A hierarchical catalyst composition comprising a continuous or particulate macroporous scaffold in which is incorporated mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein an enzyme is embedded in mesopores of the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles. Methods for synthesizing the hierarchical catalyst composition are also described. Also described are processes that use the recoverable hierarchical catalyst composition for depolymerizing lignin, remediation of water contaminated with aromatic substances, polymerizing monomers by a free-radical mechanism, epoxidation of alkenes, halogenation of phenols, inhibiting growth and function of microorganisms in a solution, and carbon dioxide conversion to methanol. Further described are methods for increasing the space time yield and/or total turnover number of a liquid-phase chemical reaction that includes magnetic particles to facilitate the chemical reaction, the method comprising subjecting the chemical reaction to a plurality of magnetic fields of selected magnetic strength, relative position in the chemical reaction, and relative motion.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for improving the amino acid content of animal feed byproducts from a dry grind ethanol production facility by reducing the amount of residual reducing sugars that can participate in, e.g., the Maillard reaction.

A working electrode for a subcutaneous sensor for use with a continuous biological monitor for a patient is disclosed. The working electrode includes a conductive substrate and a carbon-enzyme layer on the conductive substrate. The carbon-enzyme layer includes a polyurethane or silicone crosslinked with an acrylic polyol, and an enzyme fully entrapped by the polyurethane or silicone crosslinked with the acrylic polyol. The enzyme is selected according to a biological function to be monitored. The carbon-enzyme layer also includes a carbon material. The carbon-enzyme layer is electrically conductive and facilitates a generation of either peroxide or electrons within the carbon-enzyme layer responsive to reacting the enzyme with a target biologic from blood of the patient.

A composition for preventing or treating hypoglycemia in a patient in need thereof has a microgel that includes crosslinked polymers containing glucose-responsive moieties; and blood glucose-raising therapeutic agent loaded on or within the microgel. The microgel further includes any one or a combination of a stabilizing component and a loading-assisting component for the blood glucose- raising therapeutic agent. The polymers containing the glucose-responsive moieties form secondary crosslinks in response to low glucose level, thereby causing shrinking of the microgel and rapid release of the blood glucose-raising therapeutic agent. The composition can be used to prepare a composite microneedle patch for preventing or treating hypoglycemia, where the composition is embedded or integrated within an array of the microneedles of the microneedle patch device.

Glucose oxidase and further compositions are described. The glucose oxidase compositions have glucose oxidase and at least one ingredient selected from one or more of carbohydrate (e.g. dietary fibre or saccharide), polyol or sugar alcohol while further compositions are sweeteners, food, compositions for fortification of food, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. The compositions incorporate low glycemic index nutritive compound of glycemic index less than 70, preferably less than 50, and are in the form of powders, granules, crystalline compositions, flours, pills, tablets, capsules, pellets, powder for oral suspensions, gels, liquid solutions and suspensions, and sterile preparations. The compositions regulate one or more diseases/conditions, including but not limited to those associated with blood, kidney, thyroid, nerves, joints, weight, diabetes, oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, amyloid foot ulcers, cataract, glaucoma, hypertension, metabolic disorders, digestive disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, mastopathy, dupuytren's contracture, gingivitis, periodontitis, dental caries, mouth disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and Parkinson's disease.

A hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid production method and system is disclosed that can include receiving an aqueous solution having glucose, water, and glucose oxidase at a reaction chamber. Here, the reaction chamber facilitates an enzymatic reaction between a gas phase and a liquid phase of the aqueous solution, thereby yielding a first solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, gluconic acid, and the glucose oxidase. The method can further include receiving the first solution at a separation chamber, wherein the separation chamber is comprised of a semi-permeable membrane having a pre-defined molecular weight barrier for separating the glucose oxidase, thereby resulting in a combined hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid solution. The method can further include at least partially converting the gluconic acid into a gluconate salt, and separating and concentrating the hydrogen peroxide from the gluconic acid or gluconate salt via vacuum flash evaporation and vacuum distillation.

A closed-loop insulin delivery system is described. More particularly, the presently disclosed insulin delivery system can comprise glucose-responsive vesicles that release insulin in response to hypoxia triggered by enzymatic reduction of glucose. In addition or as an alternative to insulin, the delivery system can release other diabetes treatment agents, such as non-insulin-based diabetes treatment agents. The vesicles can be prepared from a hypoxia sensitive polymer, such as a hypoxia-sensitive hyaluronic acid (HS-HA). The HS-HA can comprise hydrophobic groups that can be reduced in hypoxic environments to form hydrophilic groups. The vesicles can be loaded into microneedles and microneedle array patches for use in the treatment of diabetes or to otherwise regulate blood glucose levels in subjects in need of such treatment.

The present disclosure relates to a hypoxia-inducing cryogel, comprising one or more polymer and one or more hypoxia-inducing agent. The present disclosure additionally relates to a hypoxia-inducing construct, comprising a cryogel and a support. Methods of reducing concentration of oxygen in a medium, comprising contacting the medium with a hypoxia-inducing cryogel (HIC) or a hypoxia-inducing construct are disclosed. Additionally, methods of inducing hypoxia in a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a medium, wherein the medium comprises a HIC or a hypoxia-inducing construct are disclosed.

A composition comprising an amphiphilic polymeric material that is both hydrogen peroxide- and hypoxia-sensitive is described. The composition can further include a glucose-oxidizing enzyme and insulin, a bioactive derivative thereof, and/or another therapeutic agent (e.g., another diabetes treatment agent). The polymeric material can form vesicles that comprise single or multiple layers of the polymeric material that enclose the glucose-oxidizing enzyme and the insulin, bioactive derivative and/or other therapeutic agent. The vesicles can be loaded into microneedles to, for example, prepare microneedle arrays for skin patches. Methods of delivering insulin to a subject using the compositions, vesicles, microneedles, and/or microneedle array skin patches are also described.

A closed-loop insulin delivery system is described. More particularly, the presently disclosed insulin delivery system can comprise glucose-responsive vesicles that release insulin in response to hypoxia triggered by enzymatic reduction of glucose. In addition or as an alternative to insulin, the delivery system can release other diabetes treatment agents, such as non-insulin-based diabetes treatment agents. The vesicles can be prepared from a hypoxia sensitive polymer, such as a hypoxia-sensitive hyaluronic acid (HS-HA). The HS-HA can comprise hydrophobic groups that can be reduced in hypoxic environments to form hydrophilic groups. The vesicles can be loaded into microneedles and microneedle array patches for use in the treatment of diabetes or to otherwise regulate blood glucose levels in subjects in need of such treatment.