Abstract: Sensitive proteins and other macromolecules, such as enzymes, antibodies, antigens, serum complement, fluorescent proteins, vaccine components, polysaccharides such as agarose etc, can be preserved by drying at ambient temperature and at atmospheric pressure in the presence of trehalose. A porous matrix impregnated with trehalose is provided as a receiver for a blood or other liquid sample to be dried.

Abstract: An immobilized enzyme having high activity and stability is obtained by immobilizing an enzyme on a water-insoluble amino group-containing carrier by use of a polyfunctional cross-linking agent such as glutaraldehyde in the presence of a phenolic carboxylic acid having one or more hydroxyl groups such as tannic acid. In addition to the phenolic carboxylic acid, a basic polysaccharide such as chitosan may also be present. The amino group-containing carrier may be aminated silica gel, aminated porous glass, aminated zeolite, or water insoluble crosslinked chitosen.

Abstract: A support matrix generally useful for the immobilization of biologically active proteins is made by coating with a polymeric alcohol a core support of titania or a carbonaceous pyropolymer deposited on a high surface area refractory inorganic oxide, cross-linking the alcohol, and converting a portion of the hydroxyl moieties to sulfonate esters. Such supports covalently bind enzymes and antibodies via a strong carbon-nitrogen single bond to give, for example, an immobilized antibody system extremely resistant to leaching of the antibody, the cross-linked alcohol, or of metals from the core support.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor using a field effect transistor. The sensor includes a field effect transistor having a gate electrode, a reactive monomolecular film formed on the surface of the gate electrode, and a sensing material fixed on the gate electrode through a reactive monomolecular film by a chemical bond. The sensing material is strongly bonded to the reactive monomolecular film in such manner that the sensing material is kept alive. Thereby, sensitivity of the sensor is improved.

Abstract: A multilayer structure is prepared containing immobilized nitrogen-fixing filamentous blue-green algal heterocyst cells. The cells are attached to a first layer which is a water-insoluble support having a surface energy of about 30 to about 115 dynes per cm. Second and third layers are adjacent and contiguous with first and second surfaces, respectively, of the first layer. At least one of the second and third layers is transparent to actinic radiation. The support may be cellulosic such as wood pulp. The immobilized cells fix nitrogen at a rate which is substantially greater than cells when not immobilized. The structure is useful as a nutrient source for agricultural purposes.

Abstract: A method for making an agriculturally useful inoculant of dried, dormant bacteria is described. To make the inoculant, a suspension of Rhizobium or other bacteria is maintained, substantially separated from its culture medium, at a temperature in the range of about 0.degree.-30.degree. C. for varying periods of time under aseptic conditions. The bacterial suspension is then mixed with a porous chemically inert granular carrier such that the weight ratio of carrier to bacteria is in the range of about 0.5 to 1.0. Finally, the bacteria-carrier mixture is air dried for a period of about 2 to 10 days under aseptic conditions.

Abstract: Carrier material for the immobilization of microorganisms, particularly for use in connection with microbiological conversion and/or separation of constituents from gaseous or liquid media, is disclosed. The carrier material comprises a dimensionally stable macroporous skeleton comprised of relatively coarse-grain granular material such as sinterable thermoplastic granules, and relatively fine grain microporous material, such as activated charcoal, which are bonded together. The carrier material thus comprises both macropores having a pore size of from about 10 to 200 .mu.m and micropores having a pore size of up to about 0.1 .mu.m depending upon the identity of the five grain microporous material that is used. Additional finely divided materials, such as catalytic agents or density modifying agents, may also be disposed within the macroporous skeleton. The preparation and use of the carrier material is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions which are capable of selectively binding a biologically active protein, retaining its activity. Such compositions have essentially three parts, linked together: a water-insoluble carrier, an antibody bound by the carrier and being against the Fc region of an immunoglobulin and an antibody bound thereto which is specific towards the protein which is to be bound to this composition. Proteins of choice are enzymes and isoenzymes such as carboxypeptidas A or isoenzyme 5 of porcine lactate dehydrogenase. Preferably the antibody bound to the carrier is a polyclonal anti-mouse antibody and the antibody bound thereto is a monoclonal mouse antibody. Based on such compositions, there is provided an assay for the quantitative determination of such proteins.

