Abstract: Lipase is supported on a carrier material, which may hydrophobic or formed of an ion-exchange resin, by adsorbing to the carrier the lipase and a substantial coating of a non-lipase protein such as ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin or sodium caseinate. The protein is applied simultaneous with or prior to the lipase. The protein coating improves the activity of the enzyme especially with respect to its use in esterification and inter-esterification reactions.

Abstract: Enzymes are immboilized on an inorganic carrier which is a round, macropermeable agglomerate having a mulberry-type structure formed from spherical microporous .alpha.-aluminum oxide hydroxide particles. An organic polycondensate having free organic functional groups as enzyme binding sites penetrates the agglomerate. The .alpha.-aluminum oxide hydroxide particles of the agglomerate retain essentially their form prior to agglomeration. The polycondensate is prepared by reacting a polyimine with a dialdehyde or an epoxy compound. Preferably, the polyimine is polyethyleneimine, the dialdehyde is glutardialdehyde and the epoxy compound is an epoxy-functional silicon resin, an aliphatic diepoxide or an aliphatic triepoxide. The agglomerate is prepared by granulating the .alpha.-aluminum oxide hydroxide particles in the presence of the polyimine to form the agglomerate having the polyimine dispersed throughout and then reacting the polyimine with the dialdehyde or the epoxy compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of preparation of a biosensor comprising forming an electrode system mainly containing carbon on an insulating base plate, treating the surface of electrode system with an organic solvent, and then arranging a reaction layer on the electrode system to give a unified element. The reaction layer contains an enzyme, electron acceptor and a hydrophilic polymer. Treatment with the organic solvent improves adhesion of the reaction layer to the electrode system. The electrode system contains a working electrode and a counter electrode. The electrode system is formed from a carbon paste containing a resin binder. Treatment is preferably carried out by wiping the surface of the electrodes with a material impregnated by the organic solvent.

Abstract: Method for making hollow microspheres of substantially uniform diameter and of substantially uniform wall thickness is disclosed. The walls of the hollow microspheres comprise sintered together particles which define interconnecting voids within the walls and a single central cavity in the interior of the microspheres and inner and outer microsphere wall surfaces. The interconnecting voids are continuous and extend from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface. The walls have substantially uniform void content and the interconnecting voids are substantially uniformly distributed in the walls of the hollow microspheres and the walls of the hollow microspheres are free of latent solid or liquid blowing gas materials and are substantially free of relatively thinned wall portions and bubbles. The method includes heating the microspheres for a sufficient period of time to close and seal the interconnecting void.

Abstract: This invention relates to a semiconductor substrate having a porous surface nd to the amperometric receptor-based sensors formed with the substrate. More specifically, this invention pertains to the substrate in the form of a bipolar junction transistor having a porous hydrophilic surface directly on its base wherein the surface forms a support for an amperometric sensor. The invention also pertains to the methods of making and using the substrate and sensor.

Abstract: A process for reacting(1) a component selected from the group consisting of sterols and branched aliphatic primary or secondary alcohols having 14 to 32 carbon atoms, and(2) a component selected from the group consisting of fatty acids and fatty acid estersin contact with an enzyme selected from the group consisting of lipase and cholesterol esterase or with the selected enzyme in an immobilized form, in a system selected from the group consisting of an aqueous medium and water-containing organic solvent to prepare a fatty acid ester of the component (1).

Abstract: Methods and techniques are described for reversibly binding charged biological particles in a fluid medium to an electrode surface. The methods are useful in a variety of applications. The biological materials may include microbes, proteins, and viruses. The electrode surface may consist of reversibly electroactive materials such as polyvinylferrocene, silicon-linked ferrocene or quinone.

Abstract: Substantially spherical polymer particles containing a colloidally, stably and uniformly dispersed magnetically responsive substance of about 5 nm to about 500 nm in diameter provide a superparamagnetic reagent carrier. Preferably, the polymer particles have a hydrated diameter of about 0.5 to 100 um, the polymer is a non-ionic cross-linked polyacrylamide gel and the magnetically responsive substance is iron oxide granules. The magnetically responsive substance may be present in an amount so that the polymer particles have a specific gravity of between 1.2 and 2.7. The reagent carrier is prepared by swelling polymer particles in a solution of iron salt so that substantially all of the iron salt solution is taken upon by the polymer particles and then converting the iron salt in situ to insoluble colloidally dispersed iron oxide granules.

