Abstract: A water-resistant hydrophilic coating comprising a hydrophilic base material, a lipid, an adhesion promoter, a surfactant and a crosslinking agent. A method of preparing a water-resistant polymer surface comprising preparing an adhesive coating comprising a hydrophilic base material, a lipid, an adhesion promoter, a surfactant and a crosslinking agent, applying said adhesive coating to a polymer surface, and heat treating said polymer surface under conditions sufficient to allow cross linking of the adhesive coating. A method of increasing the absorption of water-based or oil-based dyes, inks, or fragrances in a hydrophilic coating comprising incorporating a lipid into the hydrophilic coating.

Abstract: A water-resistant hydrophilic coating composition comprising a hydrophilic base material, an adhesion promoter, a surfactant and a crosslinking agent. A method of applying a water-resistant hydrophilic coating to a hydrophobic surface comprising; preparing the water-resistant hydrophilic coating, spraying the water-resistant hydrophilic coating on the hydrophobic surface and heating the coated surface. A method of water-proofing a polysaccharide coating comprising crosslinking the starch hydroxyl functionalities.

Abstract: Polysaccharide-based shells are provided having use for forming water-dispersible microcapsular delivery systems for both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other active agents. These shells are prepared by intimately blending a solubilized polysaccharide with a lipophilic material to produce spherical droplets of the lipophilic material coated with the polysaccharide, diluting the emulsion with a solvent, and isolating the polysaccharide shells from the diluted emulsion.

Abstract: Immobilized enzyme-polysaccharide graft copolymer products are prepared by hydrolyzing a polysaccharide graft copolymer and then contacting the hydrolyzed copolymer with an enzyme to immobilize the enzyme on the copolymer. The copolymer-enzyme products retain large quantities of active enzyme, and activity of the enzyme is retained over long periods of use. In the case of glucoamylase immobilized in accordance with the method of the invention, improved yield of glucose from starch is obtained.