Abstract: A process for preparing an enzyme preparation useful for interesterification in the presence of little water. The process comprises drying a hydrated substance having lipase-activity while contacting the substance with a fatty acid derivative.

Abstract: A process for the decontamination of soil is disclosed wherein specific microorganisms are fixed at a high cell concentration to a porous and adsorptive carrier; and applied to contaminated soil to bring about decontamination.

Abstract: An active material is disclosed comprising metal oxide/hydroxide particles having chemically bonded to reactive sites on a surface thereof, a monolayer of a phosphorous-containing organic material comprised of a phosphorous-containing group and a carbon-containing group. The bond to the metal oxide/hydroxide particle surface is formed by reaction of the phosphorous-containing group with the metal oxide/hydroxide particle surface, so that the carbon-containing group of the material is oriented away from the metal oxide/hydroxide surface.

Abstract: Cellular adsorbents for removing viral contaminants from whole blood and protein solutions are prepared by immobilizing and stabilizing cells or portions thereof cellular receptors for the target contaminants. Removal of the viral contaminants from solution is effected by affinity binding of viral proteins of the contaminant and their corresponding immobilized cellular receptors.

Abstract: Weighted collagen microsponges having a highly crosslinked collagen matrix are described suitable for use in culturing organisms in motive reactor systems. The microsponges have an open to the surface pore structure, and pore sizes and volumes suitable for immobilizing a variety of bioactive materials. The microsponges also have an average particle size in the range of about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity above about 1.05.

Abstract: An immunoadsorbent material for removing IgM and IgM-complexes from biological fluids is prepared by covalently binding anti-IgM antibodies to a solid-phase silica matrix. It has been found that reacting hydroxy-derivatized silica in the presence of cyanogen bromide with the anti-IgM antibodies provides a particularly stable, high-capacity immunoadsorbent. The immunoadsorbent material may be employed in a column for therapeutic treatment of various disorders, such as primary biliary cirrhosis.

Abstract: Organic compounds susceptible to hydrolysis are prepared by reaction in a water-immiscible organic liquid in contact with an enzyme activated with water to catalyze the reaction and desiccant means to lower the water activity of the dispersion from which the reaction products are recovered. The enzyme may be a lipase to catalyze an interesterification process and the desiccant means may be immersed in the dispersion to remove water in the liquid phase or in the headspace above the dispersion to remove water vapor.

Abstract: In a continuous interesterification process a fatty acid ester reactant, preferably a glyceride and optionally including free fatty acid, is contacted with an enzyme as interesterification catalyst which is preferably 1,3-selective and precipitated on an inert particulate support. The catalyst is packed in a fixed bed with contact times less than 2 hours which are sufficient to effect interesterification. The process is useful for producing POSt- and StOSt-rich fats suitable for use as cocoa butter substitute fats.

Abstract: The present invention provides an analysis element for the determination of coagulation parameters with the help of a detectable or a detection reaction-initiating substrate of a protease of the blood coagulation system and at least one factor and/or co-factor of the blood coagulation system and a buffer substance, wherein the factor and/or co-factor, together with a water-soluble, non-ionic polymer which does not falsely influence the course of the coagulation cascade, is impregnated on an open, planar composite structure which consists of a material which does not have a disturbing influence on the course of the coagulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel microorganisms separated from natural environments and purified and genetically modified, process for immobilizing these microorganisms by affixing then to substrates, the biocatalytic compositions formed by these microorganisms affixed to substrates, and the use of the biocatalytic compositions for the detoxification of toxin-polluted streams. The microorganisms are (1) Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC SD 904); (2) Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC SD 903); (3) Pseudomonas cepacia (ATCC SD 905); (4) Methylobacter rhodinum (ATCC 113-X); and (5) Methylobacter species (ATCC 16 138-X).

