A packaging system for the storage of an ophthalmic device includes a sealed container containing one or more unused ophthalmic devices immersed in an aqueous packaging solution comprising one or more crosslinked polymeric networks. The one or more crosslinked polymeric network comprises a reaction product of a first glycosaminoglycan, a second glycosaminoglycan, and a first crosslinking agent, wherein the first glycosaminoglycan is different than the second glycosaminoglycan. The aqueous packaging solution has an osmolality of at least about 180 mOsm/kg, a pH of about 6 to about 9 and is heat sterilized

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.

A highly-sulfated modified fucan comprising a therapeutically effective, medically acceptable fucan in a composition comprising a sulfate to fucose molar ratio of greater than or equal to about 1.2, 1.81 or 1.9 and/or a sulfate to fucose plus galactose molar ratio of greater than or equal to about 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3.

A packaging system for the storage of an ophthalmic device includes a sealed container containing one or more unused ophthalmic devices immersed in an aqueous packaging solution comprising one or more crosslinked polymeric networks. The one or more crosslinked polymeric network comprises a reaction product of a first glycosaminoglycan, a second glycosaminoglycan, and a first crosslinking agent, wherein the first glycosaminoglycan is different than the second glycosaminoglycan. The aqueous packaging solution has an osmolality of at least about 180 mOsm/kg, a pH of about 6 to about 9 and is heat sterilized.

Several embodiments of NO releasing structures are disclosed. In some embodiments, the structures are covalently modified to store and release nitric oxide. Some embodiments pertain to methods of making and use of these structures. The covalently modified polymer structures may be tailored to release nitric oxide in a controlled manner and are useful for treatment of various medical conditions.

A glycosaminoglycan derivative endowed with heparanase inhibitory activity and antitumor activity, bearing carboxylate groups in positions 2 and 3 of at least part of the glycosaminoglycan residues, and to the process for preparing the same. The glycosaminoglycan derivatives of the present invention are generated starting from natural or synthetic glycosaminoglycans, preferably heparin or low molecular weight heparin, optionally 2-O- and 2-N-desulfated by two steps of oxidation. By the first oxidation, adjacent dials and optionally adjacent OH/NH.sub.2 of the glycosaminoglycan residues are converted to aldehydes and by the second oxidation said dialdehydes are converted to carboxylate groups. The first oxidation preferably leads to the cleavage of C2-C3 linkage of the ring of oxidable residues. The invention relates to a process for the preparation of said glycosaminoglycan derivatives and to their use as active ingredients of medicaments.

A method of producing an injectable gel product is provided, comprising (a) cross-linking a first glycosaminoglycan (GAG) with a first crosslinking agent to produce a gel, wherein the charging ratio of crosslinking agent to disaccharide unit is below 0.15; (b) preparing particles of the gel; (c) mixing the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) gel particles with a second GAG to provide a mixture; (d) cross-linking the mixture with a second crosslinking agent to obtain cross-linking between the GAGs of the second, outer phase, thereby providing a gel having a first, inner phase of the cross-linked GAG gel particles, embedded in a gel of the second GAG outer phase; and (e) preparing injectable particles, each such particle containing a plurality of the cross-linked GAG gel particles of the first, inner phase. An injectable gel product, an aqueous composition, and a pre-filled syringe as also provided.

A method for at least partial deacetylation of a biopolymer comprising acetyl groups, including: a1) providing a biopolymer including acetyl groups; a2) reacting the biopolymer including acetyl groups with hydroxylamine (NH.sub.2OH) or a salt thereof at a temperature of 100° C. or less for 2-200 hours to form an at least partially deacetylated biopolymer; and a3) recovering the at least partially deacetylated biopolymer.

A glycosaminoglycan derivative endowed with heparanase inhibitory activity and antitumor activity, bearing carboxylate groups in positions 2 and 3 of at least part of the glycosaminoglycan residues, and to the process for preparing the same. The glycosaminoglycan derivatives of the present invention are generated starting from natural or synthetic glycosaminoglycans, preferably heparin or low molecular weight heparin, optionally 2-O- and 2-N-desulfated by two steps of oxidation. By the first oxidation, adjacent dials and optionally adjacent OH/NH.sub.2 of the glycosaminoglycan residues are converted to aldehydes and by the second oxidation said dialdehydes are converted to carboxylate groups. The first oxidation preferably leads to the cleavage of C2-C3 linkage of the ring of oxidable residues. The invention relates to a process for the preparation of said glycosaminoglycan derivatives and to their use as active ingredients of medicaments.

A new hydrogel made of crosslinked glycosaminoglycans, particularly crosslinked hyaluronic acid, chondroitin or chondroitin sulfate, having reversible linkages using boronic acid or boroxole derivatives leading to new benefits. Glycosaminoglycans that are crosslinked via an alkoxyboronate ester anion formed between a diol portion of a diol-functional moiety grafted to a first glycosaminoglycan and a boronate hemiester grafted to a second glycosaminoglycan.