Abstract: Provided herein are methods for improving skin quality in a subject comprising administering to the skin a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer and/or a polysaccharide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: Hair improvement compositions comprising covalent conjugates of a polypeptide and a hydrophilic polymer, or a polysaccharide and a hydrophilic polymer, or both, are provided herein. Methods for improving one or more physical characteristics of hair using the described compositions are also provided. The improvements can be semi-permanent.

Abstract: Hair improvement compositions comprising covalent conjugates of a polypeptide and a hydrophilic polymer, or a polysaccharide and a hydrophilic polymer, or both, are provided herein. Methods for improving one or more physical characteristics of hair using the described compositions are also provided. The improvements can be semi-permanent.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for improving skin quality in a subject comprising administering to the skin a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer and/or a polysaccharide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: Hair improvement compositions comprising covalent conjugates of a polypeptide and a hydrophilic polymer, or a polysaccharide and a hydrophilic polymer, or both, are provided herein. Methods for improving one or more physical characteristics of hair using the described compositions are also provided. The improvements can be semi-permanent.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing between carbohydrates or glycoconjugates in a mixture thereof, wherein the or each carbohydrate or glycoconjugate is a hydrophilic fluorescently-labelled saccharide molecule, wherein the label is a --NR--Ph--CO-- group, wherein R is selected from H and substituents, and Ph is phenylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to materials which comprise a surface having pendant groups of formula (I), in which the groups --B-- are the same or different, preferably the same, and each is --CH.sub.2 -- or --C(.dbd.O)--, preferably --CH.sub.2 --, R.sup.1 is hydrogen alkyl of 1 to 12, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a group capable of bonding to, or bonded to, a ligand or R.sup.1 is a polymerisable, preferably ethylenically unsaturated, group and Z is a zwitterionic group. Usually both groups B are the same and are joined to identical groups so that the compound of formula (I) is achiral. New compounds are achiral glyceryl phosphatidyl choline analogues. Surfaces having the groups (I) at their surface have improved biocompatibility, and show reduced fibrinogen absorption, reduced platelet activation, reduced microorganism adhesion and are useful in the production of implants or prostheses, for extra-corporeal circuitry for body fluids, for treating membranes of various type, for contact lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials which comprise a surface having pendant zwitterionic groups Z comprising, as anion, a phosphate, sulphonate, carboxylate or phosphate-ester group or a phosphate ester group in which one or more of the ester oxygen atoms is replaced by --S--, --NH-- or by a valence bond and, as cation, an ammonium, phosphonium or sulphonium moiety, provided that where the anion is a phosphate-ester group or derivative thereof or sulphonate and the cation is a trialkyl quaternary ammonium group (the alkyl groups each containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms) and the group linking the anion and cation moieties is an alkylene group, the alkylene group, contains at least 5, preferably at least 6, and more preferably at least 7, carbon atoms. The materials have improved biocompatibility for instance as evidenced by reduced protein deposition and reduced platelet activation.