Abstract: Spheroidal beads present an exterior surface of a hydrophilic hydrogel, which is an isocyanate-functional polymer that is polymerized by urethane bonds and cross-linked by urethane and urea bonds. Sequestering agents present at the surface are covalently bound to isocyanate groups or to intermediate linkers that are so bound. These beads allow sequestering agents to retain their native three-dimensional configuration, and as a result of such surface characteristics and hydrophilicity, they achieve highly effective capture of very small subpopulations of rare cells from bodily fluids or the like and very effectively deter nonspecific binding of other biomaterials present in such bodily fluid. They may be all-hydrogel spheroids or hydrogel-coated substrates.

Abstract: A method for formulating and immobilizing a protein and a protein matrix formed by the method. The protein matrix preparation method results in a physically and chemically stable protein matrix that has low swelling, non-leaching, high activity, and high mechanical strength properties. The method includes cross-linking and hardening the protein mixture and using a mold to form a protein into a desired shape and size.

Abstract: A cell culture scaffold containing a gel having a network structure comprised of a synthetic polymer such that cultured cells spread in a shorter time and the number of adsorbed cultured cells per unit area is larger than in the case of using a gel having a network structure comprised of polyacrylic acid, while taking advantage of synthetic polymers with low manufacturing cost, easy quality control and no risk of virus infection in cultured cell. Used as the cell culture scaffold is a gel containing asynthetic polymer obtained by polymerization or copolymerization of a monomer having a sulfonic group such as p-styrenesulfonic acid sodium salt (NaSS) and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (NaAMPS).

Abstract: Provided is a method for obtaining a macrolide, especially tacrolimus, from biomatter.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition having thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties is described. The composition contains active proteases attached to a gel or to a mixture of a gel with a water-soluble polymer, said attachment being achieved with the help of radiation, preferably with the help of gamma-radiation or a flow of accelerated electrons. As the proteases the composition contains proteases which are stable at a temperature of up to 70° C., preferably at 30-40° C., for instance such as subtilysine, trypsin, chemotrypsin, papain or streptokinase. The gel is preferably polyethylene glycol gel, dextran gel, or polyglycane gel, and the water-soluble polymer is polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, dextran or polyglycane. The method of preparing said composition and its use are also disclosed. The composition has a broad range of application, and can be used in cardiology, nephrology, surgery, rheumatology, gynecology and gastroenterology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of probiotic microorganism in the manufacture of a composition for the prevention or reduction of gastrointestinal Campylobacter infection in a mammalian animal. It also relates to a method for the prevention or reduction of gastrointestinal Campylobacter infection in a mammalian animal, the method comprising administering to said animal, a probiotic microorganism. The invention also relates to a probiotic microorganism, for use in preventing or reducing gastrointestinal Campylobacter infection in a mammalian animal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for coating surfaces with specially designed thioethers and amphiphilic thioethers that reduce protein adsorption and/or cell adhesion. This reduction may be achieved, for example, by controlling the spacing or length of pendant chains or hydrophilic blocks in an amphiphilic thioether. Techniques for determining spacing include adsorbing the thioether from a solution or a colloidal suspension, or controlling the degree of polymerization of the thioether. Techniques for controlling the length of the pendant chains include controlling the degree of polymerization of the pendant chains. Multiblock copolymers of poly(propylene sulfide) and poly(ethylene glycol) (“PPS-PEG”) represent an exemplary family of amphiphilic thioethers. Methods for coating surfaces with amphiphilic thioethers are also provided.

Abstract: A culture flask 10 comprises two or more internal chambers 18-21 defining a plurality of parallel surfaces of different sizes and means for fluid communication 24 between the chambers 18-20.

Abstract: This invention provides novel methods and reagents for specifically delivering biologically active compounds to phagocytic mammalian cells. The invention also relates to specific uptake of such biologically active compounds by phagocytic cells and delivery of such compounds to specific sites intracellularly. The invention specifically relates to methods of facilitating the entry of antiviral and antimicrobial drugs and other agents into phagocytic cells and for targeting such compounds to specific organelles within the cell. The invention specifically provides compositions of matter and pharmaceutical embodiments of such compositions comprising conjugates of such antimicrobial drugs and agents covalently linked to particulate carriers generally termed microparticles. In particular embodiments, the antimicrobial drug is covalently linked to a microparticle via a cleavable linker moiety that is non-specifically cleaved in a phagocytic cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved method for reducing the complexity of a proteomic sample, and preferably also for allowing identification of proteins in the sample. In one aspect, the invention provides a highly efficient method for identifying proteins in a proteomic sample by characterizing a single N-terminal peptide per protein. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for identifying proteins in a proteomic sample by characterizing a single C-terminal peptide per protein. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for quantitative determination of differential protein expression and/or modification in different samples. In another aspect, the invention relates to kits useful for conveniently performing a method in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel surface-functionalized carrier material with a polymeric surface and at least one linker compound according to the general formula (I), which is covalently bound to the surface. In the formula, P indicates the polymeric surface; R2 has the meaning OR4 or NR4R5 and R1, R4 and R5, independently of one another, indicate H, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R3 indicates H, an alkyl, an aryl, an acyl, an alkoxycarbonyl or an aryloxycarbonyl group; and the alkyl, aryl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl and/or aryloxycarbonyl group of the radicals R1, R3, R4 and R5, independently of one another, are substituted or unsubstituted. The material according to the invention can be very easily produced by photochemical coupling and serves for the solid-phase synthesis of amino acids, peptides, proteins or molecules with at least one peptidic structural unit.

