Abstract: An adsorbent for radioelement-containing waste composed of the following spherical layered double hydroxide (A) or spherical metal hydroxide (B) is provided. (A) is a nonstoichiometric compound represented by general formula (a) or (b): [M2+1-xM3+x(OH)2]x+[An?x/n.mH2O]x? . . . (a), [Al2Li(OH)6]x+[An?x/n.mH2O]x? . . . (b) wherein 0.1?x?0.4, 0<m, n represents a natural number of 1 to 4, M2+ represents at least one divalent metal, M3+ represents at least one trivalent metal, and An? represents at least one n-valent ion-exchangeable anion, and (B) is a spherical metal hydroxide containing a metal selected from the group consisting of the metal atoms belonging to Group II, Group IV, Group V, Group VI, Group XI, Group XII, and Group XIII of the periodic table, and the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Pb, and Bi.

Abstract: Provision of a porous ceramic material which rapidly induces bone tissue formation and has practical strength. A porous ceramic material 11 having substantially unidirectionally oriented pores 12, a porosity of 40-90%, and an average open area of one pore of 0.05×10?3-50×10?3 mm2 both in a first sectional surface perpendicular to the pore 12 orientation direction and a second sectional surface parallel to the first sectional surface and 5 mm distant from the first sectional surface in the pore 12 Orientation direction. Using the material 11, when a cylindrical test piece (diameter 3 mm×height 5 mm, the pore 12 array direction as a height direction) made of the material is dipped in polyethylene glycol up to 1 mm from one end thereof, polyethylene glycol permeates through the whole test piece preferably within 30 seconds.

Abstract: A porous scaffold having pores for seeding cells characterized in that, in the outer peripheral face of the porous main body having the pores for seeding cells, a porous membrane having pores smaller than the cells is located. Thus, it is possible to provide a porous scaffold whereby the cells can be seeded at a high efficiency while preventing cell leakage and, moreover, even cells having little adhesiveness can be adhered.

Abstract: A method for producing a porous body comprising apatite/collagen composite fibers comprising the steps of gelling a dispersion comprising long apatite/collagen composite fibers having an average length of 10-75 mm, short apatite/collagen composite fibers having an average length of 0.05-1 mm, and a liquid; freezing and drying the resultant gel to form a porous body; and cross-linking collagen in the porous body.

Abstract: The invention provides a medical device in which a metallic porous body is joined to at least a part of a surface of the main body of a medical device, and a surface modification method for the medical device. The metallic porous body is formed in multilayers.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an inhalation device by which nano-sized particles of a medicine are able to be stably present without aggregation even in air or the like where no dispersing solvent is present. A device for inhalation of medicine according to the present invention for solving such a problem is that where medicine particles in a nano- to micron-size are adhered to a matrix comprising a nano fiber to such an extent that the particles are detached by inspiration permeating through the matrix.

Abstract: This invention provides novel composite biomaterials having excellent bioadaptability and bone inductivity and a process for producing the same. The composite biomaterials comprise hydroxyapatite, collagen, and alginate and have microporous structures in which the c-axis of the hydroxyapatite is oriented along the collagen fibers.

Abstract: A hydroxyapatite complex includes a hydroxyapatite sintered compact that is chemically bonded to a polymer-based material containing at least one functional group selected form a group consisting of an isocyanate group and an alkoxysilyl group, wherein: the hydroxyapatite sintered compact is reacted with the functional group of the polymer-based material. This arrangement allows manufacturing of a hydroxyapatite complex without a chemical pre-treatment of the hydroxyapatite sintered compact.

Abstract: In the process of producing a porous body containing a fibrous apatite/collagen composite by gelating a dispersion comprising said fibrous apatite/collagen composite, collagen and water, freeze-drying the resultant gel to form a porous body, and cross-linking collagen in said porous body, a method for controlling the average pore diameter of said porous body by the solidification time of said gel in said freezing step.

Abstract: Provided is a sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone which combines biodegradability with sustained-release performance while avoiding the use of an organic solvent as much as possible, allows the sustained-release of a human growth hormone over 3 days or more and reduction in the initial burst release, can contain a human growth hormone at 10% or more, can quantitatively adsorb and encapsulate a human growth hormone at up to 20%, and has excellent dispersion and needle penetration properties. A process for producing the sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone is also provided. The sustained-release microparticle preparation comprises a porous apatite derivative, a human growth hormone, and a water-soluble divalent metal compound.

