Abstract: A DDS carrier enabling sustained release of a drug and a production method therefor. Wherein, the drug is retained by a PEG-carboxy group-containing polymer graft. Among polymers, a carboxy group-containing polysaccharide can be suitably used. The PEG-carboxy group-containing polymer graft is a compound prepared by grafting PEG into the carboxy group-containing polysaccharide. When the carboxy group-containing polysaccharide is used, it can be produced by utilizing a condensation reaction of an aminated PEG and a carboxy group-containing polysaccharide in coexistence with a triazine-based condensing agent. Alternatively, the PEG-carboxy group-containing polysaccharide graft can be produced by utilizing a condensation reaction of PEG and a carboxy group-containing polysaccharide in coexistence with an acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microneedle array which holds a drug only in the microneedle portions, and a method of manufacturing the same. The microneedle array 2A which holds the drug only on the tips of the microneedles can be manufactured by the microneedle deposition method, i.e. a) the microneedle array 2 is prepared using an water-soluble polymer as a base material; b) a drug solution 1 to be applied to the tips of the microneedle array 2 is prepared; and c) the tips of the microneedle array 2 are contacted with the drug solution 1 for a short time. When the drug solution 1 is a water solution, the biodegradable polymer is of water-soluble, and in addition to the drug, the biodegradable polymer is dissolved in the solution at high concentration, the applied drug is integrated with the microneedle so that only the drug does not fall away during insertion.

Abstract: Provided are a microneedle with excellent performance and a method for manufacturing the microneedle. A microneedle array in which a polyglycolic acid is used as a material, crystallinity of the polyglycolic acid is 21% or more and axial contraction rate of tips is 99% or more, and a manufacturing method in which a polyglycolic acid are injection-molded at a cylinder temperature of 230-280° C., a metal mold temperature of 60-130° C., and an injection pressure of 1000-1500 KPa so as to manufacture a microneedle array in which crystallinity of the polyglycolic acid is 21% or more and an axial contraction rate of tips is 99% or more.

Abstract: Provided is hyaluronic acid gel suitable for cosmetic and medical field. The hyaluronic acid gel contains hyaluronic acid, polycarboxylic acid or oxycarbonic acid, and polyhydric alcohol. The hyaluronic acid gel is produced by drying moisture of an aqueous solution in which the hyaluronic acid, the polycarboxylic acid, and the polyhydric alcohol are uniformly dissolved to be an intended form.

Abstract: A urethane-based adhesive composition with improved adhesiveness while maintaining characteristics of being gentle to the skin is provided. The urethane-based adhesive composition of the invention contains a urethane-based adhesive, a curing agent and a hydrophilic plasticizing agent as essential components. The hydrophilic plasticizing agent is a hydrophilic high-boiling point liquid which is compatibilized with urethane to provide a plasticizing effect, and preferably has one or more hydroxyl groups or oxyethylene groups, or both of them in a molecule. A composition ratio of the solid contents of the urethane-based adhesive composition, the curing agent and the hydrophilic plasticizing agent is, based on 100 parts by mass of the urethane-based adhesive, 0.5 to 15 parts by mass of the curing agent and 10 to 80 parts by mass of the hydrophilic plasticizing agent.

Abstract: A cosmetic gel sheet suitable for a cosmetic field or a medical field is provided. The cosmetic gel sheet of the present invention contains carboxy group-containing water-soluble polymer, polyalcohol, and acid as essential constituent components. Carboxy group-containing polysaccharide can be suitably used as the carboxy group-containing water-soluble polymer. Water content in the gel sheet is 30% by weight, but it is more preferable if the water content is 10% by weight or less. In the cosmetic gel sheet of the present invention, the gel sheet can be manufactured by drying an aqueous solution containing carboxy group-containing water-soluble polymer, polyalcohol, and acid as essential components. Wherein, it is desirable that content of the acid in the aqueous solution is adjusted to a value appropriate for setting pH of the aqueous solution to 2.0-4.0.

Abstract: A microneedle array is provided which has (1) the strength to withstand insertion into the skin surface layer and/or stratum corneum, (2) the fineness and flexibility to cause no pain or bleeding in the skin surface layer and/or stratum corneum at the insertion site of the microneedles, and (3) solubility or biodegradability of the microneedle portions under the skin. The microneedle array is produced by forming microneedles using proteoglycan as a base material.

Abstract: Provided is a device for surely and easily applying a microneedle patch to a skin. In a case body 2, a pressing member 3 having a tip surface 3a is disposed such that the pressing member is biased in a first direction X1 by a first biasing member. The movement in the first direction X1 is locked by a locking member 7 and a locking part 3g so that the pressing member 3 is brought into a locked state. The locked state is released by pressing a tip of a lock-releasing member 11 against the skin. When the locked state is released, a tip surface 3a of the pressing member 3 is moved in the first direction X1 and the tip surface 3a applies the microneedle patch to the skin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug-holding microneedle array in which a drug is applied and held only on a tip portion of microneedles for quantitatively holding the drug and for preventing the drug from falling away during insertion of the microneedles. The drug-holding microneedle array comprises: a microneedle array having a microneedle substrate 4 and microneedles, the microneedles being positioned in plural on the microneedle substrate 4 and a tip portion 1 of the microneedles projecting via steps 2 and a drug held on the tip portion of the microneedles and the steps 2.

Abstract: A method for quantifying infectious particles of a virus in a sample comprises providing a layer of host cells of the virus, contacting the layer of host cells with a preparation of the sample, and culturing the cells under conditions wherein the cells are submerged in a thin layer of liquid culture medium, and wherein the virus infects host cells and releases its progeny from said infected host cells, imposing a flow of the liquid medium, wherein the spread of the viral progeny to uninfected host cells is enhanced, culturing the cells under conditions to allow further virus infection and viral gene expression, wherein infected host cells develop an observable indication of viral gene expression, and determining the number of infected host cells, whereby the number of infectious particles of the virus in the sample is quantified. The method may be used for measuring viral growth rate or for screening for antiviral compounds. Also provided are microfluidic devices suitable for the inventive method.

