Abstract: The present invention provides a method for labelling one or more analytes in a sample, the method comprising: a) contacting the sample with one or more bifunctional linker reagents having the general formula Re1-L1-Re2, wherein Re1 is a first reactive group, L1 is a linker moiety and Re2 is a second reactive group, wherein Re1 reacts with an analyte to form a modified analyte; and b) contacting the sample with one or more mass labels, wherein Re2 of the bifunctional linker attached to the analyte reacts with a mass label to form a labelled analyte, wherein each mass label is relatable to an analyte by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Microparticles with a uniform spherical shape and a very narrow size distribution are described. They consist wholly or partly of a linear water-insoluble polysaccharide, preferably of 1,4-&agr;-D-polyglucan, and may contain other, in particular biodegradable, polymers and/or active substances. They are suitable inter alia for the controlled delivery of active substances. They are prepared by dissolving 1,4-&agr;-D-polyglucan or the polysaccharide in a solvent, introducing the solution into a precipitant, cooling the mixture and removing the particles formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of water-insoluble, linear polysaccharides as a filtering agent, to a method for producing said filtering agent and to a filtering device. The inventive filtering agent have a high capacity for absorption and retention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing smooth-surface spherical microparticles which are completely or partially made of at least one water-insoluble linear polysaccharide. This method involves dissolving the at least one water-insoluble linear polysaccharide in a solvent or a mixture of solvents, introducing the solution into a precipitation agent or a mixture of precipitation agents, optionally cooling the mixture thus obtained, and separating the microparticles thus formed. The precipitation agent used consists of at least one water-soluble cellulose derivative. This invention also relates to microparticles obtained according to this method.