Abstract: A porous and spherical calcium phosphate particle which is substituted with a metal ion or has a metal ion carried on the surface thereof, and has a particle diameter of 0.1 to 100 ?m. The calcium phosphate particle is a novel functional particle which is useful, for example, as a material for use in gas chromatography allowing the separation of a chemical substance of a trace amount with high accuracy.

Abstract: An over-current protection device is constituted of a current detection unit for detecting a current from a power-supply source to a load having a magnetism detection element with a magnetic impedance (MI) effect, an AC-current supply device for supplying an AC current to the detection element, a bias-current supply device for supplying a bias current to a bias coil, a peak detection device for detecting a peak of impedance of the magnetism detection element as a variation of voltage, and a switch corresponding to a phase for selecting an output of the peak detection device. In the current detection unit, a holding device for holding a switch output and an amplifier are disposed in common for detecting the current in each phase, thereby expanding a current detectable range and reducing power consumption and cost.

Abstract: [Object] A medical material that improves therapeutic effects in epithelial cells such as keratoconjunctival epithelial cells with the use of an amnion, and a process for producing the same are provided. [Solving Means] A medical material includes an amnion, which is a placental tissue, a polymer film bonded to one surface of the amnion and crosslinked, and cells adhered to the other surface of the amnion. A process for producing the medical material includes the steps of preparing an amnion from which the spongy layer is removed, bonding a biocompatible polymer film to one surface of the amnion followed by crosslinking, adhering epithelial stem cells to the other surface of the amnion, and proliferating epithelial cells from the epithelial stem cells on the surface of the amnion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for regulating the biodegradability of composite biomaterials comprising calcium salt (particularly hydroxyapatite) and collagen, improved composite biomaterials obtained via such method, and a method for increasing bone mass with the use of such composite biomaterials.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for three-dimensional cartilage tissue engineering by culturing bone marrow cells in a simulated microgravity environment that is realized by a bioreactor such as an RWV.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing porous and composite materials comprising steps of: freezing a complex containing at least one calcium salt selected from calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite and collagen, at least a part of which is gelatinized; and then lyophilizing the resultant. The porous and composite materials obtained by the method of the present invention have large pore diameters, high porosities, and adequate mechanical strengths and biodegradability. Thus, they are suitable for implants such as bone fillers, drug carriers for sustained-release, and the like.

Abstract: A porous composite comprising a porous layer containing a calcium phosphate ceramic, and a dense layer formed on part of the porous layer and having a smaller average pore size than that of the porous layer. The porous composite can be produced by (1) introducing a slurry containing a calcium phosphate ceramic/collagen composite and collagen into a molding die having a high thermal conductivity, (2) rapidly freezing and drying the slurry in the molding die, to form a porous body comprising a porous layer and a dense layer formed on the porous layer, (3) cross-linking collagen in the porous body, and (4) removing the dense layer except for a portion thereof on a surface coming into contact with a soft tissue when implanted in a human body, so that the porous layer is exposed.

Abstract: A method for producing a cross-linked apatite/collagen porous body comprising the steps of gelling and then freeze-drying a dispersion containing an apatite/collagen composite and collagen to form a porous body, and further cross-linking collagen in the porous body, and a cross-linked apatite/collagen porous body produced by this method.

Abstract: A porous and spherical calcium phosphate particle which is substituted with a metal ion or has a metal ion carried on the surface thereof, and has a particle diameter of 0.1 to 100 ?m. The calcium phosphate particle is a novel functional particle which is useful, for example, as a material for use in gas chromatography allowing the separation of a chemical substance of a trace amount with high accuracy.

Abstract: Provided is a sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone which combines biodegradability with sustained-release performance while avoiding the use of an organic solvent as much as possible, allows the sustained-release of a human growth hormone over 3 days or more and reduction in the initial burst release, can contain a human growth hormone at 10% or more, can quantitatively adsorb and encapsulate a human growth hormone at up to 20%, and has excellent dispersion and needle penetration properties. A process for producing the sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone is also provided. The sustained-release microparticle preparation comprises a porous apatite derivative, a human growth hormone, and a water-soluble divalent metal compound.