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.

Provided herein are core-shell microcapsules useful for compartmentalizing biological molecules in solution. Also provided are processes for manufacturing core-shell microcapsules and methods for using core-shell microcapsules to compartmentalize and optionally process biological entities and molecules.

A hydrogel particle that has an average cross-sectional diameter in the range from 1 micrometer (μm) to 1000 μm, wherein the particle includes a first polymer network with an average mesh size that allows diffusion of a molecule with an hydrodynamic radius of 1000 nanometer (nm) or less into the first polymer network and which particle includes one or more binding molecules that are immobilized by the polymer network. The hydrogel particle preferably has wherein the first polymer network has an average mesh size that prevents diffusion of a molecule with an average hydrodynamic radius of more than 1000 nm to diffuse into the first polymer network, preferably the mesh size prevents diffusion of a molecule with an average hydrodynamic radius of more than 100 nm, and preferably more than 5 nm. Methods for reducing the bioavailability of one or more soluble biological molecules in a biological system by using the described hydrogel particle.

A hydrogel of which the degradation is accurately controlled can be provided by a photodegradable hydrogel production method, the method comprising the steps of: reacting α-glucan having a weight average molecular weight of 2000 to 200,000 with a compound represented by formula I to introduce a group represented by formula II into the α-glucan; oxidizing the α-glucan having, introduced therein, the group represented by formula II with periodic acid or a periodate salt to introduce an aldehyde group into the α-glucan; and adding aminated carrageenan gel beads having polydopamine particles embedded therein to a gelling agent which has been prepared by introducing a group represented by formula II and an aldehyde group into α-glucan, and then causing the crosslinking reaction of the resultant product with a polythiol-type reducing agent to form the hydrogel.

Compositions are disclosed herein comprising a graft copolymer that comprises: (i) a backbone comprising dextran that has been modified with about 1%-25% alpha-1,2 branches, and (ii) one or more alpha-1,3-glucan side chains comprising at least about 50% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Further disclosed are reactions for producing such graft copolymers, as well as their use in derivatives, films and various other applications.

Fiber-containing composites are described that contain woven or non-woven fibers, and a cured binder formed from a binder composition that includes (1) a reducing sugar and (2) a crosslinking agent that includes a first carbon moiety selected from an aldehyde, a ketone, a nitrile, and a nitro group, wherein an α-carbon atom having at least one acidic hydrogen is directly bonded to the first carbon moiety. Exemplary reducing sugars include dextrose and exemplary crosslinking agents include glyoxal. Exemplary fiber-containing composites may include fiberglass insulation.

Fiber-containing composites are described that contain woven or non-woven fibers, and a cured binder formed from a binder composition that includes (1) a reducing sugar and (2) a crosslinking agent that includes a first carbon moiety selected from an aldehyde, a ketone, a nitrile, and a nitro group, wherein an α-carbon atom having at least one acidic hydrogen is directly bonded to the first carbon moiety. Exemplary reducing sugars include dextrose and exemplary crosslinking agents include glyoxal. Exemplary fiber-containing composites may include fiberglass insulation.

A curable resin and method is disclosed. In one example, the curable resin is for the manufacture of mineral fiber products such as mineral wool insulating products. The curable resin includes components a), b) and c), wherein a) is a saccharide, b) is a polycarboxylic crosslinking agent, and c) is a polyvalent metal oxide curing accelerator. In one example, the curable resin is formaldehyde free.

The present invention relates to a biocompatible nanoparticle and a use thereof and, more specifically, to a biocompatible nanoparticle formed by irradiation an electron beam to an aqueous solution comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide, a derivative thereof and a polyethylene glycol, thereby inducing inter-molecular cross-linking or intra-molecular cross-linking, and to a use of the biocompatible nanoparticle in a drug carrier, a contrast agent, a diagnostic agent or an intestinal adhesion prevention agent or for disease prevention and treatment.

A hydrogel particle that has an average cross-sectional diameter in the range from 1 micrometer (m) to 1000 m, wherein the particle includes a first polymer network with an average mesh size that allows diffusion of a molecule with an hydrodynamic radius of 1000 nanometer (nm) or less into the first polymer network and which particle includes one or more binding molecules that are immobilized by the polymer network. The hydrogel particle preferably has wherein the first polymer network has an average mesh size that prevents diffusion of a molecule with an average hydrodynamic radius of more than 1000 nm to diffuse into the first polymer network, preferably the mesh size prevents diffusion of a molecule with an average hydrodynamic radius of more than 100 nm, and preferably more than 5 nm. Methods for reducing the bioavailability of one or more soluble biological molecules in a biological system by using the described hydrogel particle.