Abstract: Dentrifying backing in a tablet form is periodically introduced into a home or commercial sewage treatment system, and specifically into an underground denitrification chamber. The system uses ground temperature to promote dentrifying bacteria activity to aid in sewage denitrification. The tablets are periodically dispensed with a power-driven dispenser that periodically drops a tablet below ground into the underground denitrification chamber.

Abstract: A process of an enzymatic interesterification in a low water content condition, which comprises subjecting a reaction liquid containing (a) a fat or oil and (b) a member selected from the group consisting of (i) another fat or oil, (ii) a fatty acid ester with a lower alcohol and (iii) a fatty acid to the action of a lipase in the form of dried Rhizopus cells while maintaining the water concentration between 5 and 1000 ppm in the reaction liquid during the reaction. In accordance with the process of the present invention, an interesterification of fat or oil can be carried out efficiently in a high yield.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of inactivating pyrogen producing organisms and pyrogenic substances in immobilized solid matrices which are used in the production and/or purification of biomedical and pharmaceutical products and materials by contacting the solid matrices with pyrogen inactivating solutions.

Abstract: An active biological material encapsulated in a glass is formed using a sol-gel process. A metal alkoxide is mixed with water and exposed to ultrasonic energy at a pH.ltoreq.2 to form a single phase solution which is then buffered to a pH between about 5 and 7. The buffered solution is then mixed with the active biological material and the resultant gel is aged and dried. The dried product is a transparent porous glass with substantially all of the added active biological material encapsulated therein, the biological material retaining a high level of activity.

Abstract: A carrier for a biologically active component for immunoassay or enzymatic reaction, which comprises:a) a thermoplastic resin bead having an average diameter of from 0.05 to 20 mm,b) from 1 to 25% by weight, based on the bead, of a magnetically responsive powder bonded to the bead, andc) a polymer coated thereon in a thickness of from 2 to 30 .mu.m, said polymer having a number average molecular weight of from 200 to 10,000 and having functional groups capable of binding, or being activated to bind, the biologically active component.

Abstract: A method of treating wound healing with a composition containing protease nexin-I (PN-I) is disclosed. Compositions comprised of PN-I uniformly dispersed throughout a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are disclosed as are such compositions further comprising antibiotics. Wound dressings are taught which are comprised of a support base having an absorbent area thereon which has PN-I absorbed thereon and which absorbent area is surrounded by a pressure sensitive adhesive strip for adhering the dressing to a surface surrounding the wound to be treated.

Abstract: Alcohol oxidase is immobilized by bonding an aminosilane coupling agent to a carrier, bonding a multifunctional aldehyde such as glutaraldehyde to an amino group of the aminosilane, washing the carrier to remove free multifunctional aldehyde and bonding alcohol oxidase to the multifunctional aldehyde bonded to the aminosilane. Washing to remove free multifunctional aldehyde enables immobilizing a one molecule thickness of alcohol oxidase on the carrier since free multifunctional aldehyde is not present to cross-link alcohol oxidase molecules together. A thin layer of alcohol oxidase is advantageous when assaying for alcohol since a thin layer does not retain hydrogen peroxide that can deactivate alcohol oxidase. The carrier preferably contains hydroxyl groups and is porous, and can be a silicate-containing carrier such as diatomaceous earth or fire brick.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the interesterification of oil or fat by treating such oil or fat in presence of a fatty acid or fatty acid ester or different oil or fat wherein a reactor column that is packed with an alkaline high molecular weight lipase preparation containing 0 to 5% moisture is fed with a substrate solution composed of the above oil or fat and fatty acid or fatty acid ester or different oil or fat for a continuous reaction in such a manner that the substrate solution contains 100 to 1800 ppm moisture and 50 to 800 ppm moisture at the inlet and outlet, respectively, of the column.

