Abstract: A simple cellulose sulphate based microencapsulation technology has been applied to encapsulate bacterial or other microbial cells, which produce and release digestive enzymes and thereby provides an acid resistant shelter for these microbial cells. Surprisingly, the resulting spheres were found to provide sufficient protection for encapsulated cells from treatment with aqueous acidic solutions. Thereby the cellulose sulphate microencapsulated cells, such as probiotics are now enabled to survive passage, for example, through the stomach after consumption by a human or animal with a higher survival rate than those not within a microcapsule. After passing the stomach these cells are delivering products produced by them, e.g. enzymes or other nutrition factors. This technology therefore proves to be very useful in providing digestive or otherwise beneficial enzymes and/or of living microbial cells, into the lower gastrointestinal tract, where they could confer their health benefit to the host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to modify and/or to isolate exosomes and other naturally occurring plasma membrane derived microvesicles, by incubation with a reactant, consisting of at least a membrane anchor domain or moiety and a hydrophilic functional domain or moiety. The invention also relates to modification using the same of artificially-prepared lipid bilayer vesicles called liposomes (composed of natural phospholipids) and non-biological or “synthetic” block copolymer membrane mimics which also form vesicles in aqueous solution called polymersomes.

Abstract: A simple cellulose sulphate based microencapsulation technology has been applied to encapsulate bacterial or other microbial cells, which produce and release digestive enzymes and thereby provides an acid resistant shelter for these microbial cells. Surprisingly, the resulting spheres were found to provide sufficient protection for encapsulated cells from treatment with aqueous acidic solutions. Thereby the cellulose sulphate microencapsulated cells, such as probiotics are now enabled to survive passage, for example, through the stomach after consumption by a human or animal with a higher survival rate than those not within a microcapsule. After passing the stomach these cells are delivering products produced by them, e.g. enzymes or other nutrition factors. This technology therefore proves to be very useful in providing digestive or otherwise beneficial enzymes and/or of living microbial cells, into the lower gastrointestinal tract, where they could confer their health benefit to the host.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a use of a composition, comprising a non-toxic polyanionic material or a salt thereof to dissociate a polymeric membrane. In addition, a method of dissociating a polymeric membrane is also presented, the method comprising the steps of providing a polymeric membrane; and dissociating the polymeric membrane by adding a composition comprising a non-toxic polyanionic material to the polymeric membrane.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of freeze-drying encapsulated cells, the method comprising at least two consecutive incubation steps, wherein the encapsulated cells are incubated in each incubation step in an incubation solution containing cryoprotectant over a suitable period of time, wherein the concentration of cryoprotectant in the incubation solution is increased with each subsequent incubation step. The disclosure also provides freeze dried cells that are obtained by this method as well as various uses of these cells as pharmaceutical, food additive or additive in cosmetics. The disclosure also provides a composition that contains skim milk, glycerol and a carbohydrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a use of a composition, comprising a non-toxic polyanionic material or a salt thereof to dissociate a polymeric membrane. In addition, a method of dissociating a polymeric membrane is also presented, the method comprising the steps of providing a polymeric membrane; and dissociating the polymeric membrane by adding a composition comprising a non-toxic polyanionic material to the polymeric membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to modify and/or to isolate exosomes and other naturally occurring plasma membrane derived microvesicles, by incubation with a reactant, consisting of at least a membrane anchor domain or moiety and a hydrophilic functional domain or moiety. The invention also relates to modification using the same of artificially-prepared lipid bilayer vesicles called liposomes (composed of natural phospholipids) and non-biological or “synthetic” block copolymer membrane mimics which also form vesicles in aqueous solution called polymersomes.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treatment of a subject, such as a method of vaccination, immunomodulation or gene therapy of a subject. These methods comprise administering to the subject a modified enveloped viral particle, wherein the modified enveloped viral particle has been obtained by a method comprising the steps of a) incubating a fluid containing enveloped viral particles with one or more reactants consisting of a hydrophilic target domain and a lipophilic membrane anchor domain, wherein the lipophilic membrane anchor domain becomes integrated into the lipid double layer of the envelope of the viral particle, wherein the hydrophilic target domain becomes exposed to the fluid; and b) separating enveloped modified viral particles from excessive reactants.