The present invention relates to a process for preparing control agents for applications in the petroleum field, where a polymer bearing OH, amine and/or amide functions, which is in the form of a divided solid, is reacted with at least one crosslinking agent bearing at least two R groups capable of reacting with the OH, amine or amide groups, under conditions where said polymer remains in solid form and where said crosslinking agent is at least partly in vapor form, The invention also relates to the control agents obtained in solid form according to this process, and also to the mixtures of these solid agents with other additives, which can be used in particular for the preparation of cement grout for oil extraction.

Aqueous binder compositions with reduced rates of salt precipitation are described. The compositions may include a carbohydrate and a sequestrant for sequestering one or more multivalent ions (e.g., Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, Ba.sup.2+, Al.sup.3+, Fe.sup.2+, Fe.sup.3+, etc.). The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the aqueous binder composition. Methods of reducing salt precipitation from a binder composition are also described. The methods may include the steps of providing an aqueous binder solution having one or more carbohydrates. They may also include adding a sequestrant for one or more multivalent ions to the aqueous binder solution. The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the binder composition.

An object of the present invention is to provide an -glucan mixture in a preferable molecular weight range, which can be made into a transparent film with advantageous strength and water solubility when an edible film is made by using the -glucan mixture without adding any plasticizer.

The above object is solved by providing an -glucan mixture, which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps of gelatinizing waxy starch and liquefying the resulting gelatinized waxy starch by allowing an amylase to act on it, having the following characteristics (1) and (2): (1) having the weight average molecular weight (Mw) in a range of 150 kDa to 3,000 kDa; and (2) having the value of dividing weight average molecular weight (Mw) with number average molecular weight (Mn), Mw/Mn, of 35.1 or lower.

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.

Our invention is a laminate film comprising a water-soluble resin layer and a polylactic acid-based resin layer laminated on at least one side of a substrate film, the water-soluble resin layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 15 m, the polylactic acid-based resin layer has a thickness of 10 to 500 nm. Such a configuration provides a laminate film of which the water-soluble resin layer and the polylactic acid-based resin layer are easily separated from the substrate film and which is excellent in coating ability, adherence and followability to a soft and curved adherend, as well as compatibility to skin and organs such as viscera, so as to be suitable for wound dressing, adhesion prevention material and a skin external agent such as skin-care product.

The present invention is directed toward a process for making poly alpha-1,3-glucan formate films. These films are translucent or transparent and can be used in packaging applications.

A material comprising a highly branched carbohydrate polymer, a polyalkylene glycol (or polyalkylene oxide) linked to the highly branched carbohydrate polymer, and a hydrophobic or amphiphilic group linked to the highly branched carbohydrate polymer and/or the polyalkylene glycol (or polyalkylene oxide), is described. Methods of making and using the material, as well as a soluble composition that contains the material and a hydrophobic solute compound, are also described.

The present invention relates to new methods for crosslinking a polysaccharide with a bifunctional poly(ethylene glycol). The invention further includes the polymer hydrogels which can be produced using these methods, compositions comprising the polymer hydrogels and methods of use thereof.

Disclosed herein are polysaccharide-elastomer masterbatch compositions and processes for preparing the masterbatch compositions. One method comprises a step of a) mixing i) an aqueous polysaccharide dispersion, or ii) a basic aqueous polysaccharide solution, with a rubber latex solution containing a rubber component to form a mixture. The method further comprises the steps of: b) coagulating the mixture obtained in step a) to produce a coagulated mass; and c) drying the coagulated mass obtained in step b). The masterbatch compositions are useful in preparing rubber-containing articles.

The present invention relates to a novel stable colloidal polysaccharide suspension containing ?(1.fwdarw.3)-glucan, a cost-effective method for its preparation, and possible uses of these polysaccharide suspensions.