Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of producing a three-dimensional tissue by which cell lamination can be carried out easily. According to the method, a three-dimensional tissue in which cell layers are laminated with an extracellular matrix intervening between each pair of the adjacent cell layers is produced by: (A) forming a cell layer on a substrate; (B) bringing the cell layer formed on the substrate into contact with a solution containing a first substance and a solution containing a second substance alternately, thus forming, on the cell layer, an extracellular matrix in which the first substance and the second substance are laminated alternately; and (C) culturing a cell on the extracellular matrix to form a further cell layer.

Abstract: A hydrophilic material having a hydrophilic nature and being biocompatible and processable into nanoparticles wherein a hydrophilic monomer such as threitol or a hydrophilic polymer such as polyethylene glycol is attached to the ?position of an ?, ?-unsaturated carboxyl group of a (co)polymer comprising an aromatic compound such as 4-hydroxycinnamic acid in which an aromatic ring is substituted by the ?, ?-unsaturated carboxyl group and one or more hydroxyl groups. In particular, a hydrophilic material having a nanoparticle size which is highly dispersible in water, can well migrate into the blood and is useful as a drug carrier, a medical material and a sustained drug release material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a biological signal of a three-dimensional cell culture construct. The method for detecting a biological signal of a three-dimensional cell culture construct includes: providing a three-dimensional cell culture construct that contains at least two cell layers laminated to each other and a sensor particle capable of detecting a biological signal; and observing the sensor particle optically. Preferably, the three-dimensional cell culture construct contains an extracellular matrix including a combination of a protein or polymer having an RGD sequence and a protein or polymer that interacts with the protein or polymer having the RGD sequence, or a combination of a protein or polymer that is positively charged and a protein or polymer that is negatively charged.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a collagen crosslinking agent superior in biocompatibility that is free from the damage by UV irradiation and also from the problems of toxicity caused by residual monomer or unreacted functional groups. [Means to Solve] Provided is a noncovalent collagen crosslinking agent (for fibrous protein collagen), comprising a spacer of a polyvalent alcohol having two or more OH groups at the terminals and arms of collagen peptides formed of repetitions of three amino acids, the arms being bound via the OH groups to the spacer.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable material which is flexible and degradable at a controlled rate, and an in-vivo indwelling device made thereof. The bioabsorbable material is a copolymer composed of an aromatic compound having an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic group and at least one hydroxyl group as substituents on the aromatic ring, and a polycarbonate or a monomer constituting polycarbonate. Alternatively, it is a copolymer composed of, as the first component, an aromatic compound having an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic group and at least one hydroxyl group as substituents on the aromatic ring, as the second component, an aromatic compound having an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic group and at least two hydroxyl groups as substituents on the aromatic ring, and, as the third component, a polycarbonate or a monomer constituting polycarbonate.

Abstract: To provide a new reductive-stimuli-responsive degradable gel that allows any control of decomposition of the three-dimensional base material for cell culture and production of a completely biological three-dimensional cellular structure consisting only of cells and cells-produced extracellular matrix and that allows safe recovery of the cellular structure produced. A stimuli-responsive hydrogel, characterized by being produced by crosslinking a water-soluble polymer with a compound having a disulfide bond in the molecular chain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of producing a three-dimensional tissue by which cell lamination can be carried out easily. According to the method, a three-dimensional tissue in which cell layers are laminated with an extracellular matrix intervening between each pair of the adjacent cell layers is produced by: (A) forming a cell layer on a substrate; (B) bringing the cell layer formed on the substrate into contact with a solution containing a first substance and a solution containing a second substance alternately, thus forming, on the cell layer, an extracellular matrix in which the first substance and the second substance are laminated alternately; and (C) culturing a cell on the extracellular matrix to form a further cell layer.

Abstract: A bio-liquid crystal polymer is made from a tissue-derived compound or the derivatives. The bio-liquid crystal polymer has a characteristic of liquid crystal under predetermined conditions and is biocompatible.

Abstract: A rigid polymer has: a homopolymer of one of a polymerizable bio-derived rigid compound having two or more reactive functional groups, a derivative of the bio-derived rigid compound, a hydrolyzed substance of the bio-derived rigid compound, a derivative of the hydrolyzed substance of the bio-derived rigid compound and the substances extracted from the bio resources, or copolymers of two or more of these compound, derivatives, and substances.

Abstract: A bio-liquid crystal polymer is made from a tissue-derived compound or the derivatives. The bio-liquid crystal polymer has a characteristic of liquid crystal under predetermined conditions and is biocompatible.