Case Western Reserve University

Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg

The United States Government As Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Ivoclar Vivadent Ag

Christoph Weder

Eric Baer

Kenneth D Singer

Jeffrey R Capadona

Otto Van Den Berg

Dustin J Tyler

Anne Hiltner

Stuart J Rowan

Kadhiravan Shanmuganathan

Gina Fiore

Volker Rheinberger

Norbert Moszner

Ulrich Salz

Thomas Hirt

Konstantin Silberzahn

Kai Rist

Julia Lonsky

Chris Ryan

Jie Shan

Joseph Lott

Brent Valle

Roberto Vadrucci

Christian Heinzmann

Yoan C Simon

Mehdi Jorfi

Christiane Lowe

E Johan Foster

Carlo Perotto

Diederik Balkenende

Anuja Shirole

Shape memory polymers allow the fabrication of objects that have a permanent (first) shape, and which can be programmed to adopt a temporary (second) shape, and are able to largely recover their original (first) shape by applying an appropriate stimulus. Materials that permit the fabrication of objects and devices that can (i) be provided in their permanent shape, (ii) be heated to a switching temperature above physiological temperature, at which the material becomes shapeable, (iii) be inserted into the body or placed in contact with the body and be deformed or shaped'to assume a desired temporary shape, (iv) be fixed in the desired temporary shape by keeping the material/device/object at body temperature (about 37&#xb0; C.) for a convenient period of time, (v) largely retain this temporary shape if removed from the body, and (vi) return largely to their original shape when heated again above the switching temperature. A process for making such materials and disclosed products based on such materials are disclosed.

Shape memory polymers

Optically upconverting liquid-filled polymeric materials that are made by curing a curable composition. The materials include a substantially liquid phase that serves to dissolve upconverting chromophores, optionally surfactants and an optionally cross-linked polymer matrix that retains or houses the liquid phase, provides mechanical stability, and offers some protection from oxygen. The optically upconverting liquid-filled polymeric materials have a phase-separated morphology. In preferred embodiments, the domains formed by the two phases are so small that light scattering is largely suppressed, which renders the upconverting liquid-filled polymeric materials largely transparent. The liquid phase provides a high mobility of the dissolved chromophores and the photophysical properties, such as the high upconversion quantum efficiency and the low excitation intensity threshold required to achieve upconversion, are thus more reminiscent of conventional or oxygen-free solutions than polymeric solids. These photophysical properties can be achieved by preparing the polymers under oxygen-free or, in preferred embodiments, under ambient conditions. The design principle introduced here to create upconverting liquid-filled polymeric materials is versatile and general; the liquid phase, the surfactants, the polymer matrix, and the upconverting chromophores can all readily be varied. Importantly, the optically upconverting liquid-filled polymeric materials can be prepared in a one-step process, which makes them preferable over other liquid-containing polymers that enable upconversion.

Optically upconverting liquid-filled polymeric materials

Physiologically responsive mechanically adaptive optical fibers that are suitable for optical interfacing with living organisms. The optical fibers are particularly suited for applications in optogenetics. Dry, stiff fibers display a desirable tensile storage modulus and can be readily inserted into biological and in particular cortical tissue. Exposure to conditions encountered in vivo results in reduction, often a drastic reduction in modulus. When coupled with a suitable light source, the construction can be utilized to stimulate neurons in vivo. Methods for producing and utilizing the optical fibers and devices including the optical fibers are disclosed.

Physiologically responsive mechanically adaptive polymer optical fibers, production and methods of use

Supramolecular polymers or materials that exhibit high stiffness and can efficiently be healed. The supramolecular materials polymer is based on monomers having three or more same or different binding sites that permit non-covalent, directional interactions between multiple monomer molecules. The properties of the supramolecular networks formed from the monomers are governed by cross-linked architecture and the large weight-fraction of the binding motif. The material in one embodiment forms a disordered glass, which in spite of the low-molecular weight of the building block, displays typical polymeric behavior. The material exhibits high stiffness and offers excellent coating and adhesive properties. On account of reversible dissociation and the formation of a low-viscosity liquid upon application of an optical stimulus or thermal stimulus or both, rapid healing as well as (de)bonding are possible.

Stimulus-responsive supramolecular glasses

An optical information storage medium includes a multilayer film that includes a plurality of extruded alternating active data storage layers and buffer layers, which separate the active data storage layers. The active data storage layers and buffer layers have thicknesses that allow the active data storage layers to be writable by non-linear or threshold writing processes to define data voxels within the active data storage layers that are readable by an optical reading device.

