Abstract: The invention provides a particulate construct such as microcapsules containing a drug, and serving a slow releasing preparation not associated with a practically unacceptable initial burst release but showing a practically acceptable zero-order release for a certain period and a producing method for such particulate construct, and a slow releasing preparation of a high drug content capable of stably incorporating the drug in the particulate construct such as microcapsules, and a producing method for such preparation.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA is constructed by using a toluene monooxygenase gene isolated from Ralstonia eutropha strain TB64 and employed to provide the transformant which can express toluene monooxygenase useful for cleaning of aqueous media such as drain and waste water containing halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds or aromatic compounds, for remediation of soil polluted with such compounds, and cleaning of air (gas phase) polluted with volatile organic chlorine compounds.

Abstract: Electrostatic charge image developing toner allows to design the toner characteristics such as chargeability, flowability, stability in time and environmental stability uniform among the toners of different colors. The toner has a small particle size enough for enabling uniform dispersion and being excellent in color saturation and transparency. The toner also shows higher contribution to the environmental security. The toner includes a coloring agent of which at least a part of the surface is covered with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The toner is produced by dispersing the coloring agent in aqueous medium, then fixing PHA synthesizing enzyme to the coloring agent dispersed in the aqueous medium, then adding 3-hydroxyacyl CoA, and executing a PHA synthesizing reaction to cover at least a part of the surface of the coloring agent with PHA. The toner thus obtained is used for an image forming method.

Abstract: To provide a structure that has both drug holding capability and sustained releasability a liposome and mechanical strength of polyhydroxyalkanoate, is excellent in holding capability for hydrophilic drugs and other water-soluble substances as well as liphophilic drugs and other hydrophobic substances, and is capable of controlling the sustained releasability. To coat with polyhydroxyalkanoate at least part of the outer wall of the liposome.

Abstract: A construct that comprises a base material and a polyhydroxyalkanoate, wherein at least a part of the base material is coated with the polyhyroxyalkanoate, and the polyhydroxyalkanoate comprises a 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid unit other than 3-hydroxypropionic acid unit, 3-hydroxy-n-butyric acid unit, and 3-hydroxy-n-valeric acid unit.

Abstract: A capsular structure is provided which does not cause load to the environment and the living things, produced by utilizing PHA having various functionality, enclosing cores at a high density without limitation of the core material. The granular structure has granules coated at least partly with a polyhydroxyalkanoate constituted of monomer units of at least one of 3-hydroxypropionic acid, 3-hydorxy-n-butyric acid, and 3-hydroxy-n-valeric acid.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate that comprises a unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): 1

Abstract: Polyhydroxyalkanoate type polyester that comprises one unit % or more of 3-hydroxy-&ohgr;-(4-vinylphenyl)alkanoic acid units. A microbial production method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing highly purified polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) with high yield, by removing cell components other than PHA from cells containing PHA. Moreover, the present invention provides a method for simply removing or reducing chlorine remained in the collected PHA particles, when a treatment with an oxidizing agent containing hypochlorite is performed in the production of PHA as described above. One of the above-described methods comprises a step of treating cells containing polyhydroxyalkanoate with an oxidizing agent containing at least hypochlorite, a step of separating the treated cells into a water-soluble fraction and a water-insoluble fraction, and a step of reducing chlorine remained in the water-insoluble fraction. The step of reducing chlorine may be a step of washing the water-insoluble fraction with a hot water, thiosulfate solution or polar solvent solution containing at least an organic polar solvent in which polyhydroxyalkanoate is insoluble.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate is disclosed which has in the molecule a unit represented by Chemical Formula (1).

Abstract: PHA containing a novel 3-hydroxy-thioalkanoic acid unit having a highly reactive thienyl group in a side chain thereof, and a method of producing the same are provided. Specifically, 5-(2-thienylsulfanyl) valeric acid represented by Chemical Formula [4] below and 6-(2-thienylsulfanyl) hexanoic acid represented by Chemical Formula [5] below are provided. Further, a method of producing PHA, comprising the step of collecting PHA from cells of a microorganism cultured in a medium containing the valeric acid or hexanoic acid, and a novel PHA represented by Chemical Formula [1] below are provided.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA is constructed by using a toluene monooxygenase gene isolated from Ralstonia eutropha strain TB64 and employed to provide the transformant which can express toluene monooxygenase useful for cleaning of aqueous media such as drain and waste water containing halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds or aromatic compounds, for remediation of soil polluted with such compounds, and cleaning of air (gas phase) polluted with volatile organic chlorine compounds.

