Film-forming compositions of self-crosslinkable nanogel star polymers

A film-forming composition, comprising:

• a solvent;
• and
• 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt % of unimolecular nanoparticles of a self-crosslinkable nanogel star polymer, wherein the nanoparticles are dispersed in the solvent, and weight percent (wt %) is based on a total weight of the film-forming composition;
• wherein
• the nanogel star polymer comprises i) a crosslinked polymer core (nanogel core) and ii) 6 or more independent polymer arms covalently linked to the core by respective first end groups, wherein a plurality of the arms comprise respective reactive groups for effecting crosslinking of the nanoparticles, and
• an essentially solvent-free film layer comprising the nanoparticles self-crosslinks, optionally assisted by subjecting the film layer to a thermal treatment and/or a photochemical treatment.

A method of forming a surface treated article, comprising:

• disposing on a surface of an article a film-forming composition comprising i) a solvent and ii) about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt %, based on total weight of the film-forming composition, of unimolecular nanoparticles of a self-crosslinkable nanogel star polymer, wherein the nanoparticles are dispersed in the solvent and weight percent (wt %) is based on a total weight of the composition, and wherein the nanogel star polymer comprises a) a crosslinked polymer core (nanogel core) and b) 6 or more independent polymer arms covalently linked to the core by respective first end groups, wherein a plurality of the arms comprise respective reactive groups for effecting crosslinking of the nanoparticles;
• removing the solvent from the disposed film-forming composition, thereby forming an essentially solvent-free initial film layer comprising the nanoparticles;
• and
• allowing the nanoparticles of the initial film layer to crosslink, optionally assisted by a thermal treatment and/or photochemical treatment, thereby forming the surface treated article comprising a crosslinked film layer disposed on the surface of the article, the crosslinked film layer comprising crosslinked nanoparticles of the star polymer.

A device, comprising:

• a crosslinked polymeric film having anti-pathogenic properties;
• and
• an object in contact with the film;
• wherein
• the device is used in a medical facility, and
• the crosslinked polymeric film comprises crosslinked unimolecular nanoparticles of a self-crosslinkable nanogel star polymer, wherein the nanogel star polymer comprises i) a crosslinked polymer core (nanogel core) and ii) 6 or more independent polymer arms covalently linked to the core by respective first end groups, wherein a plurality of the arms comprise respective reactive groups for effecting crosslinking of the nanoparticles.