A resin composition is provided that comprises a resin and a phosphorus-based flame retardant. The resin includes a β-1,3-glucan derivative resin having a main chain having a structure represented by the following structural formula (1):

##STR00001##

where each of Rs is independently a hydrogen atom or an alkylcarbonyl group, at least one of Rs is an alkylcarbonyl group, and n is a natural number. The phosphorus-based flame retardant has an average particle diameter of 5 μm or less in the resin.

The present invention concerns a block copolymer having at least one oligo- or polysaccharide block and at least one elastin-like polypeptide block, wherein said block copolymer comprises at least one repetitive unit having the following formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R′ is the side chain of a natural or synthetic amino acid other than proline and derivatives thereof.

Reaction compositions are disclosed herein comprising at least water, alpha-glucose-1-phosphate (alpha-G1P), an acceptor molecule, and a beta-1,3-glucan phosphorylase enzyme. These reactions can synthesize oligosaccharides and polysaccharides with beta-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Further disclosed are methods of isolating beta-1,3-glucan.

A preparation method for an esterified selenium polysaccharide includes the steps of: adding O═SeCl.sub.2 dropwise to a triethylamine-containing D-galactose allyl glucoside solution and reacting at room temperature to obtain 3,4-oxo-cyclo selenite galactose allyl glucoside; mixing NaHCO.sub.3 into a polysaccharide solution, adding acryloyl chloride dropwise to the polysaccharide solution and maintaining a temperature of a reaction solution to not exceed 40° C. during a dropwise addition to obtain acrylated polysaccharide; and performing a displacement reaction of the acrylated polysaccharide with the 3,4-oxo-cyclo selenite galactose allyl glucoside under an action of a Ru catalyst to obtain the esterified selenium polysaccharide. The esterified selenium polysaccharide prepared by the preparation method improves an immunity of a tested organism by increasing a selenium content in blood.

A paramylon-based resin having a weight-average molecular weight of paramylon in a range of 70000 to 140000, and formed by substituting hydrogen atoms of hydroxy groups of a paramylon with a long-chain component being a linear saturated aliphatic acyl group having 14 or more carbon atoms and a short-chain component being an acyl group (acetyl group or/and propionyl group) having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, wherein a degree of substitution with the long-chain component (DS.sub.Lo) and a degree of substitution with the short-chain component (DS.sub.Sh) satisfy the following conditional expressions (1) and (2), Izod impact strength is 5.0 kJ/m.sup.2 or more, and an MFR (melt flow rate at 210° C. and under a load of 5 kg) is 2 g/10 min or more. To provide a paramylon-based resin excellent in mechanical characteristics and thermoplasticity. 2.2≤DS.sub.Lo+DS.sub.Sh≤2.8 (1) 5≤DS.sub.Sh/DS.sub.Lo≤25 (2)

The present invention concerns an improved process for biorefinery of brown macroalgae, which comprises: (a) contacting the brown macroalgae with a solvent system comprising at least 30 wt % organic solvent, to obtain extracted macroalgae as solid residue and a liquor; and (b) biorefining the extracted macroalgae. The inventors have found that the contacting of step (a) results in an efficient and cost-effective dewatering of the macroalgae, wherein up to 95 wt % of the internal moisture of the macroalgae could be lost without the need for energy-consuming drying techniques. As such, the downstream biorefinery of the extracted macroalgae is greatly facilitated.

Reaction compositions are disclosed herein comprising at least water, alpha-glucose-1-phosphate (alpha-G1P), an acceptor molecule, and a beta-1,3-glucan phosphorylase enzyme. These reactions can synthesize oligosaccharides and polysaccharides with beta-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Further disclosed are methods of isolating beta-1,3-glucan.

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.

A process for preparation of cereal fractions. The process comprises wet milling of oat grains or barley grains in the presence of an enzyme composition derived from malt; and when oat grains or barley grains are wet milled, optionally isolating, from the wet milled grains, a beta-glucan enriched fraction. Liquid and solid food products obtainable by the process.

A paramylon-based resin having a weight-average molecular weight of paramylon in a range of 70000 to 140000, and formed by substituting hydrogen atoms of hydroxy groups of a paramylon with a long-chain component being a linear saturated aliphatic acyl group having 14 or more carbon atoms and a short-chain component being an acyl group (acetyl group or/and propionyl group) having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, wherein a degree of substitution with the long-chain component (DS.sub.Lo) and a degree of substitution with the short-chain component (DS.sub.Sh) satisfy the following conditional expressions (1) and (2), Izod impact strength is 5.0 kJ/m.sup.2 or more, and an MFR (melt flow rate at 210° C. and under a load of 5 kg) is 2 g/10 min or more. To provide a paramylon-based resin excellent in mechanical characteristics and thermoplasticity. 2.2≤DS.sub.Lo+DS.sub.Sh≤2.8 (1) 5≤DS.sub.Sh/DS.sub.Lo≤25 (2)