The invention provides surfactant compounds of formulas I-IX, which can be used in methods for aiding the solubilization, digestion, preparation, analysis, and/or characterization of biological material, for example, proteins or cell membranes. The compounds can also aid in the recovery of peptides generated during protein digestion, particularly for in-gel digestion protocol. Additionally, the compounds can improve enzymatic protein deglycosylation without interfering with downstream sample preparation steps and mass spectrometric analysis. The compounds can be specifically useful as digestion aids that can be decomposed by an acid, by heat, or a combination thereof. Decomposition of the surfactants allows for facile separation from isolated samples, and/or allows for analysis of the sample without interfering with the sensitivity of various analytical techniques.

The invention provides surfactant compounds of formulas I-IX, which can be used in methods for aiding the solubilization, digestion, preparation, analysis, and/or characterization of biological material, for example, proteins or cell membranes. The compounds can also aid in the recovery of peptides generated during protein digestion, particularly for in-gel digestion protocol. Additionally, the compounds can improve enzymatic protein deglycosylation without interfering with downstream sample preparation steps and mass spectrometric analysis. The compounds can be specifically useful as digestion aids that can be decomposed by an acid, by heat, or a combination thereof. Decomposition of the surfactants allows for facile separation from isolated samples, and/or allows for analysis of the sample without interfering with the sensitivity of various analytical techniques.

The invention relates to a novel sulfobetaine monomer and to a process for the preparation thereof, advantageously by reaction between a vinyl-amine compound and a vinyl-sulfonic acid compound, preferably in the presence of a solubilizing agent. The invention also relates to the (co)polymers obtained from this novel type of sulfobetaine monomer, and to the use thereof, for example as a flocculant, dispersing agent, thickening agent, absorbent agent or friction-reducing agent.

The invention relates to a novel sulfobetaine monomer and to a process for the preparation thereof, advantageously by reaction between a vinyl-amine compound and a vinyl-sulfonic acid compound, preferably in the presence of a solubilizing agent. The invention also relates to the (co)polymers obtained from this novel type of sulfobetaine monomer, and to the use thereof, for example as a flocculant, dispersing agent, thickening agent, absorbent agent or friction-reducing agent.

Provided herein are compounds, including enantiomerically pure forms thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or co-crystals and prodrugs thereof which have glucagon receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity. Further, provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same as well as methods of treating, preventing, delaying the time to onset or reducing the risk for the development or progression of a disease or condition for which one or more glucagon receptor antagonist is indicated, including Type I and II diabetes, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Moreover, provided herein are methods of making or manufacturing compounds disclosed herein, including enantiomerically pure forms thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or Co-crystals and prodrugs thereof. ##STR00001##

Provided herein are compounds, including enantiomerically pure forms thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or co-crystals and prodrugs thereof which have glucagon receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity. Further, provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same as well as methods of treating, preventing, delaying the time to onset or reducing the risk for the development or progression of a disease or condition for which one or more glucagon receptor antagonist is indicated, including Type I and II diabetes, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Moreover, provided herein are methods of making or manufacturing compounds disclosed herein, including enantiomerically pure forms thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or Co-crystals and prodrugs thereof. ##STR00001##

A method for purifying acrylamide alkyl sulfonic acid comprises: (1) making a material A evenly mixed and contacted with a solvent C, an amount of the material A exceeding a solubility of the material A in the solvent C under the condition where the material A is located, therefore the material A is not completely dissolved by the solvent C; (2) keeping the material A even mixed and contacted with the solvent C for at least 5 minutes; (3) performing a solid-liquid separation to obtain a solid, namely, a purified product B with impurities reduced. In the purifying method according to the invention, the material does not need to be completely dissolved, therefore less solvent is used, and the steps of dissolving the material by increasing temperature, separating out by decreasing temperature or removing the solvent are eliminated, so cost is reduced, efficiency is improved, and operations are simplified.

A method for purifying acrylamide alkyl sulfonic acid comprises: (1) making a material A evenly mixed and contacted with a solvent C, an amount of the material A exceeding a solubility of the material A in the solvent C under the condition where the material A is located, therefore the material A is not completely dissolved by the solvent C; (2) keeping the material A even mixed and contacted with the solvent C for at least 5 minutes; (3) performing a solid-liquid separation to obtain a solid, namely, a purified product B with impurities reduced. In the purifying method according to the invention, the material does not need to be completely dissolved, therefore less solvent is used, and the steps of dissolving the material by increasing temperature, separating out by decreasing temperature or removing the solvent are eliminated, so cost is reduced, efficiency is improved, and operations are simplified.

A method for purifying acrylamide alkyl sulfonic acid comprises: (1) making a material A evenly mixed and contacted with a solvent C, an amount of the material A exceeding a solubility of the material A in the solvent C under the condition where the material A is located, therefore the material A is not completely dissolved by the solvent C; (2) keeping the material A even mixed and contacted with the solvent C for at least 5 minutes; (3) performing a solid-liquid separation to obtain a solid, namely, a purified product B with impurities reduced. In the purifying method according to the invention, the material does not need to be completely dissolved, therefore less solvent is used, and the steps of dissolving the material by increasing temperature, separating out by decreasing temperature or removing the solvent are eliminated, so cost is reduced, efficiency is improved, and operations are simplified.

Therapeutically-effective amounts of novel analogs or derivatives of alkyl fatty acids, such as but not limited to lipoic acid, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising such analogs or derivatives and pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers therefor, are useful for the treatment, prevention, imaging, and/or diagnosis of medical disorders.