Optical information storage medium

The invention relates to a dental restorative material which comprises a thermolabile compound of Formula I:[(Z)-Q-X)]-T-[Y-Q-(Z)]&#x2003;&#x2003;Formula I,in which T represents a thermolabile unit which contains at least one thermolabile group based on non-covalent interactions, Zand Zin each case independently represent a polymerizable group selected from vinyl groups, CH&#x2550;CR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;O&#x2014; and CH&#x2550;CR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014; or an adhesive group selected from &#x2014;Si(OR), &#x2014;COOH, &#x2014;O&#x2014;PO(OH), &#x2014;PO(OH), &#x2014;SOOH and &#x2014;SH, Qin each case independently is missing or represents an (m+1)-valent linear or branched aliphatic C-Cradical which can be interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;S&#x2014;, &#x2014;CO&#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;O&#x2014;CO&#x2014;, &#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014;, &#x2014;NR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;, &#x2014;O&#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014;, &#x2014;NR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;O&#x2014; or &#x2014;NR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014;, Qin each case independently is missing or represents an (n+1)-valent linear or branched aliphatic C-Cradical which can be interrupted by &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;S&#x2014;, &#x2014;CO&#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;O&#x2014;CO&#x2014;, &#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014;, &#x2014;NR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;, &#x2014;O&#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014;, &#x2014;NR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;O&#x2014; or &#x2014;NR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014;, X and Y in each case independently are missing or represent &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;S&#x2014;, CO&#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;O&#x2014;CO&#x2014;, &#x2014;CO&#x2014;NR&#x2014; or &#x2014;NR&#x2014;CO&#x2014;, R, R, Rand Rin each case independently represent H or a C-Calkyl radical, k and l in each case independently are 0, 1, 2 or 3 and m and n in each case independently are 1, 2 or 3.

Dental materials based on compounds having debonding-on-demand properties

Polymer nanocomposites exhibit a reversible change in stiffness and strength in response to a stimulus. The polymer nanocomposites include a matrix polymer with a comparably low modulus and strength and nanoparticles that have a comparably high modulus and strength. The particle-particle interactions are switched by the stimulus, to change the overall material's mechanical properties. In a preferred embodiment, a chemical regulator is used to facilitate changes of the mechanical properties. Methods for inducing modulus changes in polymer nanocomposites are also disclosed.

Dynamic mechanical polymer nanocomposites

A polymer film laser is provided that comprises a plurality of extruded polymer layers. The plurality of extruded polymer layers comprises a plurality of alternating dielectric layers of a first polymer material having a first refractive index and a second polymer material having second refractive index different than the first refractive index.

Co-extruded multilayer polymers films for all-polymer lasers

Polymer nanocomposites, nanoparticle-containing organogels utilized in forming the polymer nanocomposites, and methods for forming the polymer nanocomposites and nanoparticle-containing organogels are disclosed. Relatively simple and versatile methods are utilized to form the polymer nanocomposites. The process is based on the format of a three-dimensional network of well-individualized nanoparticles, such nanofibers through gelation thereof with an appropriate non-polymeric solvent. The nanoparticle-containing organogel is subsequently filled with a solution of a desired matrix polymer, the composite is dried and compacted to create the polymer nanocomposite. Polymer nanocomposites can be prepared which exhibit dramatic changes in mechanical properties, such as increased shear modulus, when compared to the neat polymer.

Self-assembled nanofiber templates; versatile approaches for polymer nanocomposites

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a photoluminescent article comprising at least one host material and at least one color tunable photoluminescent dye. In certain embodiments, the emission spectrum of the at least one tunable photoluminescent dye may be dependent on the supramolecular architecture of the material. The photoluminescent emission spectrum of the dye is capable of being shifted by subjecting the article to an external stimuli such as, but not limited to, a mechanical deformation, a temperature change, aging of the article, a pressure change, exposure to a chemical compound. In specific embodiments, the color tunable photoluminescent dye is an oligo(phenylene vinylene) compound, such as, but not limited to, 1,4-Bis-(&#x3b1;-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-benzene, 1,4-bis-(&#x3b1;-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzene, and 1,4-bis-(&#x3b1;-cyano-4-(2-ethylhexyloxystyryl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzene and 2,5-bis-(&#x3b1;-cyano-4-methoxystyryl)-thiophene. A further embodiment of the invention is method of determining a degree of mechanical deformation, a temperature change, aging of the article, a pressure change, exposure to a chemical compound on an article.

Color tunable photoluminescent blends

Growing community of inventors

Duedingen, Switzerland

Christoph Weder