Abstract: A pyroelectric sensor is provided for detecting enzymes or enzymatic substrates in a liquid or gas stream. The sensor contains a laminate formed of a pyroelectric material sandwiched between upper and lower conducting means to act as electrodes. An electronic circuit means is connected to the conducting means to measure thermally induced electric current and an enzyme or enzymatic substrate is immobilized on a surface of one of the conducting means. The laminate is supported by a support means and a plate means rests on an upper surface of the supported laminate. The plate means has a longitudinal flow channel communicating with the upper surface for flow of a gas of liquid, and a recess for accommodating the electronic circuit means. Inlet and outlet means pass through the plate means and communicate with the flow channel.

Abstract: A method for disinfecting a medical device comprising the steps of immersing a medical device in a hydrogen peroxide solution for a time sufficient to disinfect said device, decomposing any residual hydrogen peroxide by use of a catalytically effective amount of a protein capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide, said protein being immobilized on a composite article, said composite article comprising in sequence a support, a layer of protein immobilizer compound, and a biologically active protein. The surface modification treatment is a gelled network of inorganic oxide particles or a plasma treatment.

Abstract: A particulate porous material suitable for use as a high surface area column packing material comprises particles substantially all of which are not smaller than 5 micrometers and not larger than 1 millimeter in diameter, and each particle is in the form of a substantially cellular body and consists predominantly of an open, three-dimensional matrix of crystals of mullite which define between them interconnecting pores having a width in the range of from 5 nanometers to about 2 micrometers. The particles can be coated with a reactive layer. There is also disclosed a process for producing the particulate porous material wherein a particulate product comprising particles substantially all of which are between 5 micrometers and 1 millimeter in diameter and consisting predominantly of a mixture of mullite crystals and silica is treated with a concentrated aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a desired alpha-amino acid, AA.sub.d, or a derivative thereof. The process comprises:(a) reacting a first alpha-amino acid, AA.sub.NH.sbsb.2 ; a first alpha-keto acid, KA.sub.t ; a second alpha-keto acid, KA.sub.pre ; a first transaminase enzyme and a second transaminase enzyme to produce (i) the desired alpha-amino acid, AA.sub.d and (ii) a third alpha-keto acid, KA.sub.prod ; and(b) removing KA.sub.prod from the other keto acids, amino acids and enzymes wherein AA.sub.d and KA.sub.pre, AA.sub.t and KA.sub.t, and AA.sub.NH.sbsb.2 and KA.sub.prod are interconvertible, respectively, by amino group transfer. The first transaminase efficiently catalyzes reaction (i), but not reaction (ii) and the second transaminase efficiently catalyzes reaction (ii) but not reaction (i):AA.sub.NH.sbsb.2 +KA.sub.t .revreaction.AA.sub.t +KA.sub.prod (i)AA.sub.t +KA.sub.pre .revreaction.AA.sub.d +KA.sub.t (ii)In one embodiment KA.sub.

Abstract: Process for generating an about 98% ester yield from fatty acids and fatty alcohols comprising esterifying the acid and alcohol in liquid phase under a vacuum of at least 0.5 bar in the presence of an immobilized lipase.

Abstract: Disclosed are insecticidal compositions for controlling Scarabaeide comprising an effective amount of sporangium-free spores of pathogens that cause milky disease in said Scarabaeide. Also disclosed is a method for producing infective milky disease bacillus spores in vitro in liquid media containing starch, trechalose, yeast extract, K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4, and CaCO.sub.3 during the vegetative growth stage and MnSO.sub.4 and optionally an ion-exchange resin as sporulation adjuvants.

Abstract: Apatite containing immobilized glucanase for decomposition of polysaccharies associated with dental carries is prepared by adding dropwise glutaraldehyde to an aqueous solution in which glucanase, protein and apatite are present in a mixed state. The protein in preferably lysozyme.

Abstract: A microorganism or enzyme is mixed with an alginate and a silica sol in the presence of water to obtain a liquid mixture having a pH of 3 to 10 and containing an alginate concentration of 0.5 to 3.5% (w/v) and a silica concentration originating from the silica sol of 0.5 to 35% (w/v). The mixture is contacted with a gelling agent in the form of an aqueous solution to obtain a gel containing the microorganism or enzyme.

