Films and Particles

An oligomer or polymer, or portion thereof, represented by Formula XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI or XXXVII:

• wherein:
• Q′ is independently selected from among O, S, Se, or NH;
• G′, G1′, and G2′ are each independently selected from among the following structures:
• or R1′;
• wherein G1′ and G2′ are not the same;
• R1′ is selected from among a straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain of 3-50 carbons, wherein each alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl or fluorocarbon chain is optionally substituted internally or terminally by one or more hydroxyl, hydroxyether, carboxyl, carboxyester, carboxyamide, amino, mono- or di-substituted amino, thiol, thioester, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, or halogen substituents;
• or
• R1′ is selected from among poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(hydroxyacid)), a carbohydrate, a protein, a polypeptide, an amino acid, a nucleic acid, a nucleotide, a polynucleotide, any DNA or RNA segment, a lipid, a polysaccharide, an antibody, a pharmaceutical agent, or any epitope for a biological receptor;
• or
• R1′ is selected from among a photocrosslinkable or ionically crosslinkable group;
• R2′ is selected from among hydrogen, a straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain of 1-50 carbons, wherein each alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain is optionally substituted internally or terminally by one or more hydroxyl, hydroxyether, carboxyl, carboxyester, carboxyamide, amino, mono- or di-substituted amino, thiol, thioester, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, or halogen substituents;
• x and y are each independently selected from an integer of 2-750;
• a is selected from an integer of 1-25;
• b is selected from an integer of 1-14;
• c is selected from an integer of 1-14;
• and
• each polymeric terminal group is selected from among amines, thiols, amides, phosphates, sulphates, hydroxides, metals, alkanes, alkenes and alkynes.

An oligomer or polymer, or portion thereof, represented by Formula XXXVIII:

• wherein:
• Q′ is independently selected from among O, S, Se, or NH;
• G′ is selected from among
• or R1′;
• R1′ is selected from among a straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain of 3-50 carbons, wherein each alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain is optionally substituted internally or terminally by one or more hydroxyl, hydroxyether, carboxyl, carboxyester, carboxyamide, amino, mono- or di-substituted amino, thiol, thioester, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, or halogen substituents;
• or
• R1′ is selected from among poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(hydroxyacid)), a carbohydrate, a protein, a polypeptide, an amino acid, a nucleic acid, a nucleotide, a polynucleotide, any DNA or RNA segment, a lipid, a polysaccharide, an antibody, a pharmaceutical agent, or any epitope for a biological receptor;
• or
• R1′ is selected from among a photocrosslinkable or ionically crosslinkable group;
• x and y are each independently selected from an integer of 2-750;
• e is selected from an integer of 1-8;
• and
• each polymeric terminal group is selected from among amines, thiols, amides, phosphates, sulphates, hydroxides, metals, alkanes, alkenes and alkynes.

An oligomer or polymer having a repeat unit represented by Formula XX:

• wherein:
• G comprises a first group that is convertible to a second group different from the first group at a pH at or below about 6.0;
• R2 is selected from among hydrogen, a straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain of 1-50 carbons, wherein each alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl or fluorocarbon chain is optionally substituted internally or terminally by one or more hydroxyl, hydroxyether, carboxyl, carboxyester, carboxyamide, amino, mono- or di-substituted amino, thiol, thioester, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, or halogen substituents;
• and
• Q is selected from among O, S, Se, or NH.

A particle having a first volume and comprising an oligomer or polymer having a repeat unit represented by Formula XX:

• wherein:
• G comprises a first group that is convertible to a second group different from the first group at a pH at or below about 6.0;
• R2 is selected from among hydrogen, a straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain of 1-50 carbons, wherein each alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, olefin, silyl, alkylsilyl, arylsilyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, or fluorocarbon chain is optionally substituted internally or terminally by one or more hydroxyl, hydroxyether, carboxyl, carboxyester, carboxyamide, amino, mono- or di-substituted amino, thiol, thioester, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, or halogen substituents;
• and
• Q is selected from among O, S, Se, or NH;
• and wherein when the particle is placed in an environment having a pH at or below about 6.0, the particle increases in volume from the first volume to a second volume that is more than two times the first volume after equilibrium is established.