Patent ID: 7217776

Claim:
A copolymer capable of thermoreversible gelation, the copolymer comprising a compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein m is an integer in the range of 1 to 5000, X is wherein p is an integer in the range of 30 to 20,000, q is an integer in the range of 1 to 20,000, and k is an integer in the range of 0 to 20,000, and A is wherein m′ is an integer in the range of 0 to 5,000; Y and Y′ are selected from the group consisting of X, wherein n′ is in the range of 30 to 20,000, and a terminator group; R 3 and R 3′ are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen and a C 1-6 alkyl group; and Z and Z′ are selected from the group consisting of NR 6 R 7 , P(OR 8 ) 3 , SR 9 , SH, wherein R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 are the same or different C 1-6 alkyl groups, R 9 is a tri(C 1-6 alkyl) silyl group, and B is a C 1-6 alkyl group.