Abstract: A method for amplifying enzyme activity is disclosed. Enzyme amplification is achieved by covalently bonding enzyme to a supporting material via a molecular chain which is a substrate for the enzyme, then introducing a small amount of enzyme in the free state to this system, causing release of a large amount of bound enzyme. In an alternative embodiment, complementary enzymatically inactive fragments of an active enzyme, which fragments can recombine to form active enzyme, are covalently attached to separate support materials by a molecular chain material which is a substrate for the active enzyme, and these two fragment-supported conjugates are connected in series. Upon application of free enzyme or free complementary enzyme to one of these fragment-support conjugates, followed by application of the resulting product mixture to the second fragment-support conjugate, a large amount of free enzyme is ultimately produced.

Abstract: The long-term activity of the biocatalyst for the production of sorbitol and gluconic acid from an aqueous solution of fructose and glucose is considerably improved with the aid of permeabilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis immobilized using .kappa.-carrageenan that has been rigidified and then stabilized by K.sup.+ ions. Rigidification of .kappa.-carrageenan is preferably carried out by treatment with glutaraldehyde alone or by treatment with polyethyleneimine or hexamethylenediamine and subsequent exposure to glutaraldehyde. A buffer-free solution is preferred and the pH is maintained by adding Ca.sup.++ ions while simultaneously precipitating gluconic acid.

Abstract: A method of the present invention is provided for removing low molecular weight contaminants from a contaminant-containing material. This contaminant-containing material can include alcohol compounds, aldehyde compounds and peroxide compounds. The method comprises providing an alcohol oxidase enzyme-based catalyst system including coimmobilized transition metals comprising platinum and copper for catalytically oxidizing the contaminant-containing material. Then, the contaminant-containing material is catalytically oxidized in the presence of the alcohol oxidase enzyme-based catalyst system to form organic acid compounds. The organic acid compounds can then be removed.

Abstract: A cell culture method proliferates microorganisms, particularly fungi such as molds, actinomycetes, animal cells, plant cells and so on to produce useful substances such as antibiotics, enzymes, proteins, polysaccharides, physiological active substances, and animal and plant hormones. Porous material including medium and cells to be proliferated is moved, whereby air is supplied to the surface of the porous material.

Abstract: An integral multilayer element for chemical analysis utilizing an oxidase enzyme reaction system is prepared having in the following order:(a) a porous spreading layer;(b) an oxygen-permeable, protein-impermeable light-blocking layer;(c) an oxidase-containing layer;(d) an indicator layer containing peroxidase and a hydrogen peroxide indicator showing detectable change in the presence of peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide; and(e) a water-impermeable, light-transmissive support. The oxidase in the oxidase-containing layer is preferably glucose oxidase to provide a multilayer element for glucose determination. This multilayer element shortens the analytical time, widens the measurable concentration range of the analyte and improves accuracy.

Abstract: A support matrix particularly suitable for the immobilization of biologically active materials acting on lipophilic substrates results from the reaction of a polyamine-impregnated porous particle with a monofunctional paraffinic aldehyde. The resulting support matrix has a hydrophobic coating providing a microenvironment for the biologically active material, such as an enzyme, and hydrophilic portions for emulsification or binding to polar regions at or near the active site.

Abstract: Lipase is absorbed on a carrier to provide an immobilized lipase preparation containing 0.5 to 8% water by a process that does not require drying. The process is carried out by providing a solution or dispersion of lipase in a liquid solvent, mixing the solution or dispersion of lipase with a carrier to provide a mixture containing 0.5 to 8% water and kneading the mixture to produce the immobilized lipase preparation. The solution or dispersion of lipase may contain an enzyme activity enhancing agent such as a fatty acid or its derivative such as lecithin. By not drying, an immobilized lipase preparation having higher activity is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention is a process of degrading 1,4-dibenz-oxazepine with a icroorganism enzymatically capable of converting the 1,4-dibenz-oxazepine into at least o-nitrophenol which is further converted to catechol. The present invention is preferably carried out using a strain of Alcaligenes denitrificans denitrificans. Additional related compounds which can be degraded with Alcaligenes denitrificans denitrificans include: o-nitrophenol, catechol, and 3-methylcatechol.

