The present invention relates to a method for degrading a polysaccharide in the field of food, medicine or chemical industry. In particular, a molecular chain of the polysaccharide is broken by ozone into polysaccharides with smaller molecular weights, oligoses and/or oligosaccharides. The polysaccharides include linear or branched glycans extracted from plants, traditional Chinese medicinal materials, animals, fungi, or microorganisms and sulfated polysaccharides or esterified polysaccharides formed by sulfation or esterification thereof. As an oxidizing agent in the reaction, the ozone can be used alone or can be used under the catalysis of a base, a metal ion, hydrogen peroxide, UV light, or activated carbon to accelerate the reaction. The method for degrading the polysaccharide in the present invention uses milder reaction conditions compared to a conventional acid-catalytic degradation method, has higher reaction efficiency and a controllable reaction process, does not need to use an acid, and reduces environmental pollution.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides methods of distinguishing a glycosaminoglycan from one or more other components in a sample by subjecting the sample to size-exclusion chromatography using a mobile phase having a pH of 6.8 or lower. A mobile phase having a pH of 6.8 or lower is found to improve the separation of glycosaminoglycans from proteins during size exclusion chromatography. In some embodiments, improved separation is due to the low pH of the mobile phase causing elution of less dispersed fractions of the protein and/or glycosaminoglycan. In some embodiments, the overlap between protein and/or glycosaminoglycan fractions is reduced.

The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for generating a biomimetic proteoglycan. The invention includes methods of treating a disease, disorder, or condition of soft tissue using a biomimetic proteoglycan.

The present invention relates to an immune modulator having a novel structure, and an immunologic adjuvant composition containing the same and, more specifically, to an modulator, which is a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) analog having reduced toxicity, and a use thereof. The immune modulator of the present invention exhibits immune enhancement effects by having excellent innate immunity and ability to induce an adaptive immune response to a specific pathogen, and is very safe by having low toxicity. In addition, a vaccine containing the immune modulator of the present invention contains both an immune modulator and an alum, thereby improving immune enhancement effects compared with when using only the immune modulator.

Polymer conjugates are provided that are capable of mimicking functions of natural proteoglycans found in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. The polymer conjugates of the invention have utility in treating a subject suffering soft tissue conditions. Also provided are simple and scalable chemical processes for the preparation of the polymer conjugates of the invention.

Methods of synthesizing chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides are provided. Enzymatic schematic approaches to synthesizing structurally defined homogenous chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides at high yields are provided. Synthetic chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides ranging from 3-mers to 15-mers are provided.

Polymer conjugates are provided that are capable of mimicking functions of natural proteoglycans found in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. The polymer conjugates of the invention have utility in treating a subject suffering soft tissue conditions. Also provided are simple and scalable chemical processes for the preparation of the polymer conjugates of the invention.

The invention provides methods and compositions for making and using collagen-glycosaminoglycan three-dimensional scaffolds immobilized with biomolecules that are spatially and temporally patterned. The method comprises adding benzophenone to a collagen-glycosaminoglycan three dimensional scaffold in the dark; adding one or more biomolecules to one or more areas of the collagen-glycosaminoglycan three-dimensional scaffold (which can be done optionally in the dark or in the light); and exposing the collagen-2glycosaminoglycan three-dimensional scaffold to light at a wavelength of about 350 to about 365 nm.

Glycosaminoglycan esters, wherein at least part of the hydroxyl groups present on the N-acetylglucosamine residue are esterified with an apocarotenoid, their preparation, and their use in formulations for ophthalmic use are described.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides methods of distinguishing a glycosaminoglycan from one or more other components in a sample by subjecting the sample to size-exclusion chromatography using a mobile phase having a pH of 6.8 or lower. A mobile phase having a pH of 6.8 or lower is found to improve the separation of glycosaminoglycans from proteins during size exclusion chromatography. In some embodiments, improved separation is due to the low pH of the mobile phase causing elution of less dispersed fractions of the protein and/or glycosaminoglycan. In some embodiments, the overlap between protein and/or glycosaminoglycan fractions is reduced.