| abstract |
PURPOSE: To obtain a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition containing water- insoluble crosslinked poly β-alanine, capable of being applied to an oozing wound, acting on the wound as an absorbing material and facilitating a natural scar-forming process. CONSTITUTION: This cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition contains a water- insoluble crosslinked poly β-alanine having a glass transition temperature of 50-140 deg.C and a swelling rate of 1-20 in water, which prepared by crosslinking water-soluble poly β-alanine having a mol.wt. of 500-200000 and having units of formula I [R is hydrogen or a group of formula II (R' is hydrogen in a finally obtained side chain); the percentage of terminal primary amide units (b) is between 5 and 35 percent relative to the total amide units of the polymer] with a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde in an aqueous solution of the poly β-alanine at an acid pH as a carrier for cosmetics or as a vehicle for medicines. The crosslinked β- alanine may further by used as a carrier for water-soluble active substances, a carrier for chromatographic columns or a material for producing food-packing materials, contact lenses or artificial arteries. |