Abstract: A calcium-phosphate type hydroxyapatite which belongs to a series of hexagonal systems has unit lattice constants of 9.58.+-.0.08 .ANG. for the a axis and 7.00.+-.0.05 .ANG. for the c axis. Its Ca/P ratio is in the range of 1.50 to 1.90. It is for use as a column packing material for chromatographic separation of biopolymers. The hydroxyapatite is produced by firing it in the form of a gel or powder at a temperature of 400.degree. to 700.degree. C. As a gel the hydroxyapatite takes the form of a suspension or slurry. A powder is prepared by removing moisture from the hydroxyapatite in the gel form and then drying. Either gel or powder is fired by heating in the presence of oxygen or air at 500.degree. to 600.degree.0 C.

Abstract: Microorganisms such as in activated sludge are immobilized by forming a mixture containing the microorganisms, a monomer or prepolymer and alginic acid or water soluble alignate, and dropping the mixture into a water solution of polyvalent metal ion and a polymerization initiator to form particles containing the microorganisms. Preferably, the monomer is an acrylamide monomer, the prepolymer is an ester of an acrylic acid group and polyethylene glycol and the polymerization initiator is a persultate. By this method, the microorganisms are protected from toxic substances such as the polymerization initiator during immobilization.

Abstract: In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a method of assaying a ligand in a sample which comprises contacting the sample with a predetermined quantity of a specific binding partner to the ligand, said specific binding partner being immobilized on the effective gate electrode of a field effect transistor, and determining whether (and, if desired, the extent to which) an appropriate transistor characteristic is changed as a result of complex formation between the ligand and the specific binding partner.

Abstract: Enzymes are fixed on carriers with a bis-dithioester capable of combining with the enzyme and with the carrier. The bis-dithioester has at each of its ends a group capable of reacting with an aimine function. The enzyme may be contacted with the bis-dithioester before the enzyme and carrier are combined. The carrier is an inorganic or organic solid.

Abstract: A fibrinolytic enzyme immobilized on a carrier is stabilized by treating the surface of the carrier on which the enzyme is immobilized with a basic amino acid. The amino acid is preferably histidine, arginine or lysine. Carriers may be inorganic materials, natural polymeric materials or synthetic polymeric materials, in a variety of forms. Fibrinolytic enzymes immobilized include plasmin, brinase, urokinase, streptokinase and tissue plasminogen activator. The stabilized immobilized fibrinolytic enzyme maintains activity better during storage or sterilization.

Abstract: An immunoadsorbent material for removing IgM and IgM-complexes from biological fluids is prepared by covalently binding anti-IgM antibodies to a solid-phase silica matrix. It has been found that reacting hydroxyl-derivatized silica in the presence of a cyanogen bromide with the anti-IgM antibodies provides a particularly stable, high-capacity immunoadsorbent. The immunoadsorbent material may be employed in a column for therapeutic treatment of various disorders, such as primary biliary cirrhosis.

Abstract: A composite article is prepared comprising in sequence a fibrous polymeric support which has been subjected to a surface treatment to provide binding sites thereon, a layer of a protein immobilizer compound, and a biologically active protein. The surface treatment comprises coating the support with a 2 to 500 nm thick layer of inorganic oxide or subjecting the support to a plasma treatment. The protein immobilizer can be a polymer or silane-functional compound. The biologically active protein can be the enzyme, catalase, which has use in decomposing hydrogen peroxide when disinfecting contact lenses.

Abstract: Enzymes are immobilized on non-porous glass fibers by coating glass fibers with a solution containing an enzyme and a soluble polymer and contacting the coated fibers with a controlled amount of cross-linking agent to obtain an immobilized enzyme having high activity and long endurance, and which provides a high percentage of conversion. The enzyme may be an amylase, the polymer a plyalkyleneimine and the cross-linking agent glutaraldehyde. Continuous immobilization can be carried out by moving continuous fibers to applicator stations for applying a solution of enzyme and polymer and a solution of cross-linking agent.

