An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide: a lubricant excellent in adsorbability on the surface of a magnetic disk and in contamination resistance; and a magnetic disk which uses the lubricant and which is excellent in durability. The lubricant in accordance with an aspect of the present invention contains a fluoropolyether compound having, at a terminal thereof, a hydroxyalkenyl group or a hydroxyalkynyl group.

To provide a fluorinated ether compound, a fluorinated ether composition and a coating liquid that are able to form a surface layer which is excellent in water/oil repellency, abrasion resistance, fingerprint stain removability, lubricity and outer appearance, and an article having such a surface layer. A fluorinated ether compound represented by A.sup.1-O—(R.sup.f1O).sub.m1-Q.sup.1-[C(O)N(R.sup.1)].sub.p1—R.sup.11—C[—R.sup.12—SiR.sup.13.sub.n1X.sup.1.sub.3-n1].sub.3, wherein A.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-20 perfluoroalkyl group; R.sup.f1 is a fluoroalkylene group having no branched structure; m1 is an integer from 2 to 210; Q.sup.1 is a single bond or a fluoroalkylene group having no branched structure; R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, etc.; p1 is 0 or 1; R.sup.11 is a single bond, an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.12 is an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.13 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, etc.; X.sup.1 is a hydrolyzable group; and n1 is an integer of from 0 to 2.

To provide a fluorinated ether compound, a fluorinated ether composition and a coating liquid that are able to form a surface layer which is excellent in water/oil repellency, abrasion resistance, fingerprint stain removability, lubricity and outer appearance, and an article having such a surface layer. A fluorinated ether compound represented by A.sup.1-O—(R.sup.f1O).sub.m1-Q.sup.1-[C(O)N(R.sup.1)].sub.p1—R.sup.11—C[—R.sup.12—SiR.sup.13.sub.n1X.sup.1.sub.3-n1].sub.3, wherein A.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-20 perfluoroalkyl group; R.sup.f1 is a fluoroalkylene group having no branched structure; m1 is an integer from 2 to 210; Q.sup.1 is a single bond or a fluoroalkylene group having no branched structure; R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, etc.; p1 is 0 or 1; R.sup.11 is a single bond, an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.12 is an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.13 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, etc.; X.sup.1 is a hydrolyzable group; and n1 is an integer of from 0 to 2.

Provided are multiply functional charged telodendrimers. The telodendrimers can be used for protein encapsulation and delivery. The charged telodendrimers may have one or more crosslinking groups (e.g., boronic acid/catechol reversible crosslinking groups). The telodendrimers can aggregate to form nanoparticles. Cargo such as combinations of proteins and other materials may be sequestered in the core of the nanoparticles via non-covalent or covalent interactions with the telodendrimers. Such nanoparticles may be used in protein delivery applications.

Provided are multiply functional charged telodendrimers. The telodendrimers can be used for protein encapsulation and delivery. The charged telodendrimers may have one or more crosslinking groups (e.g., boronic acid/catechol reversible crosslinking groups). The telodendrimers can aggregate to form nanoparticles. Cargo such as combinations of proteins and other materials may be sequestered in the core of the nanoparticles via non-covalent or covalent interactions with the telodendrimers. Such nanoparticles may be used in protein delivery applications.

The invention relates to ester-linked surface-modifying macromolecules and admixtures thereof as shown below by the representative compounds. The admixtures can be used in industrial and medical applications where enhanced surface properties are desirable (e.g., surface properties reducing or preventing biofouling, immobilization of biomolecules, or denaturation of certain biomolecules).

##STR00001##

The invention relates to ester-linked surface-modifying macromolecules and admixtures thereof as shown below by the representative compounds. The admixtures can be used in industrial and medical applications where enhanced surface properties are desirable (e.g., surface properties reducing or preventing biofouling, immobilization of biomolecules, or denaturation of certain biomolecules).

##STR00001##

A polymer electrolyte including a polymerization product of a polymer having an unsaturated functional group at a terminal thereof and a fluoroalkylene chain, and an ion-conductive polymer having an unsaturated functional group at a terminal thereof, wherein the ion-conductive polymer having an unsaturated functional group at a terminal thereof is a polymer represented by Formula 1 or Formula 2, and the polymer having an unsaturated functional group at a terminal thereof and a fluoroalkylene chain is a compound represented by Formula 3, wherein Formulae 1 to 3 are the same as represented in the detailed description of the specification.

The present invention relates to novel polymer compositions, to a process for their manufacturing, to the use of said polymer compositions for modifying the viscosity of aqueous compositions, and to water-borne coating compositions containing the novel polymer compositions as thickeners. The polymer compositions comprise a polymer material which is obtainable by reacting: a) a polymer P1 having at least one functional group of the formula (I), where k is an integer from 0 to 4; n is 0 or 1 p is an integer from 1 to 10, the number average of p being from 1.5 to 10; Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —O— and —NH—; P is a p-valent hydrophilic neutral polymer radical; and R.sup.1 is as defined in the claims; with b) a succinic anhydride of the formula (II) where R is C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkyl or C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkenyl.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to novel polymer compositions, to a process for their manufacturing, to the use of said polymer compositions for modifying the viscosity of aqueous compositions, and to water-borne coating compositions containing the novel polymer compositions as thickeners. The polymer compositions comprise a polymer material which is obtainable by reacting: a) a polymer P1 having at least one functional group of the formula (I), where k is an integer from 0 to 4; n is 0 or 1 p is an integer from 1 to 10, the number average of p being from 1.5 to 10; Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —O— and —NH—; P is a p-valent hydrophilic neutral polymer radical; and R.sup.1 is as defined in the claims; with b) a succinic anhydride of the formula (II) where R is C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkyl or C.sub.4-C.sub.24-alkenyl.

##STR00001##