Abstract: A cross-linkable monomer comprises a fumaric acid functional group having a first end and a second end, a first spacer group affixed to said first end and comprising at least repeating unit, a first terminal group affixed to said first spacer group, a second spacer group affixed to said second end and comprising at least one ethylene glycol repeating unit, and a second terminal group affixed to said second spacer group. A hydrogel formed by cross-linking the present monomer and a method for making the monomer. A method for forming a hydrogel, comprises the steps of a) synthesizing a copolymer of poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and poly(ethylene glycol (PEG) so as to produce P(PF-co-EG), b) synthesizing a PEG-tethered fumarate (PEGF), c) coupling agmatine sulfate to the PEGF to produce PEGF modified with agmatine (Agm-PEGF), and d) cross-linking the P(PF-co-EG) from step a) with Agm-PEGF from step c).

Abstract: The invention discloses materials that adsorb readily to the surfaces of body tissues in situ and provide a steric barrier between such tissues, so that tissue adhesions, which typically form following surgical procedures, are minimized. These materials contain a polymer of hydrophilic molecules such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) bound to a polymer that spontaneously adsorbs to biological tissue such as phenylboronic acid (PBA). The PEG-PBA co-polymer can be formed in a variety of geometries. The materials can also be used to coat prosthetics and other implants.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of copolymeric polypeptides, which comprises, in a first stage, reacting glutamic acid and/or derivatives thereof with amines in the absence of solvents and catalysts, under condensation conditions and, in a second stage, adding one or more further amino acids and/or derivatives thereof and/or one or more identical and/or further amines simultaneously or in any desired order, and reacting them with the reaction product of the first stage in the absence of solvents and catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cationic polymeric conjugates and methods of preparing and using them as gene carriers. The cationic polymeric conjugates comprise a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafted cationic polymer and a targeting moiety(TM), wherein 0.1 to 10 mole percent of the cationic groups of the cationic polymer are substituted with PEG-TM.

Abstract: Compounds are disclosed having the general formula R1-X-R2, wherein R1 and R2 are biologically active groups, at least one of which is polypeptidic. X is a non-peptidic polymeric group. R1 and R2 may be the same or different. Preferred R1 and R2 groups are TNF inhibitors.

Abstract: A biocompatible optically transparent polymeric material is proposed, which has high biocompatibility, transparency in the visible region, hydrophily, elasticity and mechanical strength, and has a spectrum cutting off the UV band, the material being designed for the production of intraocular implants and contact lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conjugate consisting essentially of a NK4 molecule and a polyethylene glycol group having a molecular weight of from about 20 to about 40 kDa. The invention also provides a composition in which the monoPEGylated conjugates comprise at least 90% of the total of pegylated NK4 molecules and unpegylated NK4 molecules in the composition. Also provided is a composition in which the monoPEGylated conjugates comprise conjugates in which the PEG groups are attached to groups randomly selected from the lysine side chains of NK4 molecules and the N-terminal amino groups of NK4 molecules. A method for the treatment of cancer by administering 1 to 30 mg monoPEGylated NK4 per kg per day is further provided.

Abstract: The synthesis of moisture-resistant adhesive polypeptides, conditions for their use, and conditions for controlling characteristics of the crosslinked matrix are disclosed. By specifically manipulating the conditions under which these networks are formed, the characteristics of the networks may be precisely regulated. These manipulatable adhesive networks are water-based, show exceptional bonding capabilities toward wet materials (including biological tissues), and have a variety of biotechnological applications.

Abstract: Terminally-branched polymeric prodrug platforms capable of high degrees of loading are disclosed. In preferred aspects of the invention, the prodrug platform releases multiple parent compounds after each branch holding the active agent undergoes a benzyl elimination reaction. Methods of preparing the prodrugs and using the same in the treatment of mammals are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid phase synthetic method is disclosed in which the usual solid phase synthetic steps are carried out and the spent solid phase support is reacted to form a volatilizable compound upon cleavage of the reaction product from the solid phase support. The cleaved product is then separated from the volatile compound by volatilization of that compound. Exemplary solid supports that form a volatilizable compound are also disclosed.

Abstract: Water-dilutable, cationically stabilized epoxy resins ZYX are obtained by reacting, in the first stage, aromatic or aliphatic epoxide compounds Z with aliphatic amines Y to form epoxy-amine adducts ZY which are neutralized and then in aqueous dispersion are reacted in a second stage with a further epoxy resin X. The resins ZYX may be formulated without additional curatives to give aqueous coating materials which exhibit a good corrosion protection effect.

