Columbia University

University of Connecticut

Jeffrey T Koberstein

Nicholas J Turro

Denong Wang

Gregory T Carroll

Jeremiah Johnson

Jeffrey Lancaster

Peng Wang

Christopher L Mirley

Feng Pan

Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos

Donald L Kreutzer

Diane J Burgess

Samuel Huang

Francis Moussy

Kwangjoo Lee

Chathuranga De Silva

Ellane J Park

Sanjoy Samanta

Hernan R Rengifo

Cristian Grigoras

The invention provides for novel thermo-responsive polymers and compositions comprising the same. In some embodiments, the polymers are water soluble, pH-degradable and have tunable lower critical solution temperatures. Other aspects of the invention include micelles and gels comprising the thermo-responsive polymers and derivatives thereof, as well as methods of delivering therapeutic agents comprising administering a biodegradable gel or micelle comprising a polyacetal compound cross-linked with a linker.

Biodegradable thermo-responsive polymers and uses thereof

Compounds and methods for controlling the surface properties are described. Compounds of the invention can form radicals upon exposure to irradiation, which can then react with nearby molecules to alter the surface properties of various substrates. The invention can provide surfaces that are resistant to dewetting, surfaces that have immobilized molecules such as carbohydrates and polymers immobilized, and surfaces that have metals deposited on the surface. The invention can be utilized in a wide range of application, such as sensors, microreactors, microarrays, electroless deposition of metals, and the like.

Photochemical methods and photoactive compounds for modifying surfaces

Methods for functionalizing a surface of a substrate with nanoparticles are described. In certain embodiments, the method can include attaching a plurality of photoactive linker to nanoparticles to obtain photoactive nanoparticles, wherein each photoactive linker comprises a binding group that attaches to the nanoparticles and a photoactive group; depositing the photoactive nanoparticles to the surface of the substrate, wherein the surface of the substrate comprises reactive groups that are capable of reacting with the photoactive groups; and irradiating the photoactive nanoparticles with radiation to react the photoactive group with the reactive group and to functionalize the surface of the substrate with nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the method can include attaching a plurality of photoactive linker linkers to a surface of a substrate to obtain a photoactive surface, wherein each photoactive linker comprises a photoactive group and a binding group that attaches to the surface of the substrate; depositing nanoparticles to the photoactive surface, wherein the nanoparticles comprise reactive groups that are capable of reacting with the photoactive groups; and irradiating the photoactive surface with radiation to react the photoactive group with the reactive group to functionalize the surface of the substrate with nanoparticles.

Modification of surfaces with nanoparticles

The present invention relates to methods for preparing degradable model networks from any monomer functionality with any degradation methodology. It is based on the use of Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization and CLICK chemistry to form the desired product.

Macromonomers for preparation of degradable polymers and model networks

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to dendrimers comprised of macromolecules and trifunctional branches. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for generating dendrimeric compositions comprising macromolecules and trifunctional branches. In certain embodiments, the radial density of the dendrimeric composition is controlled by selective incorporation of branches.

Heterotrifunctional molecules and methods for the synthesis of dendrimeric materials

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to methods for modification of functionalized substrates. In another aspect, the invention relates to systems and methods for fabricating multilayer polymer compositions. In certain embodiments, the multilayer polymer compositions described herein can comprise heterobifunctional polymers and heterotrifunctional molecules.

Heterobifunctional polymers and methods for layer-by-layer construction of multilayer films

The invention relates to novel photo-generated carbohydrate arrays and methods of their use to detect the presence of one or more agents in a sample. The invention also relates to a high-throughput strategy to facilitate the identification and immunological characterization of pathogen-specific carbohydrates, including those of. The invention can be used to determine the presence of a pathogen and whether a subject has been exposed to a pathogen, such as by screening for pathogen-specific antibodies.

Photo-generated carbohydrate arrays and the rapid identification of pathogen-specific antigens and antibodies

The present invention relates to functionalizing a surface of an organic material. For example, surfaces of materials having C&#x2014;H bonds, such as polymers having C&#x2014;H bonds, can be functionalized. In certain embodiments, a heterobifunctional molecule having a photoactive anchor, a spacer, and a terminal functional group is applied to the surface of an organic material that contains one or more C&#x2014;H bonds. The heterobifunctional molecule can be bound to any surface having C&#x2014;H bonds as the photoactive anchor can react with C&#x2014;H bonds upon irradiation. The terminal functional group has a 'click' functionality which can be utilized to functionalize the surface of the organic material with any desired functionalizing moiety having the orthogonal click functionality.

Functionalization of organic surfaces

The present invention relates to methods for preparing degradable model networks from any monomer functionality with any degradation methodology. It is based on the use of Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization CLICK chemistry and a tetrafunctional initiator having terminal halogen groups to form the desired product.

Method of preparing a star polymer macromonomer

The invention is directed to methods for coating monolayer films of surface-active polymers onto substrates of arbitrary shape, and molecular-based methods and processes to control the chemical and physical nature of surfaces and interfaces. The invention is also directed to methods for modifying a surface of a monolayer comprising a) coating a monolayer on a substrate, wherein the monolayer is formed by self-assembly of end-surfactant molecules, thereby positioning a photoactive functional group at the air-monolayer interface; and b) exposing the monolayer to radiation, wherein each organic group of the monolayer contains a first functionality that is not converted to a second functionality upon exposure to acid.

Methods for modifying surfaces

A method for surface micropatterning includes forming on a surface containing a first polymer a first coating containing a second polymer having first functionalities capable of being converted to second functionalities by exposure to an acid. A second coating containing a photoacid generator is formed on the first coating. The second coating containing the photoacid generator is selectively irradiated in one or more regions thereof with radiation having a spatially varying internsity pattern to generate an acid in each irradiated region of the second coating. The acid converts the first functionalities of each region of the second polymer underlying a respective irradiated region of the second coating to second functionalities. A first molecular patterned surface having one or more regions of the first functionalities and one or more regions of the second functionalities is formed.

Micropatterning of molecular surfaces via selective irradiation

A tissue/implant interface, comprising an implant and a bioactive polymer layer adjacent at least a portion of the outer surface of the implant, wherein the polymer layer contains at least one tissue response modifier covalently attached to the polymer layer or entrapped within the polymer layer in a quantity effective to control the tissue response at the site of implantation. Preferably, the at least one tissue response modifier controls inflammation, fibrosis, and/or neovascularization. Exemplary tissue response modifiers include, but are not limited to, steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, anti-fibrotic agents, anti-proliferative agents, cytokines, cytokine inhibitors, neutralizing antibodies, adhesive ligands, and combinations thereof. Use of the various combinations of tissue response modifiers with bioactive polymers provides a simple, flexible and effective means to control the implant/tissue interphase, improving implant lifetime and function.

Growing community of inventors

Storrs, CT, United States of America

Jeffrey T Koberstein