Abstract: Porous films are provided which include a blend of a film forming polymer and a non-film forming material, the film having a network of pores or channels throughout the film. The porous polymer films are formed between 0° and 80° C., retain porosity at elevated temperatures and are non-friable. A process for preparing porous polymer films and their applications are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides cellular solid carriers comprising viable microorganisms capable of controlling plant pathogens. The cellular solid carriers are formed from water-soluble hydrocolloid beads dried under conditions which preserve their porosity, thereby allowing efficient release of microorganisms or diffusion of products derived from the microorganisms from the beads to the surrounding environment.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a scaffold whereby a bone and a metallic material can three dimensionally form together a stereoscopic binding layer. Thus, a geometric space sufficient for cell actions is provided. As a result, the time required for the formation of a stereoscopic bond can be shortened and, moreover, a bond can be self-repaired owning to cell actions even in the case where a pair of the bond is injured by a wound, etc. As a material for designing a scaffold, titanium fibers of less than 100 ?m in size and having an aspect ratio of 20 or more are selected. Then these fibers are entangled together to form a layer which is integrally fixed by vacuum sintering to a periphery surface of the various implant bodies, and coated with apatite. The fact that the layer contains spaces of an excellent ability to induce a biological hard tissue and fix the same is proved by the material, in which the layer is fixed to the periphery of an implant.

Abstract: Multi-armed, monofunctional, and hydrolytically stable polymers are described having the structure wherein Z is a moiety that can be activated for attachment to biologically active molecules such as proteins and wherein P and Q represent linkage fragments that join polymer arms polya and polyb, respectively, to central carbon atom, C, by hydrolytically stable linkages in the absence of aromatic rings in the linkage fragments. R typically is hydrogen or methyl, but can be a linkage fragment that includes another polymer arm. A specific example is an mPEG disubstituted lysine having the structure where mPEGa and mPEGb have the structure CH3O—(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2— wherein n may be the same or different for polya- and polyb- and can be from 1 to about 1,150 to provide molecular weights of from about 100 to 100,000.

Abstract: A biologically active conjugate is disclosed comprising a biopolymer and a therapeutic agent joined by a disulfide bond. The conjugate, when formulated in a pharmaceutical composition with a suitable carrier, has improved in vivo stability and activity, and can be targeted to a variety of cells, tissues and organs.

Abstract: Immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase on a carrier selected from the group consisting of macroporous adsorbent resin of the acrylic type, synthetic epoxy activated resin and Mg—Al-hydrotalcite enhances its enantioselectivity by six to seven folds. The immobilized Candida rugosa lipase is suitable for use in resolution of racemic alcohols and/or carboxylic acids, particularly in resolution of racemic menthol or production of menthyl esters.

Abstract: Probiotic bacterial strains are provided which inhibit or prevent growth or pathogenic bacteria in marine organisms. Also provided are methods of culturing marine organisms using the probiotic bacteria.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a basement membrane comprising extracellular matrices having a function to control morphology, differentiation, proliferation, motility, function expression and the like of cells. This basement membrane is formed by culturing cells having an ability to form a basement membrane on a fibrous collagen matrix coated with a polymer having a sugar chain. This sugar chain coat can localize a receptor which has an activity to accumulate a basement membrane component on the basal surface of the cells.

Abstract: Bifunctional molecules and methods for their use in the production of binary complexes in a host are provided. The bifunctional molecule is a conjugate of a drug moiety and a presenter protein ligand. In the subject methods, an effective amount of the bifunctional molecule is administered to the host. The bifunctional molecule binds to the presenter protein to produce a binary complex that exhibits at least one of improved affinity, specificity or selectivity as compared to the corresponding free drug. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of therapeutic applications.