Abstract: Biochemically active material is immobilized on porous silica-rich glass fibers having a diameter of about 3 to 150 microns, a length of about 0.03 inch to continuous fiber length, a mean pore diameter in the range of about 10 to 3000 angstroms, a pore volume of about 0.5 to 1.5 cc/gm and a surface area of about 10 to 600 m.sup.2 /gm. The porous glass fibers are preferably formed from a composition containing greater than 35 up to 60 weight percent B.sub.2 O.sub.3, about 1 to 10 weight percent alkali metal oxides, about 30 to 65 weight percent SiO.sub.2, up to about 5 weight percent ZrO.sub.2, and up to about 4 weight percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Fibers having the composition are heated to cause phase separation into a boron-rich phase and a silica-rich phase, and are then treated by water and acid leaching to produce the porous glass fibers. A biochemically active material is attached to the fibers by absorption or by covalent bonding with a linking agent.

Abstract: Biocatalyst such as enzymes or cells are immobilized in hollow porous microspheres for use as bioreactors in biochemical processes. The microspheres are of substantially uniform diameter of 200 to 10,000 microns and of substantially uniform wall thickness of 1 to 1000 microns. Walls of the microspheres are formed of sintered together particles such as inorganic particles. The walls have interconnecting voids that are continuous and extend from outer wall surface to the inner wall surface. The biocatalyst is introduced into the microspheres through macropores in the walls, and then immobilized. Immobilization may be performed by introducing a gel forming material with the biocatalyst and forming a semipermeable gel in situ within the microspheres.

Abstract: Industrially useful method for the purification of HBs antigen produced by a recombinant organism being capable of producing HBs antigen which is prepared by means of DNA recombination technique, which comprises subjecting an HBs antigen-containing material produced by a recombinant organism to an adsorption chromatography with a silica, optionally followed by a gel filtration and further an adsorption chromatography with a hydroxyapatite, and then eluting the HBs antigen, preferably, with a buffer having a pH 9 or more which is incorporated with urea. The purification method can give a highly pure HBs antigen suitable for the preparation of hepatitis B vaccine in a large scale from recombinant organisms prepared by DNA recombination technique.

Abstract: A porous gel containing an immobilized enzyme is prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of not lower than 95 mol% and an average polymerization degree of not lower than 1,000, with an enzyme or enzyme-producing cell, and activated carbon powder, pouring the mixture into a container of any desired form, gelating and molding the mixture by dehydrating it up to a dehydration ratio of not lower than 50%, immersing the resulting molding in water, and drying the immersed molding. Preferably, dehydrating is by leaving the mixture to stand at room temperature or a temperature of from 30.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. The enzyme or enzyme-producing cell may be mixed with or adsorbed on an inorganic or organic carrier. The dried molding may be granulated.

Abstract: A composite comprising a core of urease-containing particles covered with fine zeolite powders for decomposing urea dissolved in a liquid and adsorbing a product resulting from said decomposition.

Abstract: In a continuous interesterification process a fatty acid ester reactant, preferably a glyceride and optionally including free fatty acid, is contacted with an enzyme as interesterification catalyst which is preferably 1,3-selective and precipitated on an inert particulate support. The catalyst is packed in a fixed bed with contact times less than 2 hours which are sufficient to effect interesterification. The process is useful for producing POSt- and StOSt-rich fats suitable for use as cocoabutter substitute fats.

Abstract: A naturally occuring protein is chemically modified to provide the protein with activity of a selected enzyme. The protein does not contain activity of the selected enzyme before modification. Modification is preferably carried out by partially denaturing the protein in the presence of an inhibitor for the selected enzyme to form a partially denatured protein-enzyme inhibitor complex, adsorbing the complex to a solid support and crosslinking the adsorbed complex to form an immobilized modified protein having activity of the selected enzyme. Alternatively, the protein may be adsorbed onto the support, partially denatured and crosslinked in the presence of the inhibitor or the protein may be partially denatured, adsorbed on the support and crosslinked in the presence the inhibitor. In another embodiment, the protein has at least three disulphide groups.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process whereby enzymes are immobilized on granular diatomaceous earth. The process involves treating the diatomaceous earth with a polyamine compound having pendant amino groups to cause the polyamine to adhere to the diatomaceous earth leaving pendant amine groups free to react further. The free amine groups are derivatized by treatment with a difunctional compound having amine reactive moieties, so that free amine groups of an enzyme or enzymes can be covalently bound to the polyamine via the amine reactive compound.

