Disclosed herein are embodiments of compounds, conjugates, and devices, such as columns comprising such compounds and/or conjugates, that can be used to identify, separate, and quantify post-translationally modified analytes. The disclosed compounds and conjugates can be used to discriminate between analytes, such as peptides, having different post-translation modifications, such as methylations, phosphorylations, acetylations, citrullinations, hydroxylations, nitrosylations, ADP-ribosylations, glycosylations, propionylations, butyrylations, crotonylations, 2-hydroxyisobutyrylations, malonylations, succinylations, formylations, ubiquitinations, neddylations, proline cis-trans isomerizations. In particular disclosed embodiments, the compounds and conjugates can be used to separate peptides having different degrees of methylation.

The subject invention pertains to a long-term antigen depot that can bypass FBR and engage DCs to mature and migrate to lymph nodes to activate antigen-specific T-cell activations. Leveraging on the immunomodulatory properties of exogenous polysaccharides and the anti-fouling characteristics of zwitterionic phosphorylcholine (PC) polymer, the invention features a PC functionalized dextran (PCDX) hydrogel for long-term antigen delivery. PCDX in both injectable scaffold and microparticles (MPs) forms effectively evades FBR and provides slow release of antigens resulting in local enrichment of CD11c.sup.+ DCs at the MPs injection sites. DC cultured on PCDX exhibits strong immunogenic activation with high CD86, CD40, MHC-I/peptide complex. PCDX also generates DC with propensity in migration to lymph nodes, as well as antigen presentation to trigger both CD4+ and CD8+ arms of T-cell responses. Besides cellular responses, PCDX can also induce potent humoral responses, with high levels of antigen specific IgG1 and IgG2a by day 28. Overall, PCDX provides long-term delivery of antigens for vaccine development.

The invention provides a method of preparing a biocompatible hydrogel, a hydrogel obtainable by that method, a biocompatible hydrogel for non-covalent immobilization of one or more enzyme(s), and a composition including any of those hydrogels. The invention further provides a method for encapsulating one or more enzyme(s) in a hydrogel as described herein and the use of any of said hydrogels for non-covalent immobilization of one or more enzyme(s) in the hydrogel or the use of any of said hydrogels in a biosensor. Additionally, the present invention provides a kit containing the composition or the hydrogel according to the present invention.

The present invention provides compositions and methods to inhibit fibrosis and scarring associated with surgery. The present invention relates to the discovery that a synthetic anionic polymer consisting of dextran-sulfate (anionic carbohydrate) conjugated to Tirofiban (an anti-platelet agent which prevents platelet activation and aggregation) can effectively inhibit adhesions that form during surgery. This application is a continuation in part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/202,006. The novel biocompatible conjugate compound of the original application can effectively inhibit fibrosis, scar formation, and surgical adhesions. The invention is predicated on the discovery that the conjugate compound effectively inhibits the invasion of cells which is associated with detrimental healing processes without affecting platelet populations. Use of any of several different anionic components with any of several different anti-platelet agents results in many different specific embodiments of the invention. Thus, the invention provides a large number of materials for use in methods of inhibiting fibrosis and fibroblast invasion. The anionic component for use in the invention includes all proteoglycans, glyosaminoglycans, pentosan polysulfates, alginates and the anti-platelet agent can be on synthetic, peptides, proteins or antibodies. A preferred embodiment of the invention is one in which the conjugate compound dextran sulfate is paired with pentosan polysulfate. In a more preferred specific embodiment, dextran sulfate, in which the sulfur content is greater than about 10% by weight, may be used. In a more preferred embodiment, the average molecular weight of the final bound compound is approximately 40,000 to 500,000 Daltons.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous scaffold for tissue engineering. It is another object of the present invention to provide a porous scaffold obtainable by the method as above described, and its use for tissue engineering, cell culture and cell delivery. The method of the invention comprise the steps consisting of a) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising an amount of at least one polysaccharide and one cross-linking agent b) freezing the aqueous solution of step a) c) sublimating the frozen solution of step b) characterized in that step b) is performed before the cross-linking of the polysaccharide occurs in the solution of step a).

Solutions formed by combining poly((1.fwdarw.3) glucan) with CS.sub.2 in aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution have been shown to produce the xanthated form of the poly((1.fwdarw.3) glucan). The solutions so formed have been shown to be useful for solution spinning into fiber of poly((1.fwdarw.3) glucan) when the spun fiber is coagulated in an acidic coagulation bath. The fibers so produced exhibit desirable physical properties. The poly((1.fwdarw.3) glucan) employed was synthesized by fermentation.

Provided are methods of attaching a mannose-binding C-type lectin receptor targeting moiety to a polymeric carbohydrate backbone using an amide linkage. The amide linkage may be found between a leash, such as an amine terminated leash, and the mannose-binding C-type lectin receptor targeting moieties. The compounds and compositions disclosed utilizing the amide linkage provide for highly stable compounds with a significant reduction in loss of mannose-binding C-type lectin receptor targeting moieties from the polymeric carbohydrate backbone.

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 relates to the use of a methacrylate or acrylate modified polysaccharide; or a single-chain polysaccharide methacrylate or acrylate-based nanoparticle, having a surface tension measured by Du Noy Ring method equal to or lower than 63 mN/m, as oil-in-water emulsion stabilizer; and an oil-in-water emulsion stabilizer composition, and an oil-in-water emulsion containing them. It also relates to processes for their preparation, and their uses.

A crosslinked dextran polymer, bearing carboxylate groups, wherein at least two saccharidic units of dextran belonging to two different polymer chains are covalently linked by at least one at least divalent radical, this at least divalent radical being a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical including at least 15 carbon atoms and optionally heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur.