Biopolymers obtained by solid state irradiation in an unsaturated gaseous atmosphere
AssigneePhillips Hydrocolloids Research Limited
InventorsGlyn Owen Phillips, Tjaart Andries Du Plessis, Saphwan Al-Assaf, Peter Anthony Williams
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Abstract
Disclosed are modified naturally occurring biocompatible biopolymers of plant and animal origin made by subjecting same to ionizing radiation in the presence of a mediating gas, typically acetylene to enable one to selectively enhance and modify one or more of the physiochemical properties of the starting materials which have a wide range of uses in medicine, food technology and other industrial applications. Notwithstanding the modifications, the biocompatibility of the biopolymer remains unchanged and no new or additional functional groups are introduced into the starting biopolymer.
Claims34
A modified naturally occurring biocompatible biopolymer selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides of microorganism, plant or animal origin, a protein of animal connective tissue origin, a protein of other animal tissue origin, a combination of at least one of said polysaccharides and at least one other protein of plant origin and demineralized bone, and which is produced by a process comprising subjecting said biopolymer in the solid or dry state, to a source of ionizing radiation in the presence of a mediating gas which is an unsubstituted alkynic gas and annealing the resulting product in the absence of oxygen at a temperature of about 40° to 120° C., and thereafter removing any residual mediating gas.
A modified tissue of animal origin, which is produced by a process comprising subjecting said tissue sample or a component thereof in the solid, or dry state, to a source of ionizing radiation in the presence of a mediating gas which is an unsubstituted alkynic gas and annealing the resulting product in the absence of oxygen at a temperature of about 40° to 120° C., and thereafter removing any residual mediating gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.