Landec Corporation

Other

Steven P Bitler

David D Taft

Ray F Stewart

Valentine Y Yoon

Stelios Tzannis

Qiang Zheng

Adam Warwick Bell

Natarajan Balachander

Loc X Phan

David A Kamp

Edward E Schmitt

Wei-Guo Dai

Sandra Ottensmann

Andrew W Larson

Raymond Clarke

Donald A Schultz

Lawrence C Greene

Robert G Freelin

Thomas W Ross

Ross S Tsugita

Robert Parker

Dwight K Hoffman

Mark A Wanthal

Julian E Schafer

Paul A Meyers

David A Kemp

Quiang Zheng

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

Formulations of drugs and crystalline side chain polymers to provide controlled and/or sustained release drug formulations.

Delivery of drugs

A thermochromic indicator includes a coating on the substrate. The coating comprising a solid crystalline particles having a melting point of 0-130&#xb0; C. At temperatures below the melting point, the coating is opaque. At temperatures above the melting point, the coating becomes translucent. The change in opacity can be reversible or irreversible.

Thermochromic indicator

PLGA, PLA and PGA polymers which have crystallinity resulting from the presence of long chain alkyl groups in terminal units. The polymers are particularly useful for drug delivery.

Polymer formulations for delivery of bioactive materials

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

Methods for making formulations of drugs and crystalline side chain polymers which formulations provide controlled and/or sustained release drug formulations.

Method for formulating a controlled-release pharmaceutical formulation

Delivery of drugs in association with PLGA polymers which have crystallinity resulting from the presence of long chain alkyl groups in terminal units.

Thickeners for oil-containing compositions, particularly cosmetic and personal care compositions, are side chain crystalline polymers which are uniformly dispersed as a crystallized solid in the oil.

Polymeric thickeners for oil-containing compositions

Articles, particularly fibers, whose shape is dependent on temperature. The articles have a first component composed of a sharply-melting crystalline polymer and an overlapping second component. As the crystalline polymer is cooled through its melting range, the volume of the first component increases much more rapidly than the volume of the second component. As a result, the shape of the article changes. Such fibers can be incorporated into fibrous articles having temperature-dependent thermal insulation properties.

Article having temperature-dependent shape

Novel thickeners for oil-containing compositions are crystalline polymers, preferably side chain crystalline polymers, which (a) have a crystalline melting point, T, and an onset of melting temperature, T, such that T&#x2212;Tis less than T; (b) are soluble in the oil at temperatures above T, and (c) have been dispersed in the oil by a process which comprises (i)dissolving the polymer in the oil at a temperature above T, and (ii) cooling the solution from step (i) to crystallize the polymer in the oil.

Novel modifying agents contain a sharply-melting crystalline polymer ingredient, preferably a side chain crystalline (SCC) ingredient, and an active chemical ingredient. Such modifying agents, especially when in the form of particles, can be placed in contact with a matrix, will not modify the matrix below the crystalline melting point T , but will rapidly modify the matrix above T . The active chemical ingredient can react with the matrix, catalyze a reaction of the matrix, or inhibit a reaction of the matrix. Particularly useful compositions are polymer precursors which are storage-stable at low temperatures but which are rapidly converted to crosslinked resins when heated to temperatures above T , optionally in the presence of light.

Polymeric modifying agents

Shrinkage of cured resins is reduced by mixing the crosslinkable resin with a low profile additive (LPA). The LPA is in the form of particles which comprise an SCC polymer (or a similar crystalline polymer which melts over a narrow temperature range). The system is cured at a temperature above the melting point of the crystalline polymer (T ), and the system and the LPA are such that at least part of the LPA remains as a separate phase in the curable resin at temperatures below T . It is believed that at least part of the crystalline polymer remains as a separate phase in the resin as it cures. Preferably at least part of the crystalline polymer forms a separate phase in the cured polymer after it has cooled.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Steven P Bitler