Abstract: An assay method is provided to quickly detect the presence of Listeria strains in samples, characterized by the use of antibodies to selectively capture the peptidoglycan and teichoic acid components of the listeriae bacterial cell wall.

Abstract: Contaminants containing non-polar neutral lipid are removed from a solvent that has been used for dry cleaning by placing used solvent in contact with a lipase, which is stable and exhibits an activity in the solvent, or with an immobilized product of said lipase, and with an adsorbent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the occurrence of a binding or complex-forming reaction between specific substances by utilizing the binding reaction to modify an electrical circuit, and then measuring a change in the electrical state of the circuit. A diagnostic element useful in such a method includes a layer of a biogenic substance, such as an antigen, coated onto a non-conductive base between a pair of electrical conductors superposed on the base. Antibodies which react with the antigen are treated so that they become bound to fine electrically conductive, metallic particles. The electrically conductive particles having antibody bound thereto are then added to the antigen layer deposited on the base and allowed to react therewith. Electrically conductive particles are thereby bound to the base due to the binding reaction between the antigen and antibody to thereby form aggregates of electrically conductive particles which modify the circuit.

Abstract: A composition contains levamisole and a substrate for alkaline phosphatase in a high pH buffer including 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol. The composition may be included in a kit of materials useful in performing an immunoassay in which intestinal alkaline phosphatase is the label. The invention includes a method for detection of a viral antigen by an immunoassay including intestinal alkaline phosphatase as the label and the composition of the invention to provide stabilized levamisole to inhibit nonintestinal alkaline phosphatase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gel body of a delimited physical form preferably containing water and characterized in that it a) contains an encapsulated apathogenic micro-organism having a known and reproducible resistance; b) has a porous structure with the size of the pores defined, said structure preventing the encapsulated micro-organism from diffusing out but allows a nutrient solution adjusted to the micro-organism to diffuse in and metabolites produced to diffuse; c) is thermally stable in various sterilization, pasteurization or cooking processes; d) is mechanically stable when transported through the process equipment for sterilization, pasteurization or cooking; e) is surface sterile; and f) is transparent in order to allow observation of possible growth of the micro-organism when incubated in a nutrient solution.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for chemically converting a substrate into its reaction products and immediately thereafter physically separating the reaction products in a continuous operation. The process is carried out with a bioreactor having an ultrafiltration membrane containing an immobilized chemical agent which is preferably an enzyme. The bioreactor is prepared by securing an ultrafiltration membrane to an inside wall of a porous tubular support and chemically bonding an enzyme to an inner surface of the membrane. The enzyme is preferably bonded to the membrane by chelation and the membrane may be a polymeric membrane or a metal oxide membrane. To convert a substrate, a substrate-containing feed stream is preferably flowed tangentially along the inner surface of the membrane containing the immobilized enzyme. Sufficiently small reaction products filter through pores of the membrane and larger reaction products are retained by the membrane.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the quantitative determination of 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenisne dinucleotide (NADH) in solution. The method comprises contacting the NADH-containing solution with an activated carbon electrode, maintaining the carbon electrode at a controlled, fixed potential effective to cause oxidation of NADH at the electrode surface, and measuring the current output from the carbon electrode, wherein there is used a noble metal containing preferably a platinized or palladized activated carbon electrode comprising a porous, heterogeneous, resin-bonded layer of activated carbon or graphite particles comprising the finely divided noble metal preadsorbed thereon and bonded together with a natural or synthetic resin binder, preferably a hydrophobic resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: In a process for growing enzyme crystals, small crystals are continuously removed from a crystallizer, dissolved and returned to the crystallizer to maintain a supersaturated state. The method permits the growing of large crystalline enzymes of uniform size of about 0.5 to 1 mm. Solid materials can be coated with crystalline enzymes by placing a solid material in the crystallizer such that crystals deposit on the solid material. The process is preferably used to produce crystalline glucose isomerase.

