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 invention relates to a novel process for obtaining direct sulfation of unprotected sugars, in particular polysaccharides, using ecologically acceptable solvents.

Provided is a low-molecular-weight holothurian glycosarninoglycan, with the constituent units thereof being a glucuronic acid group, an N-acetaminogalactose group and a fucose group, and a sulfate ester group or acetyl ester group thereof. Glucuronic acid and N-acetaminogalactose are interconnected via β(1-3) and β(1-4) glucosidic bonds to form a backbone of a disaccharide repeating structural unit, and a fucose group is connected to the backbone as a side chain. On a molar ratio basis, the ratio of the glucuronic acid group:the N-acetaminogalactose group:the fucose group is 1:(0.8-1.2):(0.6-1.2). In the structure of the low-molecular-weight holothurian glycosaminoglycan, 10-30% of glucuronic acid groups are modified, on the 2-position, with a sulfate ester group, and the rest are hydroxyl groups; and a proportion of 10-30% of fucose groups is modified, on the 2-position, with an acetyl ester group, and the rest are hydroxyl or sulfate ester groups. The low-molecular-weight holothurian glycosarninoglycan of the present invention has anti-inflammation, anti-vasculopathy, anti-tumor or anti-tumor-metastasis functions, and the effect of improving learning and memory abilities, and can be used for preparing a related drug or health-care product.

The subject of this invention are native forms of fucoidan polysaccharide, desulfated fucoidan and derivatives obtained by processing to the level of fucose-oligosaccarides containing preferentially, but not exclusively less than 20 monosaccaride fucose units alpha-linked by a glycosidic bond, with an average molecular weight of preferentially less than 3 kDa. The poly- and oligosaccarides that are described according to the invention are natural and safe, and are used as a dietary supplement for the use in prevention and treatment of pathologies associated with Noroviruses or Rotaviruses, Salmonella sp. or Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Campylobacter jejuni and other enteroviruses and enteric pathogens that cause bacterial gastroenteritis, as well as in the food production process. The invention also relates to a method for the desulfation and fragmentation of fucoidans to generate desulfated poly- or oligo-fucoses.

A compound includes a polysaccharide moiety and one or more chelating agents. The one or more chelating agents are covalently bonded to the polysaccharide moiety. The polysaccharide moiety can include a glycosaminoglycan moiety, such as a hyaluronic acid polymer or a sulfated glycosaminoglycan moiety. The compound can be used to treat or prevent a disease or disorder in a patient with a metal implant. The compound reduces a concentration of metal particulates or metal ions in the subject.

Compositions and methods are described for inducing an immune response against extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) to thereby provide immune protection against diseases associated with ExPEC. In particular, compositions and methods are described for using conjugates of E. coli polysaccharide antigens O25B, O1A, O2, and O6A covalently bound to a detoxified exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EPA) carrier protein as vaccines for the prevention of invasive ExPEC disease caused by ExPEC serotypes O1A, O2, O6A and O25B.

Compositions, methods, systems, etc., are provided for modified and/or purified fucans and corresponding fucan-containing compositions that inhibit fibrous adhesions among other advantages. The purified/modified fucans and fucan compositions have a reduced level of non-fucan components or impurities such as those found in a starting fucan composition. Such reduced undesirable components or impurities include, for example, undesired components bound to the fucan and compounds in the composition that are not a part of or bound to the fucan.

A hyaluronic acid-based aqueous gel including crosslinked hyaluronic acid and from 30 to 70% by mass with respect to the total mass of hyaluronic acid, of a water-soluble hyaluronic acid. A method for preparing an aqueous gel having at least a crosslinked hyaluronic acid and at least an uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid. Also an aqueous gel obtainable by the method compositions, a cosmetic and/or dermatological composition including the aqueous gels, and a kit comprising a pre-filled syringe comprising the aqueous gel or said composition. These gels and compositions are useful in particular for treating an alteration in the surface appearance of the skin and/or for augmenting and/or filling soft tissue.

The invention relates to a hydrogel product comprising glycosaminoglycan molecules as the swellable polymer, wherein the glycosaminoglycan molecules are covalently crosslinked via crosslinks comprising a spacer group selected from the group consisting of di-, tri-, tetra-, and oligosaccharides.

High-molecular-weight fucan compositions comprising a therapeutically effective, medically acceptable fucan in a composition comprising wherein the fucan, for example, has a molecular weight distribution in which more than 60% w/w of the composition has a molecular weight above 100 kDa.