Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrophobic group-introduced hyaluronic acid derivative comprising at least one repeating unit represented by the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, Z, n, Ra, Y, and X1 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrophobic group-introduced hyaluronic acid derivative comprising at least one repeating unit represented by the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, Z, n, Ra, Y, and X1 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A mucosal vaccine for the prevention or treatment of microbial infections is described that is capable of inducing vaccine antigen-specific immune responses in an organism without the addition of a mucosal adjuvant. The mucosal vaccine comprises a composite of a nanogel comprising a hydrophilic polysaccharide having a cationic functional group and a hydrophobic cholesterol added thereto as a side chain and a vaccine antigen. The vaccine is administered via a mucosal route.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an osteogenic biomaterial which achieves long-term sustained release and localized functional expression of a substance which promotes the formation of bone tissue. The present inventors have found out that a nanogel efficiently encloses an osteogenesis promoting substance to suppress the substance from diffusion into blood, and that the nanogel functions as a carrier for local administration of the osteogenesis promoting substance. Furthermore, they have found out that the osteogenesis promoting substance-containing nanogel can be cross-linked with a water-soluble polymer to allow sustained release of the osteogenesis promoting substance at a local area over a long period of time. Based on these findings, the present invention was completed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a hyaluronic acid derivative having a crosslinking group(s) and a hydrophilic polysaccharide derivative having a hydrophobic group(s), wherein the hyaluronic acid derivative having a crosslinking group(s) is prepared by crosslinkage formation reaction in hyaluronic acid or a derivative thereof having a crosslinkable group(s) in the presence of the hydrophilic polysaccharide derivative wherein the hydrophilic polysaccharide derivative may have a crosslinkable group(s).

Abstract: It is intended to efficiently inject into a target cell, a substance charged within a liposome. The present inventors have found that connexin synthesized within a liposome is introduced as connexon having a gap junction function into the liposome membrane. Specifically, the liposome according to the present invention is a liposome in which connexon composed of connexin synthesized by an in-vitro protein synthesis system is incorporated in a state of having a gap junction function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a platelet-rich plasma with high activities in an easy and economical manner. The platelet-rich plasma is obtained by aggregating and precipitating erythrocytes from collected whole blood selectively and facilitatively without employing centrifugation. For example, the plasma is obtained by the addition of a polymer having a residue of an organic phosphate compound. Specifically, the polymer having a residue of an organic phosphate compound can be added to whole blood and allowed to stand for a specific time, thereby to selectively and facilitatively aggregate and precipitate erythrocytes to give a supernatant. The supernatant contains much platelets which exist in their extremely intact state similar as in a living body and simultaneously provides a platelet-rich plasma with high activity comprising much plasma proteins such as fibrinogen and leukocytes.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide platelet-rich plasma having high activity easily and at low cost. The object is achieved by a method for preparing platelet-rich plasma comprising a step of adding a water-soluble polymer compound to whole blood obtained by blood collection. For example, by adding poly-L-glutamic acid to whole blood and allowing the mixture to stand still for a definite period, it is possible to obtain platelet-rich plasma having high activity that contains blood plasma components containing much fibrinogen in addition to platelets in the supernatant and blood cell components including white blood cells. This invention also includes the platelet-rich plasma and the use thereof as well as a kit for preparing platelet-rich plasma.

Abstract: A high purity polysaccharide containing hydrophobic group is produced by a process involving a first process step of producing an isocyanate group-containing hydrophobic compound, wherein one mole of a hydroxyl group-containing hydrocarbon having 12-50 carbon atoms or of a sterol is reacted with a diisocyanate represented by OCN—R1—NCO in which R1 is a hydrocarbyl of 1-50 carbon atoms, a second process step of producing the polysaccharide containing hydrophobic group composed of the hydrocarbon group of 12-50 carbon atoms or of the steryl group, wherein the isocyanate group-containing hydrophobic compound obtained in the first process step is reacted with one or more polysaccharides, and a purification step in which the reaction product in the second process step is purified using a solvent based on a ketone.

Abstract: 1.