Abstract: Porous glass beads for filtation applications having a homogeneous metaloxane structure and comprising oxides of Si, Zr and optionally Ti and Al. A preferred method for making these beads comprises the steps of (a) providing a mother solution of Si and Zr alkoxides in a water soluble solvent, for instance a lower aliphatic alcohol, (b) providing a liquid dispersant phase in which solution (a) is dispersible and stirring this liquid phase sufficiently to cause (a) to be formed into droplets of substantially uniform size when added to (b), (c) adding (a) to (b) at a rate sufficient to provide said droplets and effecting the hydrolysis of the alkoxides contained therein with consecutive gelation of said droplets into corresponding hardened beads of condensed mixed Si and Zr hydroxides, and (d) separating said beads from the liquid phase and drying to achieve the desired porous mixed oxide structure for the beads.

Abstract: Dust free enzyme containing particles are produced by coating hydratable core particles with an enzyme and then with a film-forming macro-molecular material. Coating is carried out by suspending the core particles in a fluidized bed dryer, spraying an aqueous slurry of enzyme onto the core particles while suspended, and evaporating water to leave a dried enzyme coat on the particles. The resultant enzyme-coated particles, while still suspended in the fluidized bed, are sprayed with a solution or dispersion of the macro-molecular material, and dried to remove solvent to leave a coating of the macro-molecular material.

Abstract: Immobilized enzymes covalently bound to an inorganic carrier by an amino group through a bifunctional spacer have improved properties when the carrier is formed of amorphous, approximately spherical silica particles obtained from synthetic calcium silicate. The silica particles have an average particle size of from 15 to 80 .mu.m, an apparent particle volume of from 1.3 to 3 cm.sup.3 /g, and a specific surface area of from 250 to 800 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: Hollow microspheres are made by a process which comprises forming a film of a dispersed particle film-forming composition (containing dispersed particles, a binder, a film stabilizing agent and a continuous liquid phase) across a coaxial blowing nozzle, applying a blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the dispersed particle composition film to blow the film and form, in the region of the coaxial blowing nozzle orifice, hollow dispersed particle microspheres having stable film walls, removing the hollow microspheres, treating them to bring dispersed particles into point to point contact and harden them to obtain hollow green microspheres, and subsequently subjecting them to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to remove the continuous liquid phase and to sinter the dispersed particles at their points of contact to form within the walls of said hollow microspheres interconnecting voids that are continuous from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface of th

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a solution containing glucose and fructose (isoglucose) by the conversion of a glucose-containing solution on a catalyst having glucose isomerase activity and produced on the basis of a SiO.sub.2 carrier. The productivity of the catalyst may be significantly increased by the addition of SiO.sub.2 to the glucose solution, and the catalyst according to the present invention is not damaged by temporary process shutdowns.

Abstract: A method for production of an immobilized enzyme by means of a crosslinking agent wherein the following components are brought together in aqueous medium:(a) an enzyme preparation;(b) a crosslinking agent; and(c) an inert water soluble salt in a relatively high concentration.The salt hinders solubility of the enzyme in the medium, yet the enzyme is fully accessible to the crosslinking agent. High enzyme activity recovery may be obtained.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition process for making glass-surfaced microcarriers, and the resulting product, in which hollow spherical micro-sized shells of glass or ceramic composition replaced within a fluidized bed coater, and separate preheated reaction gasses are directed into the coater bed. The shell precursors have a preferred starting density of not more than the predetermined desired final density in the range of 1.01 to 1.2 g/cc, and have a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 .mu.m, preferably 105 to 150 .mu.m. The thickness of the silicate glass coating is preferably in the range of 11 to 16 .mu.m. An alternative embodiment employs solid precursor beads of polyphenylene oxide.

Abstract: Apparatus for immobilizing biological cells based on the dielectric properties of biological cells. An inhomogeneous electric field emanating from a grid point location or other contact area is created and attracts the biological cell into contact therewith. Appropriate controls over a series of grid points permits controlled inter-grid point movement of cells thereby permitting sequential testing or sorting processes to be carried out.