The invention relates to a device for detecting analytes, including a plastic substrate at least partially covered by bonding polymers attached to the substrate in a non-covalent manner, said bonding polymers comprising a polysaccharide backbone provided with aromatic groupings and carboxylic acid groupings.

The subject matter of the invention is dextrans which have between 95% and 99% of -1,6 glucosidic bonds, a weight-average molar mass M.sub.w at least equal to 0.710.sup.9 g.mol.sup.1, and a dispersity index D of between 1.3 and 3. The invention also relates to a dextran saccharase which makes it possible to produce such dextrans, and to a method for producing said dextrans.

Modified polysaccharides and crosslinked modified polysaccharide compositions are described. Methods of using the crosslinked modified polysaccharide compositions to deliver proteins, oligonucleotides, or pharmaceutical agents are also disclosed.

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.

Compositions for improving the health of a subject comprise alpha-(1,2)-branched alpha-(1,6) oligodextrans, preferably with an average molecular weight between about 10 kDa and 70 kDa, between about 10% and 50% alpha-(1,2)-osidic side chains, and having at least partial indigestibility in the subject. Methods for improving the health of a subject comprise administering the composition to a subject in an amount effective to improve gut health, or to prevent or treat a gastrointestinal disorder, a cholesterol-related disorder, diabetes, or obesity. Methods for making oligodextrans having controlled size and controlled degree of branching comprise providing alpha-(1,6) oligodextrans having an average molecular weight between 0.5 and 100 kDa and introducing at least 10% alpha-(1,2)-osidic side chains onto the alpha-(1,6) oligodextrans.

The present invention relates to site-selective modification of polysaccharides at their reducing end by conjugation with a single aminoxy-Regioselective Addressable Functionalized Template (RAFT) peptide.

Therapeutic compositions and/or formulations are provided, comprising: at least one cross-linked protein matrix, wherein the at least one cross-linked protein matrix comprises at least one protein residue and at least one saccharide-containing residue, and methods of producing the same. The cross-linked protein matrix may be derived from cross-linking a full length or substantially full length protein, such as tropoelastin, elastin, albumin, collagen, collagen monomers, immunoglobulins, insulin, and/or derivatives or combinations thereof, with a saccharide containing cross-linking agent, such as a polysaccharide cross-linking agent derived from, for example, hyaluronic acid or a cellulose derivative. The therapeutic compositions may be administered topically or by injection. The present disclosure also provides methods, systems, and/or kits for the preparation and/or formulation of the compositions disclosed herein.

Methods of preparing dried powders of biologically active compositions are disclosed. They are designed to provide dried material that maintains biological activity at low economic cost. Compositions made by the above methods are also described.

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 present invention provides novel compositions and methods for producing protein-polysaccharide conjugates in aqueous solutions. Also provided are methods for limiting the Maillard reaction to the very initial stage, the formation of the Schiff base. Provided are methods to obtain a simple product of Schiff base with white color, and compositions obtained using the methods of the present invention.