The present invention provides a method for the production of oligosaccharides by the fermentation of dextransucrase-producing microorganisms with sucrose and maltose. The disclosed process allows for the control of the final composition of the isomaltooligosaccharides by adjustments to pH and the initial ratio of sucrose to maltose.

A preparation of a homogeneous polysaccharide from a Radix Puerariae aqueous extract is provided and the lipid-lowering activity of the polysaccharide is studied. It is proved through in vivo experiments that the homogeneous polysaccharide QL extracted from Radix Puerariae (a genuine medicinal material in Jiangxi Province) in the present disclosure has significant lipid-lowering activity, can significantly reduce a serum triglyceride content and a liver index, and can be used to develop a potential safe and effective lipid-lowering drug.

Disclosed herein are processes for producing precipitated calcium carbonate. In one embodiment, the process comprises the steps of a) providing an aqueous slurry of calcium hydroxide; b) adding a polysaccharide to the slurry of calcium hydroxide; and c) carbonating the slurry of calcium hydroxide. The polysaccharide comprises poly alpha-1,3-glucan, a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compound as disclosed herein, or a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound as disclosed herein. The precipitated calcium carbonate produced by the process can be useful in making paper.

Poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compounds are disclosed herein with a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 3.0. Also disclosed are methods of producing poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compounds using cyclic organic anhydrides.

Described herein are methods of producing prebiotic compositions that are made up of oligosaccharide compositions, as well as methods of using such prebiotic compositions in nutritional compositions and methods of producing such oligosaccharide and nutritional compositions.

Disclosed herein are compositions comprising polysaccharide particles with an average size of about 0.1-10 mm. These particles comprise at least (i) about 50%-90% by weight water or an aqueous solution, and (ii) about 10%-50% by weight insoluble alpha-glucan, or an insoluble cationic ether thereof, comprising alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages and having a weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of at least about 100. Further disclosed are methods of preparing these compositions, as well as systems for storing and/or moving them.

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.

The disclosure relates to poly alpha-1,6-glucan ester compounds comprising poly alpha-1,6-glucan substituted with at least one ester group as defined herein and having a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 3.0. The poly alpha-1,6-glucan comprises a backbone of glucose monomer units wherein greater than or equal to 40% of the glucose monomer units are linked via alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages, and optionally at least 5% of the backbone glucose monomer units have branches via alpha-1,2 and/or alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Compositions comprising a poly alpha-1,6-glucan ester compound can be useful in various applications.

A laundry care or dish care composition can include a poly alpha-1,6-glucan derivative, wherein the poly alpha-1,6-glucan derivative includes: (i) a poly alpha-1,6-glucan backbone of glucose monomer units; and (ii) at least one hydrophobic organic group linked to the poly alpha-1,6-glucan backbone through an ether (—O—) linkage moiety; wherein, the poly alpha-1,6-glucan backbone has a weight average degree of polymerization of at least 5; wherein, the poly alpha-1,6-glucan derivative has a degree of substitution of ether linkage moiety of from 0.20 to 1.00; wherein the poly alpha-1,6-glucan derivative is substantially free from hydrophilic substitution.

Compositions are disclosed herein comprising one or more crosslinked dextrans or crosslinked dextran-poly alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymers. Further disclosed are processes for preparing such crosslinked materials, as well as their use in absorption applications.