Abstract: A reagent composition adapted to be coated onto a support surface in order to provide that surface with a high density of reactive groups. The surface, thus coated, can be used for any suitable purpose, and is particularly well suited for use as a solid phase synthesis support surface. The synthesis support surface, in turn, can be used in repetitive and combinatorial syntheses such as the synthesis of polynucleotides, polypeptides and polysaccharides. The polymeric coating can be used to provide increased effective surface area, particularly in situations in which the effective area of the support surface is itself limited, as on the surface of a silicon wafer. In so doing, the polymeric coating provides an optimal combination of such properties as reactive density and surface area or volume.

Abstract: Branched, substantially non-antigenic polymers are disclosed. Conjugates prepared with the polymers and biologically active molecules such as proteins and peptides demonstrate extended circulating life in vivo. Substantially fewer sites on the biologically active material are used as attachment sites. Methods of forming the polymer, conjugating the polymers with biologically active moieties and methods of using the conjugates are also disclosed.

Abstract: Amide compounds of formula (I), combinatorial libraries of amide compounds and methods of preparing the same are provided. Libraries of the invention are useful for screening in biological assays in order to identify pharmaceutically useful compounds.

Abstract: The present invention concerns new conjugates, processes for their production as well as the use of these conjugates as antigens in immunological detection methods or for DNA diagnostics.

Abstract: A method is provided which facilitates and enables the production of a wide range of complex conjugates composed of similar or dissimilar units linked together by amide bonds. Said method for the production of acylthio derivatives, R′—CO—SA, involves reaction of a carboxylate, R′—CO—O− (or carboxylic acid R′—CO—OH) with an iso-thiouronium derivative (bearing SA) in the presence of base. Nucleophilic counterion forms of the iso-thiouronium salts confer significant rate enhancement. The processes are simple, generally applicable, efficient, and do not require the employment of noxious reagents. The production of complex protein-like products by the intermediary of acylthio esters generated by the process of this invention, provides a method which is compatible with mild methods of chain assembly; and is preferably applied when the second component in the ligation bears an amino terminal cysteine residue.

Abstract: Affinity macroligands (AML) comprising a reversibly water soluble poly-N-alkylacrylamide linked to a ligand, and their use in the separation of a target substance from a mixture comprising the target substance and other materials are disclosed. Preferred AMLs have number average molar masses of less than 7,000 g/mol (chain length n typically about 25), mass distributions of less than 1.2 and narrow precipitation-solubility temperature (NPST) interval, typically in the range of 1-2° C.

Abstract: A method for modifying a protein or polypeptide is disclosed which includes the steps of dispersing a protein or polypeptide in an essentially non-aqueous medium and peracylating the protein or polypeptide with a cyclic anhydride having a carbon chain substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl groups. Most preferably, the cyclic anhydride is succinic anhydride, although glutaric anhydride may also be employed. Preferably, the step of peracylating the protein or polypeptide is performed in the presence of an acid catalyst, most preferably &rgr;-toluene sulfonic acid. The resultant modified protein or polypeptide may be employed in numerous applications including drug delivery, absorbable sutures, and thermoplastic films and molded articles.

Abstract: The present invention describes processes for preparing desired synthetic products that comprise a covalently bonded hydroxamic acid group —CONHOH by forming a mixture of a liquid reaction medium and a solid phase reaction product that carries a plurality of moieties of formula (A1) or (B1): where X is a residual, non-hydroxamate partial structure of the desired synthetic product, P1 is hydrogen or an amino-protecting group, P2 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl protecting group, and the bond designated (a) covalently links the moieties (A1) or (B1) to the residue of a solid substrate; by cleaving the bond designated (a) in the resultant mixture; and by separating the resultant liquid reaction phase from the resultant reaction solids to recover the desired synthetic product.

Abstract: New sub-monomer synthetic methods for the preparation of peptide nucleic acid oligomeric structures are disclosed that provide for the synthesis of both predefined sequence peptide nucleic acid oligomers as well as random sequence peptide nucleic acid oligomers. Further these methods also provide for the incorporation of peptide nucleic acid units or strings of such units with amino acids or strings of amino acids in chimeric peptide nucleic acid-amino acid compounds. Further disclosed are methods of making random libraries of peptide nucleic acids using the fully preformed monomers.