This invention relates to a biodegradable composite material, wherein the composite material comprises a seaweed extract in an amount of 30-70 % by weight, a biodegradable filler in an amount of 20-60 % by weight and water in an amount of 1-20 % by weight of the total weight of the composite. The invention also relates to: products, including packaging material and crockery formed from the composite material, a method of dissolving, composting and biodegrading the composite material or the products, a method of producing the composite material and the products, and a method of re-working the composite material.

Provided are methods of controlling disassociation of cells from a carrier, compositions, and methods of collecting cells. The methods of controlling disassociation of cells from a carrier may include contacting a polymeric carrier with one or more digesting agents to disassociate at least a portion of a plurality of cells from the polymeric carrier. The polymeric carrier may be crosslinked with a crosslinker including at least one of a redox sensitive moiety, a UV light sensitive moiety, a pH sensitive moiety, and a temperature sensitive moiety.

Provided are methods of controlling disassociation of cells from a carrier, compositions, and methods of collecting cells. The methods of controlling disassociation of cells from a carrier may include contacting a polymeric carrier with one or more digesting agents to disassociate at least a portion of a plurality of cells from the polymeric carrier. The polymeric carrier may be crosslinked with a crosslinker including at least one of a redox sensitive moiety, a UV light sensitive moiety, a pH sensitive moiety, and a temperature sensitive moiety.

The present invention relates to a process for crosslinking polysaccharides from macroalgae to yield a polymer material in a processing chamber. The process includes the steps of producing a mixture comprising a solid containing polysaccharide from macroalgae and a water-containing liquid, with a ratio of liquid to solid of between 3:1 and 1:9, adjusting a pressure acting on the mixture to at least the vapour pressure of water at a first temperature, the first temperature being greater than/equal to 100° Celsius, and heating the mixture to the first temperature, wherein the solid comprises as polysaccharide at least one of alginate, alginic acid, agar and/or Carrageenan. The invention further relates to a process for producing a biopolymer product from such a polymer material in an apparatus comprising a processing chamber and a shaping apparatus. The invention also relates to a biopolymer product obtained by such a process.

The invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprising at least one polyelectrolytic hydrocolloid.

The invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprising at least one polyelectrolytic hydrocolloid.

The invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprising at least one polyelectrolytic hydrocolloid.

A method of treating a bacterial infection in a subject includes administering at least a first finely divided (particulate) material, which may have at least a second material, the first material is not bioresorbable or very slowly bioresorable and the second material or materials are bioresorbable at a higher rate than the first material, allowing a certain period of time to pass in order to provide for the first particulate material to be exposed to the body and/or second material or materials to be wholly or partly absorbed by the body of the subject, and administering one or more pharmaceutically active compounds. The first material is optionally pre-loaded or soaked with one or more pharmaceutically active compounds, and the second material is optionally pre-loaded or soaked with one or more pharmaceutically active compounds. The pharmaceutically active compound is a compound capable of treating or ameliorating a bacterial infection.

A method of treating a bacterial infection in a subject includes administering at least a first finely divided (particulate) material, which may have at least a second material, the first material is not bioresorbable or very slowly bioresorable and the second material or materials are bioresorbable at a higher rate than the first material, allowing a certain period of time to pass in order to provide for the first particulate material to be exposed to the body and/or second material or materials to be wholly or partly absorbed by the body of the subject, and administering one or more pharmaceutically active compounds. The first material is optionally pre-loaded or soaked with one or more pharmaceutically active compounds, and the second material is optionally pre-loaded or soaked with one or more pharmaceutically active compounds. The pharmaceutically active compound is a compound capable of treating or ameliorating a bacterial infection.

A gel forming composition for radiation dosimetry, and a high sensitivity and high safety radiation dosimeter using a gel formed from the composition. A gel forming composition for radiation dosimetry comprising a gelator and a compound of Formula (1): ##STR00001##
(wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted C.sub.1-12 alkyl group, etc.; and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted C.sub.1-12 alkyl group, an optionally substituted monovalent C.sub.6-12 aromatic group, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 form a 4- to 8-membered ring together with a carbon atom to which R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are bonded, and the 4-to 8-membered ring may have 0 to 3 nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, or sulfur atoms as a ring atom, provided that R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are not simultaneously a hydrogen atom).