Abstract: The present invention relates to gene preparations comprising desired genes or vectors containing desired genes integrated there into and carriers for supporting the same. The carrier is preferably a soluble collagen such as atelocollagen and may further include an additive. The invention also encompasses methods for delivering genes to cells employing the gene preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gene preparations comprising desired genes or vectors containing desired genes integrated there into and carriers for supporting the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemically crosslinked material, comprising a natural material or a derivative thereof having crosslinks formed by the combination of a primary crosslinking agent and an enhancer compound, wherein the crosslinks formed comprise crosslinks which include at least one additional hydroxyl group and/or at least one additional linear ether linkage as compared to crosslinks formed by the primary crosslinking agent alone. The materials according to preferred embodiments of the invention provide a chemically crosslinked material that has favorable antigenicity/flexibility characteristics.

Abstract: An auxiliary agent for ophthalmic surgery is based on collagen and, after the completion of surgery, undergoes a lowering in viscosity, and thus can be easily removed. This agent is a neutral solution of collagen which is transparent at a neutral pH and has a denaturation temperature below the intraocular temperature, or a derivative thereof. The agent has a visual light transmission at 400 nm of at least 90% of that before the denaturation, when solution is heated to cause denaturation.

Abstract: A method of obstructing the lacrimal canaliculi by infusing therein a solution or liquid dispersion containing a gel forming material, such having collagen as the main ingredient in the range of 1 mg/ml to 70 mg/ml for improving the symptoms of dry eye.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vascular prosthesis wherein, fragments of biological tissues such as vascular tissues, connective tissues, fat tissues and muscular tissues and/or cells composing vascular walls such as vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblast cells are deposited and captured within the wall of a vascular prosthesis substrate; a manufacturing method comprising the steps of immersing a vascular prosthesis substrate into a dispersed solution of fragments of biological tissues such as vascular tissues, connective tissues, fat tissues and muscular tissues and/or cells composing vascular walls such as vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblast cells, and depositing and capturing the cells and/or tissue fragments on the inner wall and within the wall of the vascular prosthesis from one side to the other side of the vascular prosthesis substrate wall by providing a pressure differential between the outside and the inside of the vascular prosthesis substrate; and a

Abstract: The present invention provides an intracorporeally injectable non-toxic composition of atelocollagen having an excellent, long-lasting skin swelling effect due to its low viscosity, good fluidity, easy injectability and low antigenicity (without calcification) properties. The composition is prepared by treating an aqueous suspension of atelocollagen with a buffer for physiological conditions. The suspension can have atelocollagen content of 55 to 75 mg/ml, where approximately 20 to 100% by weight of atelocollagen is cross-linked with a polyepoxy compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vascular prosthesis wherein, fragments of biological tissues such as vascular tissues, connective tissues, fat tissues and muscular tissues and/or cells composing vascular walls such as vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblast cells are deposited and captured within the wall of a vascular prosthesis substrate; a manufacturing method comprising the steps of immersing a vascular prosthesis substrate into a dispersed solution of fragments of biological tissues such as vascular tissues, connective tissues, fat tissues and muscular tissues and/or cells composing vascular walls such as vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblast cells, and depositing and capturing the cells and/or tissue fragments on the inner wall and within the wall of the vascular prosthesis from one side to the other side of the vascular prosthesis substrate wall by providing a pressure differential between the outside and the inside of the vascular prosthesis substrate; and a

Abstract: A method for drying a wetted molded product of pasty high viscous composition which comprises subjecting the molded product to a dehydration process while wholly or partially contacting the product with an open-cell foamed hydrophobic porous membrane.

Abstract: A hyaluronic acid-containing aqueous solution or aqueous dispersion of collagen having a pH of from about 6.5 to about 8.0 and an osmolality of from about 230 to about 320 mOsm/kgH.sub.2 O. The aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion of collagen is useful as an agent for correction and reparation of a depressed part of or a void in soft tissue of mammals.

Abstract: A biomaterial excellent in biocompatibility comprising a composite material of an N-acylchitosan and collagen is described. This biomaterial is suitable for used as a wound dressing material, vascular prosthesis, artificial skin or hemostatic agent.

Abstract: A bioprosthetic valve made from a biological tissue containing collagen which has been cross-linked with a polyepoxy compound is disclosed. The valve has excellent biocompatibility and is durable and is free from calcification.

Abstract: An artifical skin comprising an insoluble atelocollagen sheet and an epidermal cell layer cultured only on one surface of the sheet, and a method of producing the same are disclosed, which method includes the steps of: forming an insoluble atelocollagen sheet; inoculating epidermal cells only on one surface of the atelocollagen sheet; and suspending the atelocollagen sheet in a liquid culture medium to culture the epidermal cells, thereby forming an epidermal cell layer.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sustained release formulation utilizing collagen and/or gelatin as a carrier, which comprises the steps:(i) preparing a uniform and high concentrated mixture with respect to the collagen and/or gelatin by blending an active ingredient, said collagen and/or gelatin, and water or an admixture consisting of water and a hydrophilic organic solvent under one of the conditions selected from:(A) the pH of the mixture is kept below 5 and the salt concentration of the mixture is retained below fiber-forming concentration;(B) chemically modified collagen and/or gelatin is employed; and(C) glucose is added to the mixture;(ii) molding the resultant mixture; and(iii) gradually eliminating the solvent from the molded product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a surfactant with less toxicity and irritation against the human body and a production process thereof. The surfactant is produced by the acylation of the side chain amino radicals of collagen or gelatine with an aliphatic acid having 2 to 26 carbon atoms; it is used as an emulsifier and an antiseptic for cosmetics.

Abstract: An antithrombogenic medical material with a remarkable antithrombogenic property and histocompatibility as well as sufficient physical strength, formed by fixing a heparinized collagen to a synthetic polymer material is provided. And a method of preparing an antithrombogenic medical material is provided, wherein a synthetic polymer material is subjected to a coating or impregnating treatment with a collagen-containing solution, followed by heparinization of the collagen, and the heparinized collagen is fixed to the synthetic polymer material. This method allows manufacturing of antithrombogenic medical material with ease.

Abstract: In a method of preparing an antithrombogenic medical material having a heparinized collagen as an antithrombogenic component, there is provided a method comprising the steps of fixing a protamine to a collagen through a polyepoxy compound, and heparinizing the collagen by fixing heparin to the protamine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hemostatic agent used in surgical operations, which can be produced in two ways: one blending collagen/gelatin with protamine, the other blending collagen/gelatin with protamine and a bi-functional cross-linking agent so as to make said collagen/gelatin have a covalent bond with said protamine. The produced hemostatic agent can stop bleeding within far less time than a conventional hemostatic agent made out of pure collagen.

Abstract: An improved, viscous, transparent, pyrogen-free, isotonic, succinylated atelocollagen solution provides an effective medium for use in viscosurgery and as a replacement for vitreous.

Abstract: This invention relates to a surfactant composed of acylated collagen or acylated gelatine produced by the acylation of the side chain amino radicals of collagen or gelatine with an aliphatic acid having 2-26 carbon atoms and a dicarboxylic acid having 2-8 carbon atoms and a production process thereof. Since it has less toxicity and irritation against the human body and can dissolve in a neutral solution of pH 6-8 in the form of molecular dispersion, the surfactant is especially suitable for use in the field of cosmetic and foodstuff industries.