Patent Picks—Cosmetic Cornucopia: Antioxidants, Formulating Aids, Firethorn Skin Lightening and More

By: Rachel Grabenhofer

Posted: November 24, 2010

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Water-dispersible cellulose and process for producing the same
US Patent 7838666
Publication date: Nov. 23, 2010
Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushik Kaisha (Osaka, Japan)

The present invention describes a fine, fibrous, water-dispersible cellulose derived from plant cell walls. The water-dispersible cellulose can also be made into a dry composition by compounding with a water-soluble polymer or the like. This dry composition forms a gel when combined with a polysaccharide such as glucomannan or the like. The gel excels in heat-resistance and shape-retention and can be used to produce novel food products. Since the cellulose is in the form of a very fine fiber, however, it does not impart a rough mouth feel or powdery feel when blended into the food product.

Further, the cellulose is excellent for thickening, shape-retention, suspension stabilization, emulsion stabilization, heat stabilization (i.e., heat-resistant shape-retention, denaturation-prevention of proteins), and performance of imparting a body feel. These performances are useful not only in the field of food products but also in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and industry.

PUFA polyketide synthase systems and uses thereof
US Patent 7838649
Publication date: Nov. 23, 2010
Assignee: Martek Biosciences Corporation (Columbia, MD, USA)

This invention relates to: polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) polyketide synthase (PKS) systems, homologues thereof, isolated nucleic acid molecules and recombinant nucleic acid molecules encoding biologically active domains of such a PUFA PKS system, genetically modified organisms comprising PUFA PKS systems, methods of making and using such systems for the production of bioactive molecules of interest, and novel methods for identifying new bacterial and non-bacterial microorganisms having such a PUFA PKS system.