The invention discloses a method of manufacturing polysaccharide beads, comprising the steps of: i) providing a water phase comprising an aqueous solution of a polysaccharide; ii) providing an oil phase comprising at least one water-immiscible organic solvent and at least one oil-soluble emulsifier; iii) emulsifying the water phase in the oil phase to form a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion; and iv) inducing solidification of the water phase in the w/o emulsion, wherein the organic solvent is an aliphatic or alicyclic ketone or ether.

The present invention relate to three dimensional porous polysaccharide matrices able to induce mineralisation of a tissue in osseous site, as well as in non-osseous site, in the absence of stent cells or growth factors.

The present invention relates to a compound having a macromolecular carrier having a plurality of terminal groups, wherein the carbonyl group of serine is linked by a peptide bond or an ester bond directly or via a linker to the terminal groups, a carrier for drug delivery composed of the compound, and a medicament for preventing or treating renal diseases, containing the carrier for drug delivery and a drug bonded to the carrier directly or via a linker or encapsulated therein. According to the present invention, a carrier for drug delivery that is selectively accumulated in kidney in vivo can be provided.

The present invention concerns a block copolymer having at least one oligo- or polysaccharide block and at least one elastin-like polypeptide block, wherein said block copolymer comprises at least one repetitive unit having the following formula (I):

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wherein R′ is the side chain of a natural or synthetic amino acid other than proline and derivatives thereof.

A composition includes a target pharmaceutical or biological agent, a solution containing the target pharmaceutical or biological agent, and substrate that is soluble in the solution. The substrate is capable of being solidified via a solidification process and the solidification process causes the substrate to become physically or chemically cross-linked, vitrified, or crystallized. As a result of the solidification process, particles are formed. The target pharmaceutical or biological agent within the solution retains proper conformation to ultimately produce a desired effect.

Fluid contaminants may be prevalent in many industries, such as the mining industry. Functionalized saccharide polymers comprising two or more monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds and having a portion of the monosaccharide units oxidatively opened and functionalized with at least one aminocarboxylic acid covalently bound through nitrogen at a site of oxidative opening may be utilized in conjunction with fluid remediation processes, such as froth flotation. In non-limiting examples, the functionalized saccharide polymers may also be useful for promoting dust control, particulate coating, clay stabilization, and various subterranean treatment operations. Glycine represents one example of an aminocarboxylic acid that may be covalently bonded through nitrogen at a site of oxidative opening.

Compositions comprising a reaction product of a saccharide polymer and a fatty ester may be obtained in an aqueous phase in the presence of a hydroxide base and a neutral surfactant, the saccharide polymer comprising a dextran, a dextrin compound, or any combination thereof. The compositions also comprise one or more alcohols originating from the fatty ester upon forming the reaction product of the saccharide polymer and the fatty ester. The reaction product of the saccharide polymer and the fatty ester may be present in the aqueous phase at a concentration effective to lower a surface tension of the neutral surfactant. The fatty ester may comprise one or more glycerol esters, such as one or more plant and/or animal oils and/or fats, and the one or more alcohols originating from the fatty ester may comprise glycerol. Fatty acids originating from the fatty ester may be substantially straight-chain fatty acids.

Compositions are disclosed herein comprising one or more crosslinked dextrans or crosslinked dextran-poly alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymers. Further disclosed are processes for preparing such crosslinked materials, as well as their use in absorption applications.

Compositions are disclosed herein comprising a graft copolymer having (i) a backbone comprising dextran with a molecular weight of at least about 100000 Daltons, and poly alpha-1,3-glucan side chains comprising at least about 95% alpha-1,3-glucosidic linkages. Further disclosed are reactions for producing such graft copolymers, as well as their use in absorbent materials.

Synthetic polymers, e.g., synthetic heparin mimetics, are provided, including hydrogel compositions incorporating the synthetic polymers. Methods of making and using the synthetic polymers are also provided.