Abstract: Polyamino acids of the formulae (I) and (II):poly(X).sub.n poly(Y).sub.m (I)poly(X').sub.a poly(Y').sub.b (II)wherein each X independently is a polar amino acid, each Y independently is a non-polar amino acid, each X' independently is a polar amino acid, and each Y' independently is a phosphorylated amino acid, and salts of these polyamino acids, are effective as dispersing agents for minerals in aqueous media and for stabilizing aqueous suspensions of minerals.

Abstract: Polyamino acids of the formulae (I) and (II):poly (X).sub.n poly (Y).sub.m (I)whereeach X independently is aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, or phosphothreonine,each Y independently is alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, glycine or other nonpolar, amino acid residues,n is 2 to 60,m is 2 to 60, andn+m is .gtoreq.5,and whereinpoly (X).sub.n may contain up to 10% of the Y residues and poly (Y).sub.m may contain up to 10% of the X residues, and salts thereof; andpoly (X').sub.a poly (Y').sub.b (II)whereeach X' independently is aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, or anionic derivatives of these amino acids, or phosphoserine,each Y' independently is a phosphorylated amino acid such as phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine or mixtures of these residues,a is 2 to 150,b is 1 to 3, anda+b is .gtoreq.

Abstract: Substantially water-insoluble, crosslinked polypeptides containing 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoasparagine, or phosphoglutamine, and 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, serine or tyrosine, in which the degree of crosslinking is sufficient to result in a substantially water-insoluble polypeptide with the ability to absorb a 1 wt. % aqueous NaCl solution in an amount of at least 20 times the weight of the polypeptide, are useful as superabsorbents in devices such as diapers, etc. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of the crosslinked polypeptides increases their superabsorbency by two to three fold.

Abstract: Polypeptides of the formulapoly (X).sub.m (Y).sub.n,whereinX is selected from the group consisting of aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, mixtures and block polymers thereof,Y is selected from the group consisting of phosphoserine, sulfoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine, serine, alanine, dehydroalanine and mixtures thereof,m=5-199 andn=1-10have been demonstrated to inhibit mineral deposition, and can be employed in the inhibition of mineral deposition in both in vitro and in vivo applications. Serine-containing polypeptides can be thermally synthesized by combining the necessary amino acid residues in a reaction vessel, eliminating oxygen to preclude charring, and heating said reaction vessel in a heating medium to a temperature of about 155.degree. C.

Abstract: Substantially water-insoluble, crosslinked polypeptides containing 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoasparagine, or phosphoglutamine, and 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, serine or tyrosine, in which the degree of crosslinking is sufficient to result in a substantially water-insoluble polypeptide with the ability to absorb a 1% aqueous NaCl solution in an amount of at least 20 times the weight of the polypeptide, are useful as superabsorbents in devices such as diapers, etc.

Abstract: A poly-amino acid compound capable of inhibiting mineral deposition, which has the structure:poly (X).sub.m (Y).sub.nwhereeach X independently is aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, or anionic derivatives of these amino acids, or phosphoserine,each Y independently is a phosphorylated amino acid such as phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine, or mixtures of these residues,m is 2 to 150,n is 1 to 3, andn+m is .gtoreq.5, andsalts of these peptides.

Abstract: A poly-amino acid compound capable of inhibiting mineral deposition, which has the structure:poly (X).sub.n poly (Y).sub.mwhereeach X is a residue independently selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, and phosphothreonine,each Y is independently a residue selected from the group consisting of alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine and glycine,n is 2 to 60,m is 2 to 60, andn+m.gtoreq.5,and wherein poly (X).sub.n may contain up to 10% of the Y residues and poly (Y).sub.m may contain up to 10% of the X residues, and salts thereof.

Abstract: A method of treating a tooth so as to inhibit deposition of a mineral thereon, which comprises contacting the tooth with a mineral deposition inhibitory effective amount of a poly-amino acid compound which has the structure:poly(X).sub.n poly(Y).sub.mwhere each X is a residue independently selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, and phosphothreonine,each Y is independently a residue selected from the group consisting of alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine and glycine,n is 2 to 60,m is 2 to 60, andn+m<5,and wherein poly (X).sub.n may contain up to 10% of the Y residues and poly (Y).sub.m may contain up to 10% of the X residues, and salts thereof,in combination with an orally acceptable vehicle compatible with said compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting the formation of calcium carbonate-containing deposits on a surface by applying a composition comprising an anticalcification-effective amount of a polysaccharide or derivative thereof. The present method is useful for the prevention and/or retardation (inhibition) of inorganic scaling, as well as, for the inhibition of fouling by plant or animal organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting the formation of CaCO.sub.3 -containing deposits on a surface by applying a composition comprising an anti calcification-effective amount of the peptide-containing or the protein-containing fractions isolated from a CaCO.sub.3 -containing tissue obtained from a CaCO.sub.3 -forming organism. Said fractions can be isolated from many CaCO.sub.3 -containing tissues, including, but not limited to, molluscan shells, echinoderm skeletons, carbonate sands, crustacean exoskeletons, coral endoskeletons and the like. The present method is useful for the prevention and/or retardation of inorganic scaling, as well as, for the inhibition of fouling by plant or animal organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting the formation of CaCO.sub.3 -containing deposits on a surface, by applying a composition comprising an anti-calcification effective amount of the polysaccharide-containing fraction substantially devoid of proteinaceous material, isolated from a CaCO.sub.3 -containing tissue obtained from a CaCO.sub.3 -forming organism. The fractions can be isolated from a variety of CaCO.sub.3 -containing tissues, including but not limited to algae coccolith and the like. The present method is useful for the prevention and/or retardation of inorganic scaling, as well as, for the inhibition of fouling by plant or animal organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting the formation of CaCO.sub.3 -containing deposits on a surface by applying a composition comprising an anti calcification-effective amount of a poly amino acid, a poly amino acid amide or derivative thereof. The present method is useful for the prevention and/or retardation (inhibition) of inorganic scaling, as well as for the inhibition of fouling by plant or animal organisms.