester urea) segment, optionally, one or more poly(urethane) segment, optionally, one or more diol segment, optionally, one or more poly(ethylene glycol) segment, and, optionally, one or more terminal/end group. A polymer (e.g., a polymeric material) may include a branching moiety. For example, a composition includes one or more polymer. In an example, polymers and nanoparticles can be used to deliver a drug (e.g., gambogic acid) to an individual (e.g, who has been diagnosed with or is suspected of having cancer and/or a viral infection).

Provided is a compound (Z) represented by the formula (1) or (2) below. In the formulas (1) and (2), Xs in each of the formulas (1) and (2) are each independently a carboxy group, a carboxylate group, or a monovalent group represented by the formula (3); at least one of Xs in each of the formulas (1) and (2) is a carboxy group or a carboxylate group; and at least one of Xs in each of the formulas (1) and (2) is a monovalent group represented by the formula (3) C(O)Y-(AO).sub.nR (3). In the formula (3), Y is O, NH, or S; A is a C2-C4 alkylene group; R is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C15 monovalent hydrocarbon group in which a hydrogen atom is optionally substituted with a C1-C10 alkoxy group; n is an integer of 4 to 1000; at least one of n As is an ethylene group; and when the formulas (1) and (2) each have multiple monovalent groups represented by the formula (3), each of Y, A, R, and n is the same or different among the monovalent groups.

##STR00001##