Abstract: One mode of an optical inspection apparatus according to the present invention is an optical inspection apparatus for optically inspecting an object, the optical inspection apparatus including: a biasing section (20) configured to apply, to a group of objects (23A) on a stage, a force for moving the group of objects away with respect to the stage (22); a catching section (24) including an adhesion portion (241) to which an object in the group of objects moved from the stage adheres; and an analysis section (3) configured to optically analyze the object caught by the catching section. This makes it possible to efficiently and satisfactorily perform optical analysis of individual microplastics by eliminating manual work of picking up the microplastics one by one.

Abstract: A method for producing molecular assemblies of an amphiphilic block polymer includes applying a polymer solution in a layered shape on a planar base member, the polymer solution including an amphiphilic block polymer and a solvent, the amphiphilic block polymer having a hydrophilic block chain including 20 or more sarcosine units and a hydrophobic block chain including 10 or more lactic acid units, forming a polymer film on the planar base member by removing the solvent from a coated layer of the polymer solution, and obtaining molecular assemblies by bringing the polymer film into contact with a water-based liquid. The planar base member is a flexible long film.

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 skin external preparation including a drug and nanometer-size molecular assemblies. The molecular assemblies contain an amphiphilic block copolymer having a hydrophilic block chain including a sarcosine-derived structural unit and a hydrophobic block chain including a hydroxy acid-derived structural unit. The skin external preparation according to the present invention may reduce skin irritation caused by the drug, be very safe, and have excellent pharmacological effects, even when a drug that is generally difficult to be transdermally administered due to its strong skin irritation is contained therein.

Abstract: The nanoparticles of the present invention consist of a molecular aggregate containing an amphipathic block polymer that has a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block. It is preferable that the amphipathic block polymer be biodegradable. The nanoparticles of the present invention are obtained by granulating into particles an amphipathic block polymer in the presence of an amino acid whose isoelectric point is 7 or less. In one embodiment, the granulation is done by bringing a solution containing an amphipathic block polymer or the dried product thereof into contact with an aqueous liquid. Granulation can be done in the presence of an amino acid by including an amino acid whose isoelectric point is 7 or less in either a solution that contains an amphipathic block polymer or in an aqueous liquid, or in both.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus both for producing molecular assemblies of an amphiphilic block polymer. The method of the present invention includes: applying a polymer solution (45) containing an amphiphilic block polymer and a solvent in a layered shape on a planar base member (11) in a film forming part (40); forming a polymer film on the base member (13) by removing the solvent from the coated layer of the solution in a drying part (30); and producing molecular assemblies by bringing the polymer film into contact with a water-based liquid (55) in a molecular assembly forming part (50). The amphiphilic block polymer has a hydrophilic block chain and a hydrophobic block chain. The hydrophilic block chain preferably has 20 or more sarcosine units, and the hydrophobic block chain preferably has 10 or more lactic acid units.

Abstract: Provided is a skin external preparation including a drug and nanometer-size molecular assemblies. The molecular assemblies contain an amphiphilic block copolymer having a hydrophilic block chain including a sarcosine-derived structural unit and a hydrophobic block chain including a hydroxy acid-derived structural unit. The skin external preparation according to the present invention may reduce skin irritation caused by the drug, be very safe, and have excellent pharmacological effects, even when a drug that is generally difficult to be transdermally administered due to its strong skin irritation is contained therein.

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.