A method for the synthesis of alkyl -carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharides is described. The method includes methylating or ethylating a polysaccharide or providing a methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, hydroxyethylating the methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, and oxidizing the hydroxyethylated polysaccharide to form the -carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharide. A method for the synthesis of oxidized polysaccharides is also described. The method includes hydroxypropylating a polysaccharide and oxidizing the hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. A method for the production of a solid capable of forming a hydrogel is also described. The method includes combining a first solution comprising an oxidized oligo(hydroxypropyl) polysaccharide bearing one or more ketone groups with a second solution comprising an amine substituted polysaccharide to form a third solution, and removing solvent from the third solution to form the solid, or adding an additional solvent to the third solution to precipitate the solid. Novel polysaccharides and hydrogels prepared according to these methods are also described.

The invention relates to an iron oligosaccharide compound with improved stability comprising a hydrogenated oligosaccharide in stable association with ferric oxyhydroxide, the content of dimer saccharide in said hydrogenated oligosaccharide being 2.9% by weight or less, based on the total weight of the hydrogenated oligosaccharide. In further aspects is provided a process for preparing said compound as well as the use of said compound for preparation of a composition for treatment of iron deficiency anaemia.

Compositions comprising a reaction product of a saccharide polymer and a fatty acid or 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 neutral surfactant may comprise at least one compound having a structure of

##STR00001##

in which R.sup.1 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group having about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-C.sub.4 optionally branched alkyl, CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.2O(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.xCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH (x is 0 or a positive integer), CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH, CO.sub.2H, or CH.sub.2SO.sub.3.sup., and R.sup.3 is H or C.sub.1-C.sub.4 optionally branched alkyl, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are not simultaneously CH.sub.2OH and H, respectively. The reaction product of the saccharide polymer may be present in the aqueous phase at a concentration effective to lower a surface tension of the neutral surfactant.

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 stem cells or growth factors.

Compositions and methods of making a modified polyhydroxylated polymer comprising a polyhydroxylated polymer having reversibly modified hydroxyl groups, whereby the hydroxyl groups are modified by an acid-catalyzed reaction between a polydroxylated polymer and a reagent such as acetals, aldehydes, vinyl ethers and ketones such that the modified polyhydroxylated polymers become insoluble in water but freely soluble in common organic solvents allowing for the facile preparation of acid-sensitive materials. Materials made from these polymers can be made to degrade in a pH-dependent manner. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargoes were successfully loaded into particles made from the present polymers using single and double emulsion techniques, respectively. Due to its ease of preparation, processability, pH-sensitivity, and biocompatibility, of the present modified polyhydroxylated polymers should find use in numerous drug delivery applications.

A hydrogel product including a cross-linked polymer mixture of dextran cross-linked to hyaluronic acid, and one or more cyclodextrin molecules. The one or more cyclodextrin molecules are grafted onto the cross-linked polymer mixture, e.g. by amide bonds. The dextran may be cross-linked to the hyaluronic acid by ether bonds. The one or more cyclodextrin molecules may be grafted onto the cross-linked hyaluronic acid by amide bonds.

An enzymatically produced soluble -glucan fiber composition is provided suitable for use as a digestion resistant fiber in food and feed applications. The soluble -glucan fiber composition can be blended with one or more additional food ingredients to produce fiber-containing compositions. Methods for the production and use of compositions comprising the soluble -glucan fiber are also provided.

The present invention concerns methods and compositions for delivery of therapeutic agents to target cells, tissues or organisms. In preferred embodiments, the therapeutic agents are delivered in the form of therapeutic-loaded polymers that may comprise many copies of one or more therapeutic agents. In more preferred embodiments, the polymer may be conjugated to a peptide moiety that contains one or more haptens, such as HSG. The agent-polymer-peptide complex may be delivered to target cells by, for example, a pre-targeting technique utilizing bispecific or multispecific antibodies or fragments, having at least one binding arm that recognizes the hapten and at least a second binding arm that binds specifically to a disease or pathogen associated antigen, such as a tumor associated antigen. Methods for synthesizing and using such therapeutic-loaded polymers and their conjugates are provided.

A hydrogel product including one or more cyclodextrin molecules grafted to hyaluronic acid and dextran, wherein the cyclodextrin-grafted hyaluronic acid is cross-linked to the dextran. The one or more cyclodextrin molecules are grafted, e.g. by amide bonds, to the hyaluronic acid prior to the cross-linking with dextran. The cyclodextrin-grafted hyaluronic acid may be cross-linked to the dextran by ether bonds.

Disclosure of methods and compositions related to chemical conjugations to nanoparticles of polysaccharides cross-linked to poloxamers as well as nano-sized colloids comprised of polysaccharides and poloxamers. The nanoparticles may be produced by various methods including inverse miniemulsion polymerization processes which create nanogels of desired size, shape, and stability for controlled therapeutic drug delivery, imaging, and theragnostic applications.