Abstract: Photocurable glycosaminoglycan (GAG) derivatives and crosslinked glycosaminoglycans, which are highly safe and biocompatible, a method of preparing such photocurable GAG derivatives readily moldable by casting using a solvent when desired, by which method unreacted substances causative of adverse effects can be readily eliminated, and a method of producing the crosslinked GAGs and medical materials based on the photocurable GAG derivatives or crosslinked GAGs are provided. The photocurable GAG derivatives comprise a glycosaminoglycan and a photoreactive compound bound thereto and can be produced, for example, by subjecting hydroxyl or carboxyl groups of the glycosaminoglycan to esterification reaction or amidation reaction, respectively, with the photoreactive compound. The crosslinked GAGs are derived from the photocurable GAG derivatives by intermolecular crosslinking of the photoreactive compound bound thereto.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds prepared by linking glycosaminoglycan to phospholipid or lipid, which are expected to exert a pharmacological effect for inhibiting metastasis because of their excellent function to inhibit adhesion of cancer cells to blood vessel endothelial cells and extracellular matrix. This phospholipid- or lipid-linked glycosaminoglycan can be produced for example by: cleaving and oxidizing reducing terminal group of glycosaminoglycan, and allowing an aldehyde group or a lactone compound of the thus-formed derivative or a carboxyl group in the glycosaminoglycan chain to react with a primary amino group of a phospholipid; or linking a glycosaminoglycan derivative to a phospholipid or a lipid by allowing a primary amino group of the derivative to react with a carboxyl group of the phospholipid or lipid. This phospholipid- or lipid-linked glycosaminoglycan is useful as a metastasis inhibitor because it has no toxicity.

Abstract: Sugar-modified interferon, modified with at least one galactose residue, which is a binding reaction product between lactose lactone and interferon is disclosed. The sugar-modified interferon, which can be obtained through simple chemical manipulation on IFN, has improved accumulating properties in the liver and enhanced physiological activities as compared with unmodified IFN.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds prepared by linking glycosaminoglycan to phospholipid or lipid, which are expected to exert a pharmacological effect for inhibiting metastasis because of their excellent function to inhibit adhesion of cancer cells to blood vessel endothelial cells and extracellular matrix. This phospholipid- or lipid-linked glycosaminoglycan can be produced for example by: cleaving and oxidizing reducing terminal group of glycosaminoglycan, and allowing an aldehyde group or a lactone compound of the thus-formed derivative or a carboxyl group in the glycosaminoglycan chain to react with a primary amino group of a phospholipid; or linking a glycosaminoglycan derivative to a phospholipid or a lipid by allowing a primary amino group of the derivative to react with a carboxyl group of the phospholipid or lipid. This phospholipid- or lipid-linked glycosaminoglycan is useful as a metastasis inhibitor because it has no toxicity.

Abstract: Photocurable glycosaminoglycan (GAG) derivatives and crosslinked glycosaminoglycans, which are highly safe and biocompatible, a method of preparing such photocurable GAG derivatives readily moldable by casting using a solvent when desired, by which method unreacted substances causative of adverse effects can be readily eliminated, and a method of producing the crosslinked GAGs and medical materials based on the photocurable GAG derivatives or crosslinked GAGs are provided. The photocurable GAG derivatives comprise a glycosaminoglycan and a photoreactive compound bound thereto and can be produced, for example, by subjecting hydroxyl or carboxyl groups of the glycosaminoglycan to esterification reaction or amidation reaction, respectively, with the photoreactive compound. The crosslinked GAGs are derived from the photocurable GAG derivatives by intermolecular crosslinking of the photoreactive compound bound thereto.

Abstract: A glycosaminoglycan-modified protein wherein an amino group of a protein is bound to an aldehyde group, which has been formed by reducing and partially oxidizing the reducing terminal sugar moiety of a glycosaminoglycan, which has a high stability in vivo and can retain physiological activity of the protein for a prolonged period of time.