Modified biopolymers, such as, charge-modified biopolymers, cross-linked biopolymers, and cross-linked, charged modified biopolymers are provided along with methods of producing and using the same.

Modified biopolymers, such as, charge-modified biopolymers, cross-linked biopolymers, and cross-linked, charged modified biopolymers are provided along with methods of producing and using the same.

Provided are methods for linking polypeptides (including peptides and proteins) to other moieties using radical imitated thiol-ene chemistries, for example, modifying a polypeptide by introducing reactive thiol groups and reacting the thiol groups with olefin-containing reagents or alkyne-containing reagents under conditions that support radical thiol-ene or thiol-yne reactions. The reactive thiol groups have greater activity for radical thiol-ene reactions that a cysteine thiol group, including thiol groups that are separated from the peptide backbone by at least two carbon atoms, for example, the thiol group of a homocysteine residue. Also provided are compositions and biomaterials containing the linked polypeptides, for example, peptide and protein conjugates, and thiol-ene based biocompatible hydrogel polymers, and their uses in the medical field.

Provided are methods for linking polypeptides (including peptides and proteins) to other moieties using radical imitated thiol-ene chemistries, for example, modifying a polypeptide by introducing reactive thiol groups and reacting the thiol groups with olefin-containing reagents or alkyne-containing reagents under conditions that support radical thiol-ene or thiol-yne reactions. The reactive thiol groups have greater activity for radical thiol-ene reactions that a cysteine thiol group, including thiol groups that are separated from the peptide backbone by at least two carbon atoms, for example, the thiol group of a homocysteine residue. Also provided are compositions and biomaterials containing the linked polypeptides, for example, peptide and protein conjugates, and thiol-ene based biocompatible hydrogel polymers, and their uses in the medical field.

Provided is a molded article of a composition comprising a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide is at least one kind selected from the group consisting of natural spider silk protein and polypeptides derived from natural spider silk protein.

Provided is a molded article of a composition comprising a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide is at least one kind selected from the group consisting of natural spider silk protein and polypeptides derived from natural spider silk protein.

The present invention relates to a biocompatible nanoparticle and a use thereof and, more specifically, to a biocompatible nanoparticle formed by irradiation an electron beam to an aqueous solution comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide, a derivative thereof and a polyethylene glycol, thereby inducing inter-molecular cross-linking or intra-molecular cross-linking, and to a use of the biocompatible nanoparticle in a drug carrier, a contrast agent, a diagnostic agent or an intestinal adhesion prevention agent or for disease prevention and treatment.

The present invention relates to a biocompatible nanoparticle and a use thereof and, more specifically, to a biocompatible nanoparticle formed by irradiation an electron beam to an aqueous solution comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide, a derivative thereof and a polyethylene glycol, thereby inducing inter-molecular cross-linking or intra-molecular cross-linking, and to a use of the biocompatible nanoparticle in a drug carrier, a contrast agent, a diagnostic agent or an intestinal adhesion prevention agent or for disease prevention and treatment.

Compositions and methods for the selective sequestration of metal ions are generally described.

A synthetic hydrogel is described, including hydrated mucin glycoproteins cross-linked with multi-arm thiol functional cross-linker, which can be prepared to model viscoelastic and micro-rheological properties of natural mucus. Such synthetic hydrogel can be prepared from a wide variety of mucin raw materials. Also described is a method of microrheologically characterizing mucus, by dispersing in the mucus muco-inert particles (MIP), irradiating the mucus containing MIP with polarized light, and measuring fluorescence polarization (FP) resulting from rotational diffusion of the MIP in the mucus in response to such irradiating, as a microrheological characteristic of the mucus. This method can be carried out using a plate reader equipped with a spectrofluorometer and polarized filter set, and therefore can be readily carried out in clinical settings without the necessity of specialized microrheological equipment.