Abstract: A process of making low-endotoxin chitosan or alkali-stable polysaccharide is performed by suspending bulk chitosan fibers or flakes or alkali-stable polysaccharide to form a reaction mixture in an aqueous solution of alcohol. Ammonia is the added to the reaction mixture to raise pH of the reaction mixture to above 9.5. The reactive mixture with a pH above 9.5 is heated at a temperature of at least 130° C. for at least 20 minutes. The heated reaction mixture is cooled to less than 60° C. and then sparged with an inert gas to remove ammonia. Separating the chitosan or alkali-stable polysaccharide from the sparged reaction mixture. The chitosan fibers or polysaccharide is rinsed with an endotoxin-free aqueous liquid to form a rinsed fiber mass. The rinsed fiber mass is further rinsed with an alcohol to remove water, and dried at a temperature below 100° C. to form the low-endotoxin chitosan or alkali-stable polysaccharide.

Abstract: Methods of treating a subject suffering from a disorder in a mucosal tissue, such as interstitial cystitis; cancer in a mucous membrane such as bladder or vaginal cancer; Crohn's disease; inflammatory bowel disease or colitis, by administering a medicament containing a sulfated chitinous polymer administered topically are described. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the sulfate chitinous polymer are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for delivering a therapeutic agent across a membrane that has limited permeability for the therapeutic agent. The method includes delivering the therapeutic agent to the membrane in a composition which includes a sulphated chitinous polymer as a primary carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting cellular and protein attachment to substrates by applying a composition containing an effective amount of adherent N,O-carboxymethylchitosan to a substrate with such that cellular and protein attachment are prevented or greatly reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting cellular and protein attachment to substrates by applying a composition containing an effective amount of adherent N,O-carboxymethylchitosan to a substrate with such that cellular and protein attachment are prevented or greatly reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drug delivery devices for moist tissue, in particular mucosal tissue and tissue in the serous cavities, as well as a method of its use. The devices, which contain NOCC, are adherent to the mucosal tissue, allowing localized drug delivery. The devices are particularly useful in vaginal, buccal and ocular devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting cellular and protein attachment to substrates by applying a composition containing an effective amount of adherent N,O-carboxymethylchitosan to a substrate with such that cellular and protein attachment are prevented or greatly reduced.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the preparation and utilization of supplemented chitin hydrogels, such as chitosan hydrogels. Further provided are biomaterials comprising same. The particular supplement delivered by the chitin hydrogel is selected as a function of its intended use. In one embodiment, this invention provides a composition of matter, comprising a chitin hydrogel or chitin-derived hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel does not inhibit full-thickness skin wound healing.

Abstract: Covalent compositions of N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (NOCC) are disclosed. NOCC can be intra- or intermolecularly linked, either through a direct bond or through a bridging moiety. Also disclosed are methods for preparing and using the covalent NOCC compositions. The NOCC compositions are useful in the administration of therapeutically active compounds and for wound management.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating patients to minimize post-surgical adhesions and a kit useful in the method of the invention. The method is based on the timing that N,O-carboxymethylchitosan (NOCC) has advantageous properties as a wound healing lavage and coating. A NOCC solution is particularly effective as a post-surgical lavage and when used in conjunction with a NOCC gel coating, wound healing rate is unchanged while the number and severity of adhesions in greatly reduced.

Abstract: The present invention features a method and composition for attracting a target insect to a selected location. The invention is based on the discovery that negatively charged chitosan polymers, e.g., NOCC, have advantageous properties for use in a semiochemical delivery system for releasing a volatile semiochemical at a substantially sustained rate over an extended period of time to attract a target insect to a selected location. The present invention may be used for monitoring a target insect by capturing the insect. Alternatively, the present invention may be used for the management of a target insect by disrupting mating patterns of such insects.