Abstract: A method of inducing aggregate formation of animal cells is carried out by forming a nutrient medium suspension of animal cells and introducing itno the suspension microspheres of a derivatized diameter of not more than about 60 .mu.m, when measured in a suitable buffer saline or cell culture media.

Abstract: Novel immobilized cells are prepared by immobilizing microbial cells in a gel carrier wherein an absorbent for organic solvents harmful to the cells is dispersed. A method for normally culturing these immobilized cells is utilized in a medium that contains the organic solvents or to which organic solvents are added without any previous sterilization. The present invention makes it possible to realize an ideal fermentation process without requiring a sterilizing process.

Abstract: Magnetizable composite particles, optionally in aqueous dispersion, consisting of a matrix based on a crosslinked organopolysiloxane, optionally bearing nonvinyl reactive and/or ionic units and magnetizable components less than 300 angstroms in diameter encapsulated in the matrix. The magnetizable composite particles are prepared by homogenizing a solution of the organopolysiloxane, an organohydrogenopolysiloxane optionally bearing ionic and/or reactive units, and a magnetic fluid, in the presence of water and a surfactant, performing a hydrosilylation in an aqueous emulsion, removing the organic solvents and the organic carrier liquid, and at least partially removing the water. The magnetizable composite particles are useful in biological applications.

Abstract: A process for obtaining sorbitol and gluconic acid or gluconate from aqueous glucose/fructose mixtures by using Zymomonas mobilis cells which have been permeabilized by treatment with cationic surfactant is disclosed. The permeabilized cells are preferably obtained by treatment with long-chain quaternary alkylammonium salts such as, in particular, CTAB, Dodigen or Bardac. Surfactant concentrations of 0.1 to 0.3% and a treatment time of 1 to 10 minutes at room temperature are expedient. The cell concentrations preferably used for the fermentation are 20 to 80 g/1 dry matter of permeabilized cells.

Abstract: Weighted microsponges formed of a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighing material are prepared suitable for use in culturing organisms in motive reactor systems. The matrix has an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 to about 150 microns and the pores occupy from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge. The microsponges have an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity of above about 1.05. Biocompatible polymers that can be used are polysaccharides, proteins and synthetic polymers and the weighing material can be metals, metal alloys, metal oxides or ceramics.

Abstract: For the immobilization of micro-organisms and animal cells, in particular for anaerobic processes, such as the purification of waste water or for the biotechnological production of nutrition-essential or pharmacological substances, porous, sintered bodies are employed (inorganic carrier bodies). In particular, sintered glass in the form of Raschig rings with a double-pore structure, are employed. They have porosity-determining through-going macropores that permit a free exchange of fluid and gas from the interior of the carrier to the surroundings, and open micropores within the macropore walls, the diameter of the micropores being of the same order of magnitude as the size of the micro-organisms or cells. These carrier bodies typically have an open pore volume of 35% to 85%, 20% to 80% being accounted for by the macropores having a diameter of 20 to 500 .mu.m, and 5%-50% by micropores having a diameter of 1-10 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical enzyme biosensor for use in liquid mixtures of components for detecting the presence of, or measuring the amount of, one or more select components. The enzyme electrode of the present invention is comprised of an enzyme, an artificial redox compound covalently bound to a flexible polymer backbone and an electron collector.

Abstract: The invention is a carbohydrate receptor for Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma hominus and its use to detect mycoplasma in biological fluids and diseased tissue and cells. The receptor can be included in a composition having a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods are provided for purifying, detecting, or removing mycoplasma from diseased tissue or fluids. The receptor includes sulfatides, dextran sulfate, sialyloligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Novel Fc receptors, denoted type VI, are disclosed as reacting with rat immunoglobulins with a reasonable affinity. These receptors, or the microorganisms which produce them, are useful in immunoassays.

Abstract: A novel bioadsorption composition suitable for removing heavy metal from waster water effluent, the composition comprising a biomass encapsulated sol-gel matrix. A process for preparing the biomass encapsulated sol-gel matrix is also provided. The bioadsorption composition may be suitably used to remove a substantial amount heavy metal (such as uranium) from a waste water effluent, particularly a dilute aqueous stream comprising a waste water effluent (such as mine water). Heavy metal may then be recovered from the bioadsorption composition, thereby rendering the latter as reusable.

