Patent ID: 6174645
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: G03C,G03F

Abstract:
A hydrophilic, photosensitive polymer network synthesized from hydrophilic branched macromeric precursors, the branched macromeric precursors being formed from covalently attached monomer units, each of the branches of the macromeric precursor comprising the monomer units, at least a portion of the macromeric precursors being functionalized with a cinnamylidene moiety at a terminus of at least three branches thereof, the double bonds of the cinnamylidene moieties undergoing intermolecular crosslinking via a 2+2 cycloaddition upon exposure thereof to light of a first known range of wavelengths to form the hydrophilic, photosensitive polymer network, the hydrophilic, photosensitive polymer network being suitable to undergo a reversible photoscission upon exposure thereof to light of a second known range of wavelength.