Matrices comprising a modified polysaccharide

Abstract

The present invention discloses a matrix comprising a modified polysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units whereby in at least 11% of the disaccharide units one primary alcohol group is oxidized into a carboxylic acid group.

1 . A matrix comprising a modified polysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units, whereby in at least 11% of the disaccharide units one primary alcohol group is oxidized to a carboxylic acid group. 
     
     
         2 . The matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein in 20-99% of the disaccharide repeat units, the primary alcohol group is oxidized to the carboxylic acid group. 
     
     
         3 . The matrix according to  claim 2 , wherein in 50-95% of the repeat disaccharide units, the primary alcohol group is oxidized to the carboxylic acid group. 
     
     
         4 . The matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein the modified polysaccharide is blended with an unmodified polysaccharide. 
     
     
         5 . The matrix according to  claim 4 , wherein the modified polysaccharide and/or the not modified polysaccharide is agarose. 
     
     
         6 . The matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide is of natural origin. 
     
     
         7 . The matrix according to  claim 4 , wherein either the modified polysaccharide or the non-modified polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of a member of the carrageenan family, hyaluronic acid, heparin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, alginate, chitosan, pullulan and agarose. 
     
     
         8 . The matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic group derived from the oxidation of the primary alcohol group is covalently coupled with a peptide sequence. 
     
     
         9 . The matrix according to  claim 8 , wherein the peptide sequence is selected from the group consisting of the cell adhesion sequence arginin-glycin-aspartic acid, the peptide sequences IKVAV and YIGSR or a protein selected from collagen, collagen fragments, fibronectin and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid group derived from the oxidation of the primary alcohol group is covalently bound to a nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
         11 . The matrix according to  claim 10 , wherein the carboxylic acid group derived from the oxidation of the primary alcohol group is coupled to single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA, RNA, and siRNA. 
     
     
         12 . The matrix according to  claim 1  for use as scaffold for living cells. 
     
     
         13 . The matrix according to  claim 1  for use as a regenerative implant comprising living cells selected from the group consisting of condrocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, skin epithelial cells, intestinal epithelial cells, corneal epithelial cells, astrocytes, neurons, oligodentrocytes, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, pancreatic islet cells, kidney epithelial cells and naïve cells obtained from umbilical cord. 
     
     
         14 . The matrix according to  claim 1  for use as a plastic surgery implant. 
     
     
         15 . The matrix according to  claim 1  for use as a controlled drug release implant. 
     
     
         16 . Use of the matrix according  claim 1  as a food additive. 
     
     
         17 . Use of the matrix according to  claim 1  as a component of cosmetic compositions. 
     
     
         18 . Use of the matrix according to  claim 1  as a lubricant for industrial purposes. 
     
     
         19 . Use of the matrix according to  claim 1  for conditioning of liquids.