PRODUCTION OF MICROSPHERE BY CROSSLINKING PROTEIN,

摘要

PURPOSE: To obtain a uniform protein spherule by adding a carbodiimide to an emulsion comprising an organic solvent phase containing a surfactant and an aqueous liquid phase containing a protein to activate cross-linking. CONSTITUTION: An emulsion comprising a continuous phase composed of a surfactant (e.g. sorbitan ester)-containing organic solvent, preferably a 5-10C aliphatic hydrocarbon or a 5-8C cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon and a discontinuous phase composed of a hydrophilic liquid phase containing at least one protein is prepared. The emulsion is mixed with a carbodiimide, preferably 1-ethyl-3-(3- dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and cross-linking is activated to form precipitate of spherule. The precipitate is separated and cleaned to give a protein spherule. When a mixture of an aqueous phase and an organic solvent (e.g. dimethylformamide) to be mixed with water is used as the discontinuous liquid phase, a water-insoluble product such as a capsulated medicine can be produced.