Abstract: The present invention provides a novel fluorescent nanoparticle imaging probe having a switching function (a function to quench a fluorescent dye during nanoparticle preparation, and emit fluorescence during imaging). A switching fluorescent nanoparticle probe comprising: a molecular assembly composed of an amphiphilic block polymer having a hydrophilic block chain and a hydrophobic block chain; and a fluorescent dye encapsulated in the molecular assembly, wherein (a) the hydrophilic block chain comprises, as an essential hydrophilic structural unit, a unit selected from a sarcosine unit and an alkylene oxide unit, (b) the hydrophobic block chain comprises, as an essential hydrophobic structural unit, a unit selected from the group consisting of an amino acid unit and a hydroxylic acid unit, and (c) the fluorescent dye is a cyanine compound represented by the formula (I): and two or more molecules of the fluorescent dye are encapsulated in the single molecular assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a molecular assembly having any nano-sized particle diameter depending on its intended use and application, in various fields such as pharmaceutical drugs, agricultural chemicals, cosmetics, food products, and electronics. Furthermore, provided is a nano-carrier for delivering various substances using the molecular assembly having any nano-sized particle diameter. A molecular assembly comprising: an amphiphilic block polymer A1 comprising a hydrophilic block having a sarcosine unit and a hydrophobic block having a lactic acid unit; and an amorphous hydrophobic polymer A2 having an aliphatic hydroxy acid unit, wherein a number of aliphatic hydroxy acid units contained in the amorphous hydrophobic polymer A2 exceeds twice a number of lactic acid units contained in the hydrophobic block of the amphiphilic block polymer A1.

Abstract: Provided is a polymeric micelle pharmaceutical preparation that can increase the ratio of contrast at tumor site to background contrast in a short period of time after administration of a lactosome and can suppress the ABC phenomenon so that the lactosome can be administered more than once within a short span. A branched-type amphiphilic block polymer comprising: a multi-branched hydrophilic block comprising sarcosine; and a hydrophobic block comprising polylactic acid. The branched-type amphiphilic block polymer, wherein the number of branches of the hydrophilic block is 3. A molecular assembly comprising the branched-type amphiphilic block polymer. The molecular assembly further comprising a linear type amphiphilic block polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molecular assembly whose retention time in a target site is adjusted depending on the kind or purpose of a labeling agent or drug encapsulated therein, and a molecular assembly that can suppress the ABC phenomenon and that can be administered more than once within a short span.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel amphiphilic substance, a nanoparticle using the novel amphiphilic substance, which can be used as a nanocarrier having high biocompatibility, a drug delivery system and a probe useful for the system, and, a molecular imaging system and a probe useful for the system. An amphiphilic block polymer comprising a hydrophilic block; and a hydrophobic block, wherein the hydrophilic block is a hydrophilic polypeptide chain having 10 or more sarcosine units, and the hydrophobic block is a hydrophobic molecular chain comprising units selected from the group consisting of amino acid units and hydroxyl acid units as essential structural units, and having 5 or more of the essential structural units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic system that is widely applicable to general solid cancers, can achieve both a reduction in side effects of cancer therapy and suppression of cancer recurrence and metastasis, and requires no expensive drug such as an antibody; and a nanoparticle for internal radiation therapy. A system for internal radiation therapy of a vascular lesion site comprising: a device comprising a means for acquiring image data showing a position of a vascular lesion site, and a means for positioning a needle, which should be punctured into the vascular lesion site, at the vascular lesion site based on the image data; and a nanoparticle comprising an amphiphilic block polymer comprising a hydrophilic block having a sarcosine unit and a hydrophobic block having a lactic acid unit, and a substance labeled with a ?-ray emitting nuclide. The nanoparticle for internal radiation therapy.