Abstract: A solid support useful for bioaffinity and ion-exchange separations and enzyme immobilization is provided. The support is based on a non-perfluorocarbon solid carrier core coated with a nonionic fluorosurfactant-coated fluorocarbon interlayer to which a ligand or a binder for the ligand is securely, but reversibly attached through a reactive perfluorocarbon anchor compound. Also provided is a solid support useful for size exclusion separations. Such support is based on a non-perfluorocarbon carrier core coated with a nonionic fluorosurfactant-coated fluorocarbon interlayer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an organic ester of ascorbic acid or erythorbic acid represented by the general formula (II) or (III): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl, aralkyl, or aryl, by reacting ascorbic acid or erythorbic acid with an organic acid or an ester thereof of the general formula (I) :R.sub.1 COOR.sub.2 (I)wherein R.sub.1 is as defined above and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or propyl, in an organic solvent in the presence of an ester hydrolase.

Abstract: Cell cultivation is carried out by proliferating cells in a small preliminary culture tank containing immobilizing carriers, stripping proliferated cells from the carriers, forming a cell suspension of the stripped cells in culture medium in an intermediate reservoir, intermittently transferring the suspension into a main culture tank containing ceramic immobilizing carriers and further culturing the cells. The main culture tank has an inversed funnel-shaped inlet above the carriers with a perforated plate attached to the bottom of the inlet for uniform distribution of cell suspension from above the carriers, and a plate in the form of a net under the carriers on a perforated plate for uniform distribution of cell suspension from beneath the carriers.

Abstract: Active agents such as proteins are covalently immobilized on substrates carrying hydroxyl groups. A silane is bound to the substrate and coupled to a heterobifunctional crosslinker at one functional group leaving a free functional group, different than the first group, to which a protein is bound while retaining high protein functionality. Preferably, the silane has a functional group which reacts with the hydroxyl group of the substrate and a thiol terminal group which reacts with a functional group of a heterobifunctional crosslinking agent which contains a succinimide group that reacts with an amino group of the active agent. Bound active agents such as proteins are useful as biosensors or reactants in a variety of applications including bioassays.

Abstract: Novel methods for covalent attachment of antibodies, antigens, or other molecules to solid phases using extended length heterobifunctional crosslinking reagents are disclosed. The resulting derivatized solid phases can be used in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dry reagent for blood coagulation tests in which an at least partial course of the coagulation cascade takes place, comprising a carrier material which contains a chromophoric substrate of a protease of the blood coagulation system, at least one factor and/or co-factor of the blood coagulation system and a buffer.

Abstract: An enzyme reactor system is provided based on the entrapment of a coenzyme-requiring enzyme, a coenzyme, and a regeneration enzyme in a hydrogel layer coated on a support, and confined by an ultraporous thin film semipermeable membrane. The diffusion barrier confines the coenzyme-requiring enzyme, coenzyme, and regeneration enzyme but lets substrate and reaction products, exclusive of coenzyme, diffuse freely into and out of the hydrogel layer. In an alternate embodiment, the support is formed of an ultraporous thin film semipermeable membrane on a microporous or macroporous support, through which the reaction products, exclusive of coenzyme, can diffuse freely, but through which neither coenzyme-requiring enzyme, coenzyme, regeneration enzyme, nor substrate can pass. In this embodiment, the product is recovered in high purity, free of substrate, coenzyme-requiring enzyme, coenzyme, and regeneration enzyme.

Abstract: A composition for removing metal ions from aqueous solution is prepared by immobilizing metal ion-binding microorganisms such as algae, washing the immobilized microorganisms, drying the washed immobilized microorganisms and heating the dried immobilized microorganisms to a temperature of about 300.degree. to about 500.degree. C. for a time sufficient to provide a stable composition that is non-swelling in aqueous solution. The composition preferentially adsorbs precious metal ions from an aqueous solution containing concentrations of base metal ions and/or other dissolved materials several orders of magnitude greater than the concentration of the precious metal ions. The composition can also be used to extract precious metal ions from geothermal fluids.