Abstract: A membrane structure employing a structure in which a lipid membrane is held by a hydrophilic polymer. The hydrophilic polymer layer contains an aqueous phase. There are functional molecules distributed selectively throughout each layer. The membrane structure is adaptable to applications as a separating agent, filler or delivery agent by performing physical and chemical operations.

Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance sensor apparatus includes a common substrate, a surface emitting laser, such as a VCSEL, arranged on the common substrate, a sensor array, such as CCD array, arranged on the common substrate, a light-transmitting medium provided above the common substrate, and a metal thin film formed on the light-transmitting medium to cause surface plasmon resonance due to light which is emitted from the surface emitting laser, transmitted through the light-transmitting medium and impinging on the metal thin film. The surface emitting laser, metal thin film and sensor array are positioned such that a change in an intensity of light reflected by the metal thin film caused by the surface plasmon resonance can be measured by the sensor array.

Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance sensor apparatus includes a common substrate, a surface emitting laser, such as a VCSEL, arranged on the common substrate, a sensor array, such as CCD array, arranged on the common substrate, a light-transmitting medium provided above the common substrate, and a metal thin film formed on the light-transmitting medium to cause surface plasmon resonance due to light which is emitted from the surface emitting laser, transmitted through the light-transmitting medium and impinging on the metal thin film. The surface emitting laser, metal thin film and sensor array are positioned such that a change in an intensity of light reflected by the metal thin film caused by the surface plasmon resonance can be measured by the sensor array.

Abstract: A membrane structure employing a structure in which a lipid membrane is held by a hydrophilic polymer. The hydrophilic polymer layer contains an aqueous phase. There are functional molecules distributed selectively throughout each layer. The membrane structure is adaptable to applications as a separating agent, filler or delivery agent by performing physical and chemical operations.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a microorganism in soil releases, from a constituting material thereof, an inducer for production of an enzyme of the microorganism for soil remediation. The carrier for holding a microorganism may comprise a combination of a microorganism holding carrier composed of a hydrophilic polymer for holding the microorganism with an inducer-holder composed of another polymer for holding inducer manifesting a biological action to the microorganism adjacent to each other. A method for remediation of soil comprises application of the microorganism-holding carrier into the soil. A soil-remedying agent comprises the microorganism-holding carrier and a microorganism held thereon which exhibits enzyme activity for decomposition of a polluting substance in the soil under action an inducer released by the carrier.

Abstract: Lipid is determined quantitatively by treating a sample with a surfactant in an aqueous medium to obtain a liquid sample dispersion, then reacting the dispersion with a reagent containing cupric ion and bicinchoninic acid, and measuring a colored state developed by complex formation of bicinchoninic acid with cuprous ion formed from cupric ion in the presence of lipid. This method can be effectively applied to determination of amphiphilic lipid having a tendency of gathering in an aqueous medium. Further, two different species interfering with each other in quantitative determination thereof are determined respectively by conducting two different determination methods on the same sample followed by calculation using the values obtained.

Abstract: An eliminator for eliminating microorganisms which catch and eat pollutant-degrading microorganisms from a region to be decontaminated in a soil is applied to the region to protect the pollutant-degrading microorganisms from being eaten, whereby a soil remediation effect can be enhanced.

Abstract: Lipid is determined quantitatively by treating a sample with a surfactant in an aqueous medium to obtain a liquid sample dispersion, then reacting the dispersion with a reagent containing cupric ion and bicinchoninic acid, and measuring a colored state developed by complex formation of bicinchoninic acid with cuprous ion formed from cupric ion in the presence of lipid. This method can be effectively applied to determination of amphiphilic lipid having a tendency of gathering in an aqueous medium. Further, two different species interfering with each other in quantitative determination thereof are determined respectively by conducting two different determination methods on the same sample followed by calculation using the values obtained.