Abstract: Provided is a polymeric micelle pharmaceutical preparation that can increase the ratio of contrast at tumor site to background contrast in a short period of time after administration of a lactosome and can suppress the ABC phenomenon so that the lactosome can be administered more than once within a short span. A branched-type amphiphilic block polymer comprising: a multi-branched hydrophilic block comprising sarcosine; and a hydrophobic block comprising polylactic acid. The branched-type amphiphilic block polymer, wherein the number of branches of the hydrophilic block is 3. A molecular assembly comprising the branched-type amphiphilic block polymer. The molecular assembly further comprising a linear type amphiphilic block polymer.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a novel fluorescent nanoparticle imaging probe having a switching function (a function to quench a fluorescent dye in a blood component and emit fluorescence in a tumor or an inflamed site to be imaged).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel fluorescent nanoparticle imaging probe having a switching function (a function to quench a fluorescent dye during nanoparticle preparation, and emit fluorescence during imaging). A switching fluorescent nanoparticle probe comprising: a molecular assembly composed of an amphiphilic block polymer having a hydrophilic block chain and a hydrophobic block chain; and a fluorescent dye encapsulated in the molecular assembly, wherein (a) the hydrophilic block chain comprises, as an essential hydrophilic structural unit, a unit selected from a sarcosine unit and an alkylene oxide unit, (b) the hydrophobic block chain comprises, as an essential hydrophobic structural unit, a unit selected from the group consisting of an amino acid unit and a hydroxylic acid unit, and (c) the fluorescent dye is a cyanine compound represented by the formula (I): and two or more molecules of the fluorescent dye are encapsulated in the single molecular assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molecular assembly which is less likely to accumulate in tissue other than cancer tissue, is highly safe for a living body, and can be prepared by a simple and safe method and whose particle size can be easily controlled. The present invention provides a molecular imaging system and a molecular probe useful for the system, and a drug delivery system and a molecular probe useful for the system. The present invention provides a method for preparing molecular assembly, by which the particle size of molecular assembly having a signal group or a drug can be arbitrarily controlled in order to allow the molecular assembly to effectively accumulate in cancer tissue by utilizing EPR effect.

Abstract: A radioactive fluoride anion concentrating device capable of concentrating 18F? ions speedily and efficiently. A flow cell (11) is composed of a metal plate electrode (21), an insulating sheet (23) and a carbon plate electrode (25) located so that the sides of electrodes may be opposed to each other with the insulating sheet (23) inserted between them. An example of the plate metal plate electrode (21) is obtained by forming a film of metallic material on an insulation plate, and an example of the insulating sheet (23) is a PDMS from which a groove being a channel (26) having a thickness of ?500 ?m is cut out. The thickness of the sheet is desirably about 100 ?m. The upper and lower sides of the flow cell (11) are fixed by fixing jigs (27) and (29).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel amphiphilic substance, a nanoparticle using the novel amphiphilic substance, which can be used as a nanocarrier having high biocompatibility, a drug delivery system and a probe useful for the system, and, a molecular imaging system and a probe useful for the system. An amphiphilic block polymer comprising a hydrophilic block; and a hydrophobic block, wherein the hydrophilic block is a hydrophilic polypeptide chain having 10 or more sarcosine units, and the hydrophobic block is a hydrophobic molecular chain comprising units selected from the group consisting of amino acid units and hydroxyl acid units as essential structural units, and having 5 or more of the essential structural units.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.

Abstract: A spontaneously degradable fiber excellent in bulkiness, softness, stretchability and feeling, which comprises (A) a low heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising a high crystalline aliphatic polyester and (B) a high heat-shrinkable fiber component comprising an aliphatic polyester, e.g., a low crystalline or non-crystalline aliphatic polyester, and a block copolymer or a mixture the main component of which is an aliphatic polyester and which comprises a high-melting component and a low-melting component. Further, fibers excellent in self-crimpability or self-adhesion property and dividable fibers are obtained by suitably combining the fiber components (A) and (B) to form conjugated fibers or composite yarns.