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 concerns a sphere, characterized in that it comprises at least one polymer of hyaluronate and glucomannan. It also concerns a polymer of hyaluronate and glucomannan characterized in that each bond between a hyaluronate group and a glucomannan group is an ester bond. In addition, it concerns their production process and their use, in particular as a filling or hydration agent.

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.

An object of the present invention is to provide an α-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 α-glucan mixture without adding any plasticizer. The above object is solved by providing an α-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.

Problem to be solved: To provide a whitened or opacified capsule and film without using a white pigment such as titanium dioxide. Solution: A film, a capsule and a film-forming composition characterized by containing a film-forming polymer component selected from gelatin and pullulan and an opacifying agent consisting of a water-soluble salt except calcium salt carbonate and bicarbonate, wherein the salt is selected from a sodium salt, potassium salt, an ammonium salt and a magnesium salt.

A process for manufacturing a tubular film such as an edible casing film or a packaging film. The process includes the steps of providing a preblended powder composition containing a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and water; feeding the preblended powder composition to an extruder; heating the preblended powder composition to a temperature above 100 degrees Celsius for a sufficient time to fully hydrate the polymer matrix and to convert the powder composition to a flowable mass; and extruding the flowable mass through a tubular die of the extruder to form the tubular film. The tubular film comprises: about 40-75 wt % polymer matrix; about 10-35 wt % plasticizer; and about 10-35 wt % water. The polymer matrix component is fully hydrated under the temperature, pressure and shear conditions inside the extruder, and may have a component which is only fully hydrated at temperatures above about 100 degrees Celsius.

A method for at least partial deacetylation of a biopolymer comprising acetyl groups, including: a1) providing a biopolymer including acetyl groups; a2) reacting the biopolymer including acetyl groups with hydroxylamine (NH.sub.2OH) or a salt thereof at a temperature of 100° C. or less for 2-200 hours to form an at least partially deacetylated biopolymer; and a3) recovering the at least partially deacetylated biopolymer.

Embodiments herein described provide devices for identifying and collecting rare cells or cells which occur at low frequency in the body of a subject, such as, antigen-specific cells or disease-specific cells. More specifically, the devices are useful for trapping immune cells and the devices contain a physiologically-compatible porous polymer scaffold, a plurality of antigens, and an immune cell-recruiting agent, wherein the plurality of antigens and the immune cell recruiting agent attract and trap the immune cell in the device. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and packages containing such devices. Additional embodiments relate to methods for making the devices, compositions, and kits/packages. Further embodiments relate to methods for using the devices, compositions, and/or kits in the diagnosis or therapy of diseases such as autoimmune diseases or cancers.

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

Disclosed is a porous structure including water-soluble chitosan; and a carboxymethyl cellulose-based compound, wherein a weight ratio of the water-soluble chitosan and the carboxymethyl cellulose-based compound is from 65:35 to 25:75, and a process for preparing the same.