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a use of a composition, comprising a non-toxic polyanionic material or a salt thereof to dissociate a polymeric membrane. In addition, a method of dissociating a polymeric membrane is also presented, the method comprising the steps of providing a polymeric membrane; and dissociating the polymeric membrane by adding a composition comprising a non-toxic polyanionic material to the polymeric membrane.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of freeze-drying encapsulated cells, the method comprising at least two consecutive incubation steps, wherein the encapsulated cells are incubated in each incubation step in an incubation solution containing cryoprotectant over a suitable period of time, wherein the concentration of cryoprotectant in the incubation solution is increased with each subsequent incubation step. The disclosure also provides freeze dried cells that are obtained by this method as well as various uses of these cells as pharmaceutical, food additive or additive in cosmetics. The disclosure also provides a composition that contains skim milk, glycerol and a carbohydrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treatment of a subject, such as a method of vaccination, immunomodulation or gene therapy of a subject. These methods comprise administering to the subject a modified enveloped viral particle, wherein the modified enveloped viral particle has been obtained by a method comprising the steps of a) incubating a fluid containing enveloped viral particles with one or more reactants consisting of a hydrophilic target domain and a lipophilic membrane anchor domain, wherein the lipophilic membrane anchor domain becomes integrated into the lipid double layer of the envelope of the viral particle, wherein the hydrophilic target domain becomes exposed to the fluid; and b) separating enveloped modified viral particles from excessive reactants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enveloped virus particles providing a modified composition of their envelope, methods for exogenously modifying the envelope composition of an enveloped viral particle making use of compounds consisting of a hydrophilic target domain and a lipophilic membrane anchor domain, wherein the lipophilic membrane anchor domain becomes anchored into the lipid double layer of the envelope and wherein the hydrophilic target domain becomes exposed to the surrounding incubation fluid. The invention further relates to methods and means to use said modified viral vectors and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such envelope modified viral vectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to modify and/or to isolate exosomes and other naturally occurring plasma membrane derived microvesicles, by incubation with a reactant, consisting of at least a membrane anchor domain or moiety and a hydrophilic functional domain or moiety. The invention also relates to modification using the same of artificially-prepared lipid bilayer vesicles called liposomes (composed of natural phospholipids) and non-biological or “synthetic” block copolymer membrane mimics which also form vesicles in aqueous solution called polymersomes..

Abstract: A simple cellulose sulphate based microencapsulation technology has been applied to encapsulate bacterial or other microbial cells, which produce and release digestive enzymes and thereby provides an acid resistant shelter for these microbial cells. Surprisingly, the resulting spheres were found to provide sufficient protection for encapsulated cells from treatment with aqueous acidic solutions. Thereby the cellulose sulphate microencapsulated cells, such as probiotics are now enabled to survive passage, for example, through the stomach after consumption by a human or animal with a higher survival rate than those not within a microcapsule. After passing the stomach these cells are delivering products produced by them, e.g. enzymes or other nutrition factors. This technology therefore proves to be very useful in providing digestive or otherwise beneficial enzymes and/or of living microbial cells, into the lower gastrointestinal tract, where they could confer their health benefit to the host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enveloped virus particles providing a modified composition of their envelope, methods for exogenously modifying the envelope composition of an enveloped viral particle making use of compounds consisting of a hydrophilic target domain and a lipophilic membrane anchor domain, wherein the lipophilic membrane anchor domain becomes anchored into the lipid double layer of the envelope and wherein the hydrophilic target domain becomes exposed to the surrounding incubation fluid. The invention further relates to methods and means to use said modified viral vectors and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such envelope modified viral vectors.