Landec Corporation

Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.

Natarajan Balachander

Ray F Stewart

Steven P Bitler

Loc X Phan

Valentine Y Yoon

David D Taft

Stelios Tzannis

Elias Klein

Qiang Zheng

Adam Warwick Bell

Wei-Guo Dai

Sandra Ottensmann

Julian E Schafer

Sandra N Ottensmann

Stelios T Tzannis

Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers based on hydrophobic monomers, preferably on a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers which contains a crosslinking monomer, particularly side chain crystalline (SCC) polymers. The dispersions are useful for providing coatings on substrates, particularly on seeds (whose dormancy is thus extended) and on fibrous substrates, particularly human hair (which thus becomes heat-settable).

Aqueous dispersions of crystalline polymers and uses

Systems and methods for delivering release materials, for example drugs and other bioactive materials. Crystalline polymeric systems, referred to as CYC carriers, are associated with the release materials, through chemical bonding or through physical association. The crystallinity of the CYC carriers results from the presence of crystallizable side chains, for example long chain n-alkyl moieties, which results in relatively low and sharp melting temperatures. One class of CYC carriers, referred to as CYSC polymers, have a majority of the crystallizable side chains pendant from the polymer backbone. Another class of CYC carriers referred to as ECC polymers, have a majority of the crystallizable side chains attached to terminal units of the polymer backbone. The ECC polymers can for example be obtained by modification of PLGA polymers. The CYC carriers in another class of non-polymeric. Some CYC carriers, referred to as CYC assemblies, have enhanced crystallinity as a result of the physical association of crystallizable moieties which are present in different types of molecule, for example between a polymer containing crystallizable moieties and a monomer containing crystallizable moieties. For some uses, particularly the delivery of drugs, a bioerodable CYC carrier is preferably used.

Systems and methods for delivery of materials

A new vigor test is used to select seeds which, after appropriate polymeric coating, will perform well under adverse planting and growing conditions. For example, suitably coated hybrid corn seeds can be planted earlier than seeds now available, while still obtaining comparable or better yields. Particularly good results are obtained when seeds are coated with compositions comprising a side chain crystalline polymer and an amorphous polymer.

Selection and treatment of seeds

Crystalline polymers are prepared as a latex, and are useful for coating fibrous materials such hair and fabrics. The latex can have a high solids content greater than 30%, a residual monomer content of less than 1%, and can be used for repeatedly setting fibrous materials into desired configurations. The latex is also useful for coating organisms such as seeds. The particulate coating extends the dormancy of the organism and/or protects the organism, and is easily shed by a germinating seed. The coating can contain a seed coating additive, such as a colorant or fungicide.

Aqueous emulsions of crystalline polymers for coating seeds

A water wettable permselective membrane for use in hemodialysis, ultrafiltration and microfiltration applications and a device containing the same are provided. The membrane having the above properties comprises a hydrophobic-base polymer, such as a polysulfone or polyethersulfone polymer, and a block copolymer additive wherein one of the blocks of the copolymer additive is a hydrophilic polymer and the other block is a hydrophobic polymer that is analogous in structure to the hydrophobic-base polymer.

Self-wetting membranes from engineering plastics

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Natarajan Balachander