Abstract: Provided is a microneedle patch which is easily to be applied on a skin surface. One or more holes are provided inside a protective sheet of the microneedle patch, and one or more cutting lines running from an outer edge of the protective sheet toward the holes are also provided. The cutting lines may be symmetrically arranged on both sides of the hole. Providing an incision on the outer edge of the cutting lines of the protective release sheet facilitates cutting along the cutting lines. In the use of the microneedle patch, both sides of the cutting line of the protective release sheet are held and torn so as to bring out a microneedle array adhesive sheet and apply it on a skin. Then the microneedle array surface is slightly compressed, thereby the microneedle is inserted into the stratum corneum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microneedle patch container for effectively and hygienically securing a microneedle patch from manufacture to use. The container has a bottom surface recessed from the peripheral portion towards the center, a side surface connected to the bottom surface and the peripheral portion, and a bottom-surface protruding portion protruding from the bottom surface. The flexible release-type sheet portion of the microneedle patch is secured to the protruding portion on the bottom surface. A lid can also be used which has a recessed portion pressing against the microneedle patch secured to the bottom-surface protruding portion of the container in the position corresponding to the bottom-surface protruding portion. This is preferably housed inside a pouch molded from sterilized paper or sterilized film in order to keep the microneedle patch in an aseptic state.

Abstract: An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a microneedle array which is able to supply effectively retinoic acid to the skin and effective in treating pimples, stains or wrinkles. The retinoic acid microneedle array comprises: a microneedle array having a microneedle substrate 5 and microneedles 1 disposed on the microneedle substrate 5; and a drug retained on the microneedles 1 and containing a water-swelling polymer and retinoic acid.

Abstract: Provided is hyaluronic acid gel suitable for cosmetic and medical field. The hyaluronic acid gel contains hyaluronic acid, polycarboxylic acid or oxycarbonic acid, and polyhydric alcohol. The hyaluronic acid gel is produced by drying moisture of an aqueous solution in which the hyaluronic acid, the polycarboxylic acid, and the polyhydric alcohol are uniformly dissolved to be an intended form.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a microneedle material capable of dissolving in a short-time and being absorbed quickly in order to shorten the application time of the microneedle is provided. A mixture of a water-soluble polymer and one or more saccharides selected from monosaccharides and disaccharides is used as the microneedle material. A systhetic polymer, protein, polysaccharide or a mixture thereof can be preferably used as the water-soluble polymer. Glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, trehalose, or a mixture thereof can be preferably used as the saccharides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microneedle patch container for effectively and hygienically securing a microneedle patch from manufacture to use. The container has a bottom surface recessed from the peripheral portion towards the centre, a side surface connected to the bottom surface and the peripheral portion, and a bottom-surface protruding portion protruding from the bottom surface. The flexible release-type sheet portion of the microneedle patch is secured to the protruding portion on the bottom surface. A lid can also be used which has a recessed portion pressing against the microneedle patch secured to the bottom-surface protruding portion of the container in the position corresponding to the bottom-surface protruding portion. This is preferably housed inside a pouch moulded from sterilised paper or sterilised film in order to keep the microneedle patch in an aseptic state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microneedle array which holds a drug only in the microneedle portions, and a method of manufacturing the same. The microneedle array 2A which holds the drug only on the tips of the microneedles can be manufactured by the microneedle deposition method, i.e. a) the microneedle array 2 is prepared using an water-soluble polymer as a base material; b) a drug solution 1 to be applied to the tips of the microneedle array 2 is prepared; and c) the tips of the microneedle array 2 are contacted with the drug solution 1 for a short time. When the drug solution 1 is a water solution, the biodegradable polymer is of water-soluble, and in addition to the drug, the biodegradable polymer is dissolved in the solution at high concentration, the applied drug is integrated with the microneedle so that only the drug does not fall away during insertion.

Abstract: This invention is to provide a diffusion testing device to facilitate determination of diffusivity of prolonged release of drugs from transdermal therapeutic preparation. The diffusion testing device is characterized by a receptor liquid reservoir; a diffusion testing cell having a receptor chamber functioning to be full of receptor liquid and within which a stirrer be placed, a receptor liquid supply unit, a thermostat bath to hold the diffusion testing cell, a stirring apparatus located beneath the thermostat bath to cause the rotation action of the stirrer set in the receptor chamber, a sampling unit permitting sampling and storage of receptor liquid dissolving permeated drugs. Said receptor liquid reservoir, said receptor chamber, said receptor liquid supply unit and said sampling unit are connected with each other via infusion tube.

Abstract: A composition for production of a crosslinkable pressure-sensitive adhesive for skin, obtained by dissolving in a solvent 100 parts by weight of an acrylic copolymer (copolymer A) comprising a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester as the main constituent component and 3-45 wt % diacetoneacrylamide as an essential constituent component, and containing no free carboxyl groups, and 0.1-30 parts by weight of an acrylic copolymer (copolymer B) comprising a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester as the main constituent component and a primary amino group and/or carboxyhydrazide group on a side chain, and containing no free carboxyl groups.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel microneedle array that has (1) the strength to withstand insertion into the skin surface layer and/or stratum corneum, (2) the fineness and flexibility to cause no pain or bleeding in the skin surface layer and/or stratum corneum at the insertion site of the microneedles, and (3) solubility or biodegradability of the microneedle portions under the skin. [Method for Achieving the Object] The microneedle array is produced by forming microneedles using proteoglycan as a base material.