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.

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.

Large molecular weight alginates which are covalently modified to store and release nitric oxide, as well as methods of making and use thereof, are disclosed herein. The covalently modified alginates may be tailored to release nitric oxide in a controlled manner and are useful for eradication of both planktonic and biofilm-based bacteria.

In various aspects, the invention provides compositions of variable-length hydrophobically-modified polymers. These variable-length hydrophobes decorated along the hydrophilic polymer backbone provide advanced properties and allow for precise control over the behavior of the resulting amphiphilic polymer, including in aqueous solution. Such control allows for enhanced functionality of the amphiphilic polymer relative to standard single-length hydrophobe grafting designs, including for hemostasis.

The present invention is directed to a biodegradable tough adhesive material comprising an interpenetrating networks (IPN) hydrogel comprising a first polymer network and a second polymer network, wherein the first polymer network comprises a first polymer covalently crosslinked with a biodegradable covalent crosslinker and the second polymer network comprises a second polymer crosslinked with ionic or physical crosslinks; a high density primary amine polymer; and a coupling agent. The present invention also provides methods preparing and using the biodegradable tough adhesive material.

Provided herein is a method for extracting polysaccharides, for example, β-glucan and sodium alginate, from a sample including a botanical product. The extraction can be carried out using a microwave assisted dual-solvent extraction followed by one or more membrane filtration steps.

The invention comprises a method of industrial extraction of alginates from brown seaweeds of the family Sargassaceae of the order Fucales, as well as the product resulting from the method. The method includes the following stages: preparation of raw materials, crushing of the algae, pressure boiling of the algae, mixing the boiled algae with water, purification of the diluted algal mass, extraction of alginic acid, washing of the alginic acid, dehydration of the alginic acid, treatment of the alginic acid with sodium hydrogen carbonate, clarification of resultant sodium alginate solution, precipitation of sodium alginate gel, and drying of the sodium alginate gel.

The present invention is directed to reduced and highly oxidized polysaccharides, such as alginates, that are useful for encapsulating therapeutic or diagnostic agents, or lipid based nanoparticles, e.g., liposomes or virosomes, encapsulating therapeutic or diagnostic agents, prior to their delivery into a subject, as well as methods for making and using them.

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structured hydrogel includes a crosslinked first natural polymer macromer with a first elasticity and an interpenetrating network of crosslinked second natural polymer macromers having a second elasticity higher than the first elasticity, the IPN structured hydrogel being cytocompatible, and, upon degradation, produce substantially non-toxic products.

To provide a novel polysaccharide derivative which can be used to form a conjugate with a drug and can be used as a medical material, and a polysaccharide derivative-drug conjugate which uses the same. A polysaccharide derivative obtained by introducing a group represented by formula (A) to a polysaccharide which is acidic, basic or both, and a polysaccharide derivative-drug conjugate of said polysaccharide derivative and a drug.