A method for producing a narrowly distributed and high-purity polyalkylene glycol derivative having an amino group at an end, a polymerization initiator for use in the method, and a precursor of the polymerization initiator are provided. The present invention provides: a method for producing a polyalkylene glycol derivative having an amino group at an end, using, as a polymerization initiator, a compound represented by the general formula (I); a compound represented by the following general formula (I); and a precursor thereof: ##STR00001## wherein R.sub.A.sup.1a and R.sub.A.sup.1b each independently represent a protective group of the amino group, or one of R.sub.A.sup.1a and R.sub.A.sup.1b represents H and the other represents a protective group of the amino group, or R.sub.A.sup.1a and R.sub.A.sup.1b bind to each other to represent a cyclic protective group forming a ring; R.sub.A.sup.2 represents a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R.sub.A.sup.3 represents a single bond, or a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and the hydrocarbon group may contain a heteroatom; the total number of carbon atoms (or the total number of carbon atoms and heteroatoms) of R.sub.A.sup.2 and R.sub.A.sup.3 is 4 or more; and M represents an alkali metal.

Disclosed is a vesicular system comprising a surface with a vesicle immobilized thereon. The immobilized vesicle has a circumferential membrane of an amphiphilic polymer. The vesicle is coupled to a surface by means of a molecule with a non-polar moiety. The non-polar moiety comprises a main chain of 3 to about 30 carbon atoms and 0 to about 12 heteroatoms selected from Si, O, S, and Se. The molecule with the non-polar moiety is coupled to the surface via a covalent or non-covalent bond. A portion of the non-polar moiety is integrated in the circumferential membrane.

Disclosed is a vesicular system comprising a surface with a vesicle immobilized thereon. The immobilized vesicle has a circumferential membrane of an amphiphilic polymer. The vesicle is coupled to a surface by means of a molecule with a non-polar moiety. The non-polar moiety comprises a main chain of 3 to about 30 carbon atoms and 0 to about 12 heteroatoms selected from Si, O, S, and Se. The molecule with the non-polar moiety is coupled to the surface via a covalent or non-covalent bond. A portion of the non-polar moiety is integrated in the circumferential membrane.

Provided are multiply functional charged telodendrimers. The telodendrimers can be used for protein encapsulation and delivery. The charged telodendrimers may have one or more crosslinking groups (e.g., boronic acid/catechol reversible crosslinking groups). The telodendrimers can aggregate to form nanoparticles. Cargo such as combinations of proteins and other materials may be sequestered in the core of the nanoparticles via non-covalent or covalent interactions with the telodendrimers. Such nanoparticles may be used in protein delivery applications.

Provided are multiply functional charged telodendrimers. The telodendrimers can be used for protein encapsulation and delivery. The charged telodendrimers may have one or more crosslinking groups (e.g., boronic acid/catechol reversible crosslinking groups). The telodendrimers can aggregate to form nanoparticles. Cargo such as combinations of proteins and other materials may be sequestered in the core of the nanoparticles via non-covalent or covalent interactions with the telodendrimers. Such nanoparticles may be used in protein delivery applications.

Methods for preparing active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers are provided. Also provided are other methods related to the active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers, as well as corresponding compositions.

Methods for preparing active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers are provided. Also provided are other methods related to the active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers, as well as corresponding compositions.

The additive for high-purity copper electrolytic refining of the present invention is an additive which is added to a copper electrolyte in electrolytic refining for high-purity copper and is formed of a non-ionic surfactant that includes a hydrophobic group containing an aromatic ring and a hydrophilic group containing a polyoxyalkylene group.

The additive for high-purity copper electrolytic refining of the present invention is an additive which is added to a copper electrolyte in electrolytic refining for high-purity copper and is formed of a non-ionic surfactant that includes a hydrophobic group containing an aromatic ring and a hydrophilic group containing a polyoxyalkylene group.

Disclosed is a vesicular system comprising a surface with a vesicle immobilized thereon. The immobilized vesicle has a circumferential membrane of an amphiphilic polymer. The vesicle is coupled to a surface by means of a molecule with a non-polar moiety. The non-polar moiety comprises a main chain of 3 to about 30 carbon atoms and 0 to about 12 heteroatoms selected from Si, O, S, and Se. The molecule with the non-polar moiety is coupled to the surface via a covalent or non-covalent bond. A portion of the non-polar moiety is integrated in the circumferential membrane.