The invention provides polar-modified rice husk waxes obtainable by free-radical grafting of unmodified rice husk waxes with graft comonomers selected from the group of the ,-unsaturated mono- or polybasic carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. The invention further provides derivatization products prepared by chemical conversion of the polar-modified rice husk waxes of the invention. The invention further provides processes for producing the products of the invention and for the use thereof.

There are provided collagen based polymeric materials comprising collagen molecules and/or collagen derived molecules which have been functionalized by the addition of one or more ethylenically unsaturated moieties and which have been cross-linked via said moieties. Also provided are collagen based compositions and methods of producing collagen based polymeric materials.

There are provided collagen based polymeric materials comprising collagen molecules and/or collagen derived molecules which have been functionalized by the addition of one or more ethylenically unsaturated moieties and which have been cross-linked via said moieties. Also provided are collagen based compositions and methods of producing collagen based polymeric materials.

Disclosed are methods of modulating a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system with an active compound, wherein the active compound exhibits low potency for inhibition of at least one p38 MAPK; and wherein the contacting is conducted at a SAPK-modulating concentration that is at a low percentage inhibitory concentration for inhibition of the at least one p38 MAPK by the compound. Also disclosed are derivatives of pirfenidone. These derivatives can modulate a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system.

Methods for preparing water soluble, non-peptidic polymers carrying carboxyl functional groups, particularly carboxylic acid functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymers are disclosed, as are the products of these methods. In general, an ester reagent R(CO)OR, wherein R is a tertiary group and R comprises a functional group X, is reacted with a water soluble, non-peptidic polymer POLY-Y, where Y is a functional group which reacts with X to form a covalent bond, to form a tertiary ester of the polymer, which is then treated with a strong base in aqueous solution, to form a carboxylate salt of the polymer. Typically, this carboxylate salt is then treated with an inorganic acid in aqueous solution, to convert the carboxylate salt to a carboxylic acid, thereby forming a carboxylic acid functionalized polymer.

Methods for preparing water soluble, non-peptidic polymers carrying carboxyl functional groups, particularly carboxylic acid functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymers are disclosed, as are the products of these methods. In general, an ester reagent R(CO)OR, wherein R is a tertiary group and R comprises a functional group X, is reacted with a water soluble, non-peptidic polymer POLY-Y, where Y is a functional group which reacts with X to form a covalent bond, to form a tertiary ester of the polymer, which is then treated with a strong base in aqueous solution, to form a carboxylate salt of the polymer. Typically, this carboxylate salt is then treated with an inorganic acid in aqueous solution, to convert the carboxylate salt to a carboxylic acid, thereby forming a carboxylic acid functionalized polymer.

Provided are an asphalt-like material and a method and use thereof as a plugging agent, and a water-based drilling fluid. The asphalt-like material has a structure shown in formula I, wherein, in the formula I, R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of H, COOH, and CH.sub.2COOH; R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH).sub.2, and NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH; R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH).sub.2, and NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH; R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH).sub.2, and NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH; and n is 370 to 400. ##STR00001##

Provided are an asphalt-like material and a method and use thereof as a plugging agent, and a water-based drilling fluid. The asphalt-like material has a structure shown in formula I, wherein, in the formula I, R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of H, COOH, and CH.sub.2COOH; R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH).sub.2, and NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH; R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH).sub.2, and NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH; R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH, NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH).sub.2, and NHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH; and n is 370 to 400. ##STR00001##

A peptide-polymer conjugate prepared by a method for preparing a peptide-polymer conjugate according to the present disclosure stably maintains the two-dimensional structure of multiple -helix ligands so that its biological interaction is improved while maintaining the specific structure of the peptide ligands.

The present invention provides a novel hydrogel, methods of its use, and methods for producing the hydrogel.