| abstract |
Starch is produced by washing the solid starch containing more than 85% amylopectin to remove surface-localized proteins, lipids and endotoxins, dissolving the starch in an aqueous medium, and subjecting the starch to molecular weight reduction by shearing. Production of starch involves: (a) washing solid starch containing more than 85% amylopectin in form of particles, such as granules so that proteins, lipids, and endotoxins surface-localized on the starch are dissolved while the starch remains undissolved, and the starch is separated from the dissolved material; (b) dissolving the washed starch in an aqueous medium; and (c) subjecting the solution to a molecular weight reduction by shearing so that a molecular weight distribution is obtained in which at least 80 wt.% of the material lies at 10-10000 kDa. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a pharmaceutically acceptable starch comprising a purity of at most 50, preferably 5 mug amino acid nitrogen/g dry weight of starch; and (B) microparticles based on starch as carrier for a biologically active substance, especially for parenteral administration, preferably by way of injection, to a mammal, especially a human, where the starch can be dissolved in a concentration greater than 25 (preferably greater than 45) wt.% water. |