The present invention provides a method of producing a polymer hydrogel comprising the steps of: (1) preparing an aqueous solution of a water soluble polysaccharide derivative and a polycarboxylic acid; (2) optionally agitating the solution, for example, by stirring; (3) isolating a polysaccharide derivative/polycarboxylic acid composite from the solution; and (4) heating the polysaccharide derivative/polycarboxylic acid composite at a temperature of at least about 80° C., thereby cross-linking the polysaccharide with the polycarboxylic acid. The invention also provides polymer hydrogels produced by the methods of the invention.

The present invention provides methods, compositions and modified foods and foodstuffs useful for weight management and glycemic control.

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a superabsorbent polymer hydrogel, comprising crosslinking a precursor comprising a carboxymethylcellulose salt optionally in combination with hydroxyethylcellulose, using citric acid as the crosslinking. agent and in the presence of a molecular spacer, subsequently washing the gel in a polar organic solvent and finally drying the gel by phase inversion in a non-solvent for cellulose. The invention further concerns the superabsorbent hydrogel obtainable by the method of